The Infection Control Professional in Long-term Care
Posted By Chris on January 16, 2012
An Infection Control professional working in Long-term Care is also referred to as an ICP (Infection Control Professional) or Infection Control Nurse. More recently the term Infection Preventionist has been introduced to describe the position. ICP’s are usually required to be a licensed Registered or Vocational Nurse, depending on state regulations and in Long-term Care, the job of Infection Control Nurse is frequently assigned to Staff Developers, adding to their already endless list of responsibilities. This is a big job and really, out of fairness to all concerned, deserves to be filled with someone with at least some background in Infection Control. Consider some of the duties assigned to the Infection Preventionist:
Surveillance: In infection control, surveillance is the term used to describe the function of observing, gathering, investigating and reviewing information about the patient as it pertains to infection prevention and control.
Patient Assessment: Accurately reporting signs, symptoms, and changes in condition and initiating isolation precautions as indicated.
Tracking and Trending: Tracking and trending information gathered from surveillance; Practicing outbreak prevention and investigation, monitoring rates of infection and communicating findings in the form of verbal and written reports.
Orientation and Staff Education: Educating staff, patients and families to Infection Prevention. Monitoring staff compliance with basic infection control principles such as; hand washing, isolation, transmission based precautions, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Monitoring Antibiotic Usage: Reviewing and reporting antibiotic usage and trends of antibiotic resistance reported in antibiograms.
Revising Policies and Procedures: Participates in updating policies and procedures needed to maintain compliance with current recommendations from agencies of the federal and local government such as; OSHA, the CDC, state and local departments of health.
Conducting Environmental Rounds: Monitoring department compliance with Infection Control guidelines; conducting environmental rounds and consultation as needed.
Monitoring Employee Health: This may or may not be the direct responsibility of the Infection Preventionist. Responsibilities include annual physicals and tuberculosis screening for new hires and employees, offering influenza and Hepatitis B. vaccines, keeping accurate employee records, initiating workplace restrictions if indicated, becoming familiar with OSHA regulations and educating staff to Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens standards.
Each facility will have their own policies and procedures regarding the expectations of the Infection Control Designee. Responsibilities may be shared but usually are not. Hopefully, the Infection Control Professinal will be given the support they require to do their job efficiently and with satisfaction.