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.
The Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow Is Back This Summer
The Infection Prevention Educator Roadshow is hosted by the VDH HAI & AR Program and will be coming to a location near you in summer 2024.
More About This Resource
- This free training is focused on building your skills to educate healthcare workers on infection prevention and will be a hands-on learning day.
- Participants may come from all practice settings. Last year, participants came from acute care, long-term care, EMS, health department, behavioral health, congregate settings, public health, and more. All are welcome.
- This will be an all-new training; previous attendance not required. If you came to Roadshow 2023, there will be all new lessons this year, so please join us again!
- Register online – seats are filling up!
For questions about this training resource, contact ginger.vanhoozer@vdh.virginia.gov
Target Audience: Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced IPC levels
Reinforcing Healthy Behaviors: A Special Dialysis Christmas Shop at UVA Zions Crossroads
Promoting healthy habits in chronic disease patients can be challenging, but UVA Zions Crossroads Dialysis offers a creative example. Administrative Assistant S.P. and Registered Dietician K.G. planned and led a unique Dialysis Christmas Shop to encourage positive behaviors.
Planning and Participation: The event takes over a year to organize and requires stable staffing, so it isn’t held every year. About 90% of the shop’s items are new, sourced through yard sales, staff donations (often re-gifted), and include practical gifts like blenders, grills, jackets, tools, and children’s presents for grandparents.
Purpose and Pricing: Many dialysis patients have limited incomes, and the holidays can be stressful. Items are priced affordably so everyone can participate. Some patients even share leftover “dialysis dollars” to help others buy special gifts.
Earning ‘Dialysis Dollars’: Starting in September, patients earn ‘dialysis dollars’ by demonstrating healthy behaviors, including:
- Controlling phosphorus levels (monthly measured)
- Managing fluid intake (reviewed by K.G. over 7 treatments)
- Consistently attending dialysis sessions
- Staying for the full treatment time
- Completing an educational crossword puzzle
Patients can earn up to $15, and these dollars cannot be taken away, even if unexpected events occur (hospitalization, surgery, transportation issues). Education is provided on why these behaviors matter.
Impact: Three motivated patients earned the full $15 for shopping, and most of the 44 patients participated. Extra items were raffled off to spread holiday cheer.
This initiative shows that positive reinforcement can bring joy and promote health in a chronic disease community during the holidays.
