.jpg "Sonia Elizabeth Alvarez, MHA, CIC, M(ASCP)cm, CPHQ photo")
Infection Preventionist
Advent Health Tampa
Sonia Elizabeth Alvarez, MHA, CIC, M(ASCP), CPHQ works in Advent Health Tampa as an infection preventionist covering surgical services. Her experience includes over 20 years working in the healthcare industry, including three years as a quality improvement specialist working for The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Improvement Organization. As a quality improvement specialist, Sonia assisted with the enrollment of 800 Florida nursing home providers into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). She assisted with data reporting and analysis and provided technical assistance to the newly enrolled nursing homes. She also provided technical assistance to outpatient clinical settings with implementing the CDC Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements and assisted with developing the antibiotic utilization analysis report. Sonia assisted the Virgin Islands infection prevention team with data validation of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs), and Surgical Site Infections, and provided participating hospitals with the Standardized Infection Ratios (SIR) of HAIs - CLABSI, CAUTI and CDI, and TAP reports. Additionally, she served as IP Director for two hospitals collaborating actively with leadership and developing and implementing all aspects of the infection control policies and procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She has been a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Tampa Bay Area Chapter (BAPIC) since 2008.
Sonia received a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and Evaluation from AGM University and a Bachelor of Applied Science from Roosevelt University. She has been certified in Infection Control (CIC) since 2013, in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) since 2016, and in Medical Technology since 2009. She served in the National Naval Reserves (U.S Navy) from 2,000 – 2,004.
Sonia is committed to infection prevention, improvement of patient safety, and the quality of healthcare delivery.