CE: 0 / IPU: 0

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 @ 1 pm ET

Jennifer Wroniewicz, CMP, DES, Director, Annual Conference

Join us for an engaging session filled with insider tips, essential info and a dash of fun to ensure you’re not just attending APIC25 but absolutely thriving there! Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or a first timer with a bundle of questions, this webinar is your golden ticket to making the most of your conference experience. From navigating the venue like a pro to highlighting must-attend sessions, we’ve got you covered. Plus, get a sneak peek at some of the groundbreaking innovations in infection control and epidemiology that will be showcased. 

Why attend? 

Unlock Secrets: Discover the best-kept secrets of APIC25, from exclusive events to networking opportunities that you won’t want to miss. 

Ease Your Mind: Got questions?

 Get answers! We’re here to make sure you feel prepared, confident, and ready for an unforgettable experience. 

Maximize Your Time: Learn how to tailor your schedule to your interests and professional goals, ensuring you leave the event inspired and informed. 

Don’t miss this chance to kickstart your APIC25 journey on a high note. It’s more than a webinar; it’s your start line for an epic adventure in the world of infection control and epidemiology. Mark Your Calendars! 

This is one pre-event party you won’t want to miss. Secure your spot now and let’s get ready to make APIC25 the best one yet!

Continuing Education (CE) Credit:

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours

Physicians:

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0PRA Category 1 Credits™
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IPUs

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s).
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm

CE: 0 / IPU: 0

Friday, May 16, 2025 @ 1 pm ET

Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC

Let's discuss the challenges faced by healthcare facilities in achieving cleaning and disinfection compliance. We'll learn about organism transmission, protocols for better outcomes, resources in cleaning and surface disinfection, and comparisons of different cleaning and disinfection technologies.

Objectives: 

Explain the relationship between cleaning and disinfection and organism transmission. 

Describe how protocols can help drive better outcomes. 

Discuss the importance of resources in cleaning and surface disinfection. 

Compare/contrast different cleaning and disinfection technologies.

By registering for this webinar you are agreeing to be contacted by APIC industry partner: Metrix

Continuing Education (CE) Credit:

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours

Physicians:

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0 PRA Category 1 Credits™
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IPUs

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s).
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm

CE: 0 / IPU: 0

Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1 pm ET

Kathleen M. McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA

Urine collection and culturing practices are crucial for accurately diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and ensuring patients receive the most effective treatment, which helps prevent over-treatment, additional testing, and antibiotic resistance. Proper collection and culturing minimize contamination, leading to reliable results and better patient outcomes. In this webinar, Kathleen McMullen, Board Certified Infection Prevention and Control expert, Executive Director for Infection Prevention at Mercy and Chair of APIC’s Corporate Director Council, will explore the latest literature, guidelines, and best practices in urine culturing. She will cover methods to refine the processes of collection and testing, with the goal to achieve optimal patient outcomes. 

Objectives:

Understand the importance of reducing urine culture contamination
Identify best practices for collection practices of urine intended for culture  
 Explore the benefits and drawbacks of lab workflows that automatically reflex a concerning urine specimen for culture based on urinalysis results

By registering for this webinar you are agreeing to be contacted by APIC industry partner: BD

Continuing Education (CE) Credit:

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours

Physicians:

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0 PRA Category 1 Credits™
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IPUs

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s).
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm

CE: 0 / IPU: 0

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 @ 1 pm ET

Are you due for CBIC recertification? Join CBIC for an informational and interactive sessions to learn more about infection prevention units (IPUs). We’ll walk you through the recertification process, explore key updates, and share strategies to ensure you maintain your CBIC certification with confidence.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit:

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours

Physicians:

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0 PRA Category 1 Credits™
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IPUs

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s).

1. For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm

CNE/CME/IPU:1 

Thursday, April 24, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Casey Semos, MPH, CIC

This webinar will review cyberattacks and the overall impact they have on healthcare in the US, discuss a real-life example of what can happen during a cyberattack, and provide preparedness solutions for an infection prevention and control department if a cyberattack event occurs.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

 Nursing: 

• APIC designates this activity for 1 Nursing Contact Hour

Physicians: 

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 1 PRA Category 1 Credits™ 
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IPUs: 

• APIC designates this activity for 1 infection prevention unit(s). 
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm 

CE: 0 / IPU: 0

Thursday, April 10, 2025 @ 1 pm ET

Tammy Johnson, RN, BS, CPM and Barb DeBaun, RN, MSN, CIC

Join us for this comprehensive webinar designed to enhance your understanding of the critical pillars that drive patient safety and care quality in diagnostic practices. This session will delve into the foundational concepts of Quality, Diagnostic Safety, Stewardship, and Excellence, with a focus on their interdependence and impact on patient outcomes. Additional focus will be placed on improving the accuracy of a critical laboratory test, blood cultures, which are prone to errors that directly impact patient care quality. Practical insights and actionable strategies that optimize blood culture practices for improved clinical care decisions will be shared.

This webinar is designed for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their diagnostic practices, improve clinical outcomes, and ensure optimal patient safety.

Objectives:

-Review the key pillars of Quality, Diagnostic Safety, Stewardship, and Excellence in healthcare.

-Understand how diagnostic safety, antimicrobial stewardship, and quality outcomes are interconnected and how each influences the other in clinical practice.

-Explore the limitations of traditional blood culture practices and examine the significant implications these limitations have on patient diagnosis and treatment.

-Evaluate the essential role clinicians play in the accurate collection of blood cultures, leveraging evidence-based practices to ensure the best patient outcomes.

-Identify and apply evidence-based strategies that can help mitigate false-positive blood cultures, enabling clinicians to become effective diagnostic stewards.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit:

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours

Physicians:

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0 PRA Category 1 Credits™
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IPUs

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s).
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal force across most industries, transforming the way we live, work, and solve complex problems. It is revolutionizing infection prevention and control (IPC) as well as healthcare, ushering in a new era of efficiency, accuracy, and proactive management. AI is quickly gaining traction as machine learning is being applied to more efficiently address tasks that have required significant human intervention in the past. With the increases in technology, we are now seeing technology approaching or exceeding in some cases a human’s ability to do the same tasks. Yet, what sets AI apart is its capacity to learn and evolve continuously. AI possesses the capability to sift through vast data sets, decipher complex data, anticipate needs, recognize patterns, and make insightful predictions. The integration of AI into IPC reflects a commitment to improving patient outcomes, optimizing healthcare processes, and addressing ethical considerations in the application of AI technologies.  

This series will provide tools for how IPs can become critical coaches in the deployment of these technologies within their organizations as the technology continues to emerge.  

See webinars in this series below. Please note, you will be registering for all webinars in this series.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Aligned and Instrumental: The Future of Infection Prevention and Sterile Processing

CE: 1/IPU: 1 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Garrett Hollembeak and Hank Balch

This presentation will explore the transformative power of AI in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), highlighting how AI-driven tools enhance decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and improve regulatory compliance within sterile processing and high-level disinfection. Attendees will learn how AI tools can streamline tasks, identify workflow deviations, improve communication, and create engaging educational content.

Learning Objectives:

Identify Key AI Applications in IPC and SPD:
Understand the various AI tools such as ChatGPT and DALLE, and how they integrate into daily workflows to streamline tasks, identify root causes of workflow deviations, and ensure compliance with evidence-based practices.

Enhance Communication and Compliance:
Learn how AI applications can improve communication between Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) by bridging the lexicon gap and enhancing compliance through accessible AI-driven solutions.

Create Practical Tools and Engaging Education:
Discover how AI can build practical tools like SBAR and A3 builders to streamline problem-solving and communication processes, and how AI-generated educational materials can enhance the learning experience and retention of critical information for staff.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 

AI Tools in Action  

CE:1/IPU:1 

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Presentation 1: Leveraging AI for faster data analysis

Speaker: Marko Predic

Demonstrating the power of AI to more efficiently process, sort, and condense large Excel data sets. Demonstrating how IPs with limited excel background can become more proficient and save large amounts of time during data processing.

Learning Objectives:

Demonstrate how AI can aid in data processing of excel data sets for novice/intermediate excel users.

Presentation 2: Using ChaGPT as An Assistant During an Outbreak Investigation

Speaker: Carole W. Kamangu

This session will demonstrate how IPs can use free AI tools such as ChatGPT to analyze a datatest during an outbreak. It will also include the importance of following HIPAA rules throughout the process. This simplifies the data analysis process during an outbreak investigation and can allow IPs to scan through data quickly and get a summary much more easily. This is helpful while the outbreak is ongoing and can allow the IP to obtain summary information daily for internal reporting purposes, especially while juggling additional day-to-day obligations from their work.

Learning Objectives:

-Know some quick ways to analyze a dataset during an outbreak investigation by using ChaGPT without filtering large amounts of data. 

-Know how to create a quick summary of your outbreak status for reporting purposes within your team and facility stakeholders

Presentation 3: Using AI technology for NHSN Surgical Site Infection Surveillance at UCSF Health

Speaker: Christy Pak

Showcase tool developed using AI technology for detection and review of SSI cases

______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

How to make PPE and HH training fun and engaging?

CE:1/IPU:1 

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Bassel Molaeb and Bilen

This presentation will introduce the Blue Mirror artificial intelligence (AI) tutor, which is a virtual personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene (HH) trainer app. Blue Mirror is helping organizations improve their PPE and HH training programs in a cost-efficient, reliable, and repeatable way. We will discuss examples of how this tool increases reach and training equity, provides standard and repeatable training, enables fun and engaging training, improves memory retention, and enables fun and engaging training for personal protective equipment and hand hygiene in healthcare facilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Introduce the Blue Mirror artificial intelligence (AI) tutor concept.
• Explain how the Blue Mirror Trainer app increases reach and training equity and provides standard and repeatable training.
• Illustrate how this tool has demonstrated transformative power and provides sustainable, fun, and engaging training for personal protective equipment and hand hygiene in healthcare facilities.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

What Story Does Your NHSN Data Tell You, and How Can You Use AI (Microsoft CoPilot) to Enhance Your Analytics and Help Improve Patient Quality and Safety?

CE:1/IPU:1 

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Dr. Mickey Bansal and Kyle Willey

AI through tools such as CoPilot can be utilized on retrospective NHSN data to help make connections between patients that get surgical site infections compared to the overall surgical procedure population in a single hospital or healthcare system. We will demonstrate manual comparison methods, automated reporting methods, and AI tool methods of data aggregation and utilization in data storytelling.

Learning Objectives:

-Identify what data storytelling is
-Getting the story out of NHSN data
-Manual and automated storytelling
-Using CoPilot AI to make connections and improve storytelling

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

 Nursing: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 Nursing Contact Hours 

Physicians: 

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 4 PRA Category 1 Credits™ 
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IPUs: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 infection prevention unit(s). 
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm 

Ring in the New Year with APIC's Spring 2025 IPC Collaboration Series focusing on Construction and Renovation! This series provides an opportunity for participants to hear from  IPs and various department leaders about best practices and results which can be accomplished when leveraging strong inter-departmental relationships. 

See webinars in this series below. Please note, you will be registering for all webinars in this series.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Collaborative Approach to Effective Environmental Infection Control During Construction in Healthcare 

CE: 1/IPU: 1 

Monday, January 13, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Chris Olson, MBA, M(ASCP)CM, CIC, LTC-CIP, CPHQ and ART GOGUEN, MEPM 

The presentation focuses on the collaboration of science, performance, and facilitation as critical relationships to achieve successful infection prevention and control  

Learning Objectives: 

1. How does the hospital ensure that the contractors that are brought in have the requisite training prior to project commencement?  

2. The science behind healthcare construction containment design and critical check points to observe during containment monitoring.  

3. Some of the Best Practices that are critical to the delivery of exceptional environmental infection control measures during construction in healthcare facilities. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

IP and Healthcare Construction: Built for Safety 

CE:1/IPU:1 

Monday, February 10, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Kristen VanderElzen, MPH, CIC and Rusty Hudson, Assoc. AIA 

New building planning and construction for healthcare is a multi-faceted process. Infection Prevention ICRA’s often focus on the build process (earth moving and physical construction), however, design and commissioning processes are key stages in ensuring the safety of the building for staff and patients. Infection Preventionists (IPs) may not be familiar with the different aspects of commissioning. They need to know how they can ensure that testing best practices are met and the building meets with expected parameters. IPs need to ensure the new owners of the building (Maintenance/Facilities) understand how to prepare and maintain it once they have taken over from the contractor and before patients occupy it. Our different perspectives enable us to identify risks and solutions in a broad sense. Working closely together has allowed us to make quick turnaround on best practice questions and to address potential problems before they arise.  

Learning objectives:  

1. Understand key features related to planning and design for air and water delivery systems in a new/renovated healthcare building.  

2. Identify steps to ensure the building is safe for occupancy.  

3. Describe the as-built review, review of special water systems (RO, etc.) and special air management environments. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Blueprint for health: uniting infection prevention and facilities in construction excellence 

CE:1/IPU:1 

Monday, March 10, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Kelly Zabriskie, BS, MLS, CIC, FAPIC and Chris Reitz  

As our health system continued to grow and construction and renovation projects seemed to escalate, the System Infection Preventionist (IP) and the System Facility Regulatory leaders began to look at our overall process for construction/renovation projects. We identified that there was no consistency in the protocols being followed and we needed to create an aligned approach. Construction/renovation projects can be big or small, scheduled or emergent, performed by in house staff or by contractors; but regardless of the project there needed to be a standardized approach that created a partnership between the facility and infection prevention team to minimize the risks to patients in the hospital. We gathered other stakeholders to join our initiative, including Planning, Desing and Construction (PDC) and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), to brainstorm for a standardized process towards construction projects that removed variation and created consistency. Initially, Bi-weekly ICRA Committees were established at each hospital with defined members and goals to review construction projects. We then instituted a software tool that generated construction permits that required approval by IP and EHS once construction ICRAs were inputted by facilities. In depth education sessions were provided for facilities, infection prevention, PDC and contractors to ensure full understanding and alignment of the new process. A collaborative, coordinated approach helped secure a standardized approach to construction and renovation projects. Over the next year, we followed up with meetings to identify concerns, gaps and areas for improvements with the new aligned process.  

Learning Objectives:  

1.How to foster a collaborative relationship between facilities and IP  

2.Develop a business case for creating a standardized approach for construction/renovation projects  

3.How to identify stakeholders to support your plan -How to sustain engagement and provide improvement 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The IP, the PM and the Construction Site 

CE:1/IPU:1 

Monday, April 7, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Candice Fearon, MSGH, BSN, RN, CIC and Natalie Jordan 

Any construction or renovation project in or around a healthcare setting carries unique considerations and challenges. The Project Managers (PMs) are the leads with the Infection Preventionist (IP) providing support and subject matter expertise. In a large academic medical center, construction and renovations are endless. As such the Facilities Design & Construction (FDC) and Clinical Epidemiology (Epi) departments have over time built a collaborative relationship aimed to provide the safest environment for patients and staff during construction or renovation.  

Learning Objectives:  

1. Understand the collaborative relationship between the Infection Preventionist and Project Manager during construction or renovations projects  

2. Understand the role of the Infection Preventionist during construction or renovation projects 

3. Understand the role of the Project Manager during construction  

4. Recognize the types of projects requiring close collaboration with the Infection Preventionist 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

By registering for this webinar, you agree to be contacted by program sponsor and APIC Industry Partners: i-Health, Inc. and the Chicago Faucet Company. APIC acknowledges i-Health and The Chicago Faucet Company for their commercial support of this educational activity.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

 Nursing: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 Nursing Contact Hours 

Physicians: 

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 4 PRA Category 1 Credits™ 
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IPUs: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 infection prevention unit(s). 
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm 

Word of mouth was that our members wanted to hear more about IPC and oral health! APIC's partnership with ADS (previously OSAP) is back! Join us for a  series focusing on infection prevention and control in the Dental setting.

See webinars in this series below. Please note, you will be registering for all webinars in this series. Each webinar offers 1 continuing education credit, totaling 4 credits for the series.

Clostridium difficile: Perils of a (Dentist) Survivor: CANCELED

(This individual webinar has been canceled due to scheduling conflicts, please stay tuned for more information from APIC. The rest of the webinars in this series are still on schedule.)

CE: 1/IPU: 1 

Wednesday, January 15 , 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Kirsten Roling, DDS

After surviving a Clostridium difficile infection caused by a dental procedure – this dentist is sounding the alarm about an infection that is under-recognized by the dental profession and nearly ended her life.

This webinar will discuss how to apply key principles and develop strategies for infection control and prevention of C. difficile infection within the dental practice, including administrative controls, environmental cleaning, and antimicrobial stewardship.

Learning Objectives:

Review the pathogenesis of C. difficile.

Reduce the incidence of C. difficile through antibiotic stewardship.

Implement a quick action plan for any dental practice to mitigate risk.

Back to Basics: Dental Unit Waterlines 101

CE: 1/IPU: 1 

Thursday, March 27, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH CDIPC

Let’s face it: dental unit waterlines have been the talk of the town lately. However, with all the seminars and presentations out there, many dental professionals are still confused, wishing someone would simply tell them what to do and how often to do it. This course is here to clear the fog! Let’s go back to basics to give straightforward answers on how to maintain dental unit waterlines. You'll learn three simple steps to ensure safe water in your practice—no jargon, no confusion, just the essentials. Join us for a friendly, down-to-earth session that will empower you to take control of your waterlines. Let’s ensure your practice is as safe as possible—for you and your patients.

Learning Objectives: 

Identify the key components and common issues related to dental unit waterline maintenance 

Evaluate current waterline maintenance practices 

Devise a plan for remediation in case of a failed test

Biofilms Inside and Out (of You)

CE: 1/IPU: 1 

Wednesday, April 16 , 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Nancy Dewhirst, RDH

Beyond oral plaque and dental waterlines, microbial biofilms are interesting and important! Let’s use biofilm science to explore the role of biofilms in various chronic and resistant infections as well as balanced health. Identify sources of biofilms in fluids, equipment, and natural or built environments, and controllable routes of exposure. Linking oral, systemic and environmental biofilms with personal susceptibility provides context for dental water safety standards. 

 Learning Objectives:

Understand the microbial and physical nature of biofilms that contribute to chronic and resistant infections. 

Identify and discuss biofilm diseases. 

Explore strategies to manage dental office reservoirs for biofilms.

C-Qual Site Visits: Internal Site Visits to Improve Process and Practice

CE:1/IPU:1 

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Lisa Bozzetti, DDS, and Sarah Deines, PharmD, BCACP, CPHQ

In 2018, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center began internal site visits known as "C-Qual" (Compliance and Quality Assurance). Visits are considered an "everybody teach, everybody learn" opportunity, with findings shared with site leaders and senior leaders across the organization. The goal is to improve patient care & safety and ensure compliance with program requirements across our 20 community-based patient care locations. Multiple systems changes and successes have resulted from this twice-a-year internal site visit program. Although C-Qual visits cross multiple departments at Virgina Garcia, the process for surveying and addressing dental compliance are the emphasis of this webinar.

C-Qual promotes continuous survey readiness activities through structured, repeating, internal site visits that cross multiple healthcare service lines (medical, dental pharmacy) and was developed in response to inconsistent processes across clinic sites for programs with compliance requirements leading to underperformance during HRSA and state site visits, staff confusion and risk to patient safety. Creating an interdisciplinary, ongoing, internal site visit process allowed our organization to measure current state of practice across over 20 patient care locations, provide education on program requirements, identify areas of common concern across locations that needed centralized resources, and provide ongoing check-points for leaders to see progress over time. Site visits include multiple staff and leaders to review multiple programs in a short site visit. The team includes 6 to 8 "site visitors" who each review a different clinical program or area of compliance during a 1 hour visit with a 30 min report out to site leaders. For each C-qual visit, the team of reviewers document their findings and suggestions and report to site leadership teams before leaving the clinic. Over the past 6 years we have observed multiple improvements in our clinical program compliance, greater readiness for external audits, and implementation of organization-wide process improvement.

C-Qual visits have significantly strengthened the Virginia Garcia dental program by identifying key areas where current processes needed improvement. The assessments not only guided the team in making necessary changes but also has enhanced the ability to track and maintain compliance with OSHA and CDC regulations internally. As a result, dental care is safer for patients and team members.

Learning Objectives:

Implement a continuous readiness internal site visit process across dental clinics and other service lines (when applicable) and multiple patient access locations in community-based settings.

Integrate team members into a regularly scheduled site-visit structure to maximize staff, leader and program learning.

Identify needs and develop process improvement plans based on data collected during internal site visits.

Opening a New Hospital Dental Suite: What Your IP Wants You to Know

CE:1/IPU:1 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

Margaret Gilman, MAS, CIC, FAPIC

This presentation will review the development and opening of a new dental suite inside of a pediatric hospital. Differences between community dentistry and hospital-based dentistry will be reviewed, specifically the requirements and regulations for each, as it is vital to understand why a hospital based dental practice is so vastly different. After that groundwork is laid, the presentation will begin with a background of the hospital’s dental practices, highlighting the growth not only of the clinical program but also of the infection control knowledge. Over time, the program evolved from having a community dentistry mindset to a hospital-based mindset when it comes to instruments and following instructions for use, preventative maintenance, and water management.

The presentation will pivot away from background to the development and construction of the new suite, in which details around the design of the suite, the physical construction of the suite, and the post-construction, pre-opening of the suite. Successes are highlighted, along with opportunities for improvement. The majority of the presentation will focus on the post-construction, pre-opening phase, as the majority of the dental and IP partnerships occur in this phase. Instruments will make or break your relationship between IPs and Dental suites and specific examples will be provided of constructive conflict around instrument such as mouth mirrors. Best practices for ensuring appropriate purchasing and approval of instruments, along with ensuring accurate and feasible instructions for use, are presented. Additional consultation and partnership between IP and dental suites would be the creation and oversight of new standard operating procedures, competencies, and pathways for all equipment and instruments, since the route for transporting soiled instruments for reprocessing will have to change when the physical location changes. The final focus is around processes, ensuring equipment and instruments are cared for in a highly reliable manner and a standardized documentation template is presented.

Conclusions drawn will include the importance of the IP and RN relationship, especially in hospital based dental suites, the criticality of the IPs involvement in instrument purchasing and policy development, and the recognition of the regulatory differences between community dentistry and hospital-based practices. The integration of Infection Preventionists and infection prevention practices in dental suites will lead to more successful processes and increase patient and staff safety.

Learning Objectives:

Recognition of the importance of the relationship between Infection Prevention and Dental Suites.

Identify the regulatory differences between hospital-based and community-based dental practices.

Articulate the role of Infection Prevention in dental suites, with a focus on instruments and standard operating procedures.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

 Nursing: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 Nursing Contact Hours 

Physicians: 

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 4 PRA Category 1 Credits™ 
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IPUs: 

• APIC designates this activity for 4 infection prevention unit(s). 
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm 

APIC Government Affairs Panel Discussion and Town Hall Meeting 

CE:0/IPU:0

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 @ 1 pm ET 

APIC 2025 President

Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, APIC

APIC CEO

Devin Jopp, EdD, MS

APIC Government Affairs Team

Lisa Tomlinson, MA, CAE

Nancy Hailpern

Monica Alexander

Public Policy Committee Chair

Melissa Bronstein, MPA, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC

Join us for a panel discussion and town hall on what’s happening in Washington. What is the possible impact on the field of infection prevention and control.  How can IPs get involved?

Continuing Education (CE) Credit: 

In support of improving patient care, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

 Nursing: 

• APIC designates this activity for 0 Nursing Contact Hours 

Physicians: 

• APIC designates this live course activity for a maximum of 0 PRA Category 1 Credits™ 
• Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IPUs: 

• APIC designates this activity for 0 infection prevention unit(s). 
• For more information, please see https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education.htm