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.
It’s Not Just a Room Turnover: It’s Infection Prevention
Did you know that patients admitted to rooms where the previous occupant had a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) face a higher risk of acquiring that same organism? Every day, environmental services (EVS) professionals work alongside frontline healthcare staff to reduce this risk and protect patients and residents. When we support EVS teams, we strengthen the entire infection prevention system.
What to Expect and How to Use It: With some EVS staff receiving as little as three days of training, and 83% learning on the job, education needs to be quick, practical, and built into their daily workflow.
- Onboarding: Project Firstline Training Toolkit for Environmental Services (EVS) Staff – A comprehensive training plan that builds both the why and the how, helping EVS staff confidently step into their role as essential infection prevention team members.
- New Refreshers: CDC EVS Microlearns – Quick, practical micro-learns covering key topics like contact time, when to change gloves, and maintaining clean and safe EVS carts, perfect for reinforcing skills in just a few minutes.
- New Observation & Support: VDH Daily Room Cleaning Checklist – A simple, structured checklist to guide room cleaning from start to finish, helping standardize workflows and ensure no critical steps are missed.
Target Audience: Essential IPC Education Level
✨ Celebrating Virginia’s Infection Prevention Leaders at APIC 2025 Annual Conference
Congratulations to the incredible APIC Virginia members – and all attendees from our state – who represented Virginia with excellence at the APIC 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona!
Their dedication to advancing infection prevention was on full display as they shared their expertise, innovative practices, and real-world insights with colleagues from around the world.
These presenters exemplify the spirit of collaboration and commitment to infection prevention and patient safety that defines our Virginia infection prevention community:
Karen McGoldrick, MT (ASCP), CIC, CHOP of Sentara Leigh Hospital – Presented on “Fridays @ 4” highlighting the critical role IPs play in emergency and outbreak responses. Karen was also part of the conference planning committee, and she moderated eight presentation sessions.
Sue Felber, LPN, AAS, CIC and Krista Byalik, BS, CIC of Sentara Health System – Shared findings from “Mentorship Adaptations When Team Structure, Experience and Geography Present Unique Barriers” focused on the importance of mentorship and tailored approach to new IP onboarding.
Maimuna Jatta, MSN, RN, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC of Carilion Clinic – Delivered a session on “Transforming IPC Outcomes Through Strategic Staffing Expansion” discussing the value of the IPs and how resource allocation for IPC ensures both patient safety and financial stewardship. Maimuna was also named as a Fellow of APIC, joining a list of leaders in the field of infection prevention.
Abigal Cunanan, MS, MLS(ASCP), CPHQ, CIC of Inova Health System – Presented a poster on “Redefining Isolation Practices: Streamlining Discontinuation Protocols for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Multi-Hospital Health System” highlighting a protocol aimed to improve patient experience, reduce excessive personal protective equipment use, and expedite room turnover.
Kathleen Manchin, MPH, BSN, CIC of Carilion Clinic – Shared findings from “Engaging Travel Nurses to Improve Infection Prevention Bundle Compliance and HAI Reduction” focused on ensuring contract travel nurses follow and adhere to organization-specific infection prevention standards and practices.
Heather Gutierrez, MSI, BSN, RN, CIC of Riverside Health System – Delivered a poster on “Implementation of Copper Silver Ionization System to Control Legionella in a Community Hospital Water System” discussing innovation in healthcare focused on the use of copper silver ionization system in healthcare water system management.
Awards and Accolades: The Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center (VIPTC), led by Kaila Cooper, MSN, RN, CIC of VCU Health brought home to our state the GRAND PRIZE of APIC25 Film Festival with their video submission titled “Chain of Transmission with C. difficile”. Congratulations on shining bright at APIC and highlighting the incredible work at VIPTC.
Each speaker made us proud by contributing to the advancement of infection prevention and control practices not only in Virginia, but globally. Thank you to all the presenters and attendees who represented Virginia at APIC25. Your leadership and knowledge-sharing are vital to our profession and the health of our communities.
