LDPM 83 - Developing a Successful Long-term Care-dedicated APIC Sub-group: Lessons Learned

Background: The Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology (APIC) Long-Term Care (LTC) Sub-Committee was formed to provide collaboration, education, and support to Infection Preventionists (IPs) working in LTC facilities. During 2020-2021, the sub-group which once had a membership of twenty, lost many members. Meeting attendance dropped to four at the quarterly meetings. The sub-group was faced with the challenge of reinventing itself to support the existing LTC IPs in the group and the multitude of new LTC IPs who were entering the field and in need of mentorship.

Methods: The LTC sub-group, comprised of experienced IPs and local public health professionals collaborated to come up with solutions during virtual meetings in 2021. The sub-group utilized emails, polls and direct telephone and in-person outreach. The LTC sub-group also organized a virtual educational meeting for APIC members and non-members in order to increase awareness of the sub-group and its purpose.

Results: The LTC Sub-Group established a schedule of monthly, one hour long, virtual meetings to accommodate members schedules. LTC IPs submitted questions prior to meetings in order to remain anonymous. LTC IP meeting attendance increased from zero to an average of eight LTC IPs. The membership outreach meeting had an attendance of fifty-five and the sub-committee gained five new members. Membership in the group increased from ten members in January 2022 to thirty-five members in December 2022. Eighteen of the thirty-five members are LTC IPs.

Conclusions: The sub-group's goals to increase the number of LTC IPs and to adapt meeting format to best accommodate all members were successful. The direct outreach to existing members provided the feedback necessary to restructure the meetings. The existing members were thankful to reconnect. The membership outreach meeting successfully increased membership and also increased awareness of the group. Another outreach meeting is planned for 2023.