Do you have Hitchhikers in your building? Infection Prevention in the Long Term Care Setting

Overview:

Approximately 4 million people reside in LTC facilities in the U.S. and this number is expected to increase as the Baby Boomers age. Infections in this population have high mortality and contaminated environmental surfaces is often a source. Bacteria hitchhike and latch on to surfaces and hands, so reducing this risk, must be part of the LTC Infection Prevention Control program. In this webinar, we will discuss the benefits of having a proactive approach to infection prevention and the importance of having an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICAR) done, what is involved in an ICAR, and who should get an ICAR. We will discuss common infection control tags, and available resources to assist in your infection control program throughout your facility.

Objectives:

• Identify how the environment can spread of infections.
• Describe the benefits of having a proactive Infection Control Assessment Risk (ICAR) done and what is involved.
• Share examples of common infection related survey citations
• Identify available resources to stay in compliance throughout the facility.

CE’s: NHA & SW

Presenter:

Cheri Fast, RN, CIC, South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care

With over 30 years in healthcare, Cheri works for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care. She is currently collaborating with the SD Department of Health on providing infection control guidance related to healthcare associated infections and performing facility Infection Control Risk Assessments.

She has worked with facilities, healthcare providers, community leaders and patients on multiple healthcare initiatives, including leading SD Project Firstline. She recently obtained her certification in Infection Control and is anxious to work with facilities and frontline healthcare workers on infection prevention measures.

She has also received certification in case management and wound care. She played a pivotal role in the development of a national Home Health Infection Prevention Toolkit and was selected to serve as a technical reviewer for the national organization. She has taught numerous diabetes education classes and is currently a Master Trainer for Better Choices, Better Health in Diabetes, Chronic Disease Management, and Pain.

Cheri has worked as a Quality Risk Manager and Infection Control Nurse and also completed the AgriSafe Nurse Scholar class in 2019 and was selected to serve as South Dakota’s Total Farmer Health Coach, which promotes health and wellness to SD agriculture producers.