VIPTA is a statewide infection prevention and control education collaborative, led by the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group. Through partnership, VIPTA curates IPC resources for Virginia’s healthcare, congregate care, and public health settings.
“Wait – Do I Need PPE for This?” Making Sense of Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Infection prevention in long-term care takes teamwork—and sometimes a little extra reinforcement. It’s been a year since CMS formally added Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) to infection control guidance, and that big question— “Do I need PPE for this?”—still comes up.
EBP expands personal protective equipment (PPE) use beyond isolation, applying to high-contact care like wound care, changing linens, and bathing. EBP is key to stopping the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in long-term care facilities, but it takes clear systems and consistent staff education to make it stick.
What to Expect: This month’s resources are designed to meet your team where they are—whether you’re providing direct care, coordinating therapy, or supporting infection prevention efforts facility-wide.
- 8 Moments of Enhanced Barrier Precautions: Simple visual education tool. If you’ve ever heard “Do I need PPE for this?”—this tool is your new best friend. Also available in 8 other languages!
- VDH’s Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes Algorithm: This decision-making tool breaks down when and why to use EBP in plain language.
- CDC’s EBP Implementation—Observations Tool: Built for infection preventionists and facility leads, this resource helps track EBP use and identify areas for coaching
How to Use These Resources:
- Share the 8 Moments visual in breakrooms, care stations, huddles, or staff emails.
- Use the algorithm and observation tool to support your facility’s infection control plan or prep for survey readiness.
Enhanced Barrier Precautions are a big shift, but they’re not a solo effort. Whether you’re providing direct care or leading infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts, these tools are here to help you do the work and explain the why. Infection prevention is always evolving, but so are we.
Celebrating Virginia’s AL-CIP Leaders
The Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP) launched in 2025. Since then, 11 Virginia infection preventionists (IPs) have earned this advanced credential. We spoke with Jessica Fielek and Tracey Odachowski from Sentara, and Becky Lapian from Inova, about their experience and advice for future applicants.
Why earn the AL-CIP?
Jessica Fielek said, “I chose to pursue the AL-CIP certification because I believe it represents the culmination of the leadership and infection prevention work that many IPs perform every day, often without a great deal of recognition. The certification provides a unique opportunity to showcase the impact of our work, not only to the selection committee but also to our peers and organizations.”
Tracey Odachowski shared, “Being a new certification and an early recipient, I feel it demonstrates my commitment to infection prevention advancements, leadership, and professional influence.”
Lessons Learned
Becky Lapian said, “The most challenging part was figuring out how to fit my experience and evidence into the different domains and subdomains. Connecting each piece of evidence to the specific domains and then writing the rationale to clearly explain the connection took some thought. It really made me reflect on the breadth of my experience and the impact of the work I’ve done.”
Her advice: “Go for it! Don’t underestimate the work you’ve already done or the experience you’ve gained as an IP. Take the time to really highlight your accomplishments and think about the impact of your work. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on your growth and showcase what you bring to the profession.”
Jessica added, “My biggest piece of advice is to carefully review the AL-CIP handbook several times before you begin and take advantage of any informational webinars or educational sessions offered about the certification. Understanding the requirements and domains upfront can save a great deal of time as you begin selecting and organizing your portfolio evidence. I would also encourage applicants to focus on collecting strong evidence and clearly articulating their specific leadership role within each project. Many infection preventionists contribute to numerous successful initiatives, but it is important to demonstrate how you personally influenced the work, led change, or contributed to achieving the outcomes.”
Interested in earning your AL-CIP?
Review the AL-CIP Handbook and access webinars to better understand requirements, organize your portfolio, and prepare a strong application.
Get personalized support at any stage. Book a coaching session with a current AL-CIP through the VDH HAI/AR Program’s Infection Prevention Educator Boost Sessions.
