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.
Nuggets of Education That Are Perfect for Quick IPC Training
CDC’s Project Firstline (PFL) has created Micro-Learning toolkits. These toolkits have a user guide to orient the facilitator, a discussion guide with talking points, and a job aid for participants to keep. The newest toolkit focuses on diarrhea just in time for winter gastrointestinal season.
Target Audience: Foundations for healthcare workers
Resources:
Ways to Share These Resources
- It can be hard to get time with healthcare workers to do IPC training, so these are perfect bite-sized trainings for change of shift or a quick huddle up.
- The user guide and discussion guide talking points make it easier to have consistency among facilitators.
VDH Southwest Regional Team Infection Prevention Mentorship Program
This month, Paige Bordwine, Southwest Regional Epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is highlighting the successes of an infection prevention mentorship program among health department staff in her region.
The Southwest Virginia Regional Infection Prevention team consists of three infection preventionists (IPs), supported by regional containment team members who assist with COVID-19 investigation and prevention. To strengthen IPC expertise and expand regional support, the IPs began mentoring containment team members. Through shadowing during on-site IPC assessments, mentees gained hands-on experience in conducting observations, providing education, and offering resources to address facility needs.
After facilities receive their recommendations report, an IP mentee follows up to address questions and needs, as well as provide education, observations, and interventions based on the IPC assessment. Notably, many skilled nursing and congregate care facilities lacked trained N95 fit testers. In response, the regional team assigned a specialist to conduct train-the-trainer sessions and assist with initial fit testing.
The Southwest Region has received excellent feedback on the value of the IP mentee program. Facilities benefit from mentee support, while mentees gain infection prevention experience, often using the program as a pathway to becoming infection preventionists and pursuing certification in infection control. Mentees describe the experience as rewarding, impactful, and an invaluable learning opportunity.
