Need help complying with CMS’s revised conditions for coverage, which heighten infection control requirements in ASCs? The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology might be the place to turn.
According to CMS, surgery centers must now designate a trained professional to oversee and document an infection control program that prevents, identifies and manages infections and communicable diseases. CMS is not requiring facilities to follow specific infection control practices, but encourages the use of guidelines published by the CDC, APIC and the Joint Commission.
APIC’s new resources include:
a 3-hour at-your-desk learning series about preventing surgical site infections, which is approved for 3 nursing continuing education contact hours;
120 peer-reviewed chapters covering all aspects of infection control;
a recently launched newsletter dedicated to infection control issues in ambulatory care settings;
a series of training courses held throughout the year in Houston, Texas, San Francisco, Calif., Baltimore, Md., and Phoenix Ariz.;
a manual containing principals and methods of infection control; and
a series of Webinars covering infection control topics.
"Now that the federal government has stepped up requirements for infection prevention in ambulatory care, facilities will have more incentive to implement effective programs," says Sue Barnes, RN, CIC, national leader of infection prevention for Kaiser Permanente and champion of APIC’s efforts to introduce the new learning tools. "APIC can provide the training needed to ensure that healthcare personnel in outpatient facilities can consistently adhere to infection prevention measures, and can provide oversight in the absence of a dedicated infection preventionist."
—Daniel Cook
