3303 - Building a Home Health Infection Prevention Program

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Location: W109 A/B; Orange County Convention Center

CE: 1

CNE Credits: 1
IPU Credits: 1
AEU Credits: 1
IPCH Credits: 1
CME Credits: 1

Presenter(s)

Valerie Martin, BSN, RN, CIC (she/her/hers)

Infection Preventionist
Advocate Aurora Health
New Berlin, Wisconsin

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

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Co-Presenter(s)

Cathy A. Pacholik, BSN, RN, CIC (she/her/hers)

Infection Preventionist
Advocate Aurora Health
Downers Grove, Illinois

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

PDF

Moderator(s)

Kathryn R. Galvin, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CIC

Infection Preventionist
Hartford Healthcare
Hartford, Connecticut

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Co-Moderator(s)

Sandra R. Hyman, RN, MPA, CIC,FAPIC (she/her/hers)

Associate Director, Infection Prevention & Control
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, New York

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Session Description: Home health and hospice services is an expanding field with more patients with healthcare needs requiring services in their homes. Patients are transitioning from the hospital environment to their own homes with complex needs, and the home health and hospice field is growing to accommodate the healthcare needs of these patients. In addition, end-of-life and palliative care are also being sought after in the home environment. To further support the needs of these patients, home health and hospice programs not only encompass nursing care, but also have expanded into durable medical equipment, pharmacy, infusion therapy, wound care, rehabilitation services, social work, chaplain, and respiratory therapy. There is minimal literature and evidence-based guidance to support infection prevention in the growing field of home health and hospice. An infection prevention program is a vital element for the prevention and control of infections specific to the home care and hospice environments. This presentation will outline the journey of building a successful infection prevention program for a large home health and hospice agency that spans two states.

Learning Objectives:

Define the scope of the home health and hospice infection preventionist.
Identify strategies on how to build a successful infection prevention program including top-down support from key stakeholders in the organization.
Summarize the infection prevention program key elements to develop a successful infection prevention program in the home health and hospice setting.