APIC’s Post

A recent report from APIC reveals that 25% of for-profit nursing homes surveyed are not meeting federal infection prevention standards, a finding that is both alarming and likely to prompt increased regulation and significant industry changes in infection control practices. One of the most frequently cited issues during audits, particularly for nursing homes that operate their own laundries, is the improper maintenance of water temperatures. Many facilities either struggle to maintain the required temperatures or lack a system to monitor them effectively. This has resulted in numerous citations from local Departments of Health or The Joint Commission. If you are uncertain whether your laundry services comply with infection prevention guidelines and standards, please feel free to contact me, I can help you. #nursinghomes #apic #infectionprevention #linen #curtains #uniforms

Demand for more Clinical Nurse Specialists Grows in Complex Care Settings and Globally! This integrative review found that during the Covid-19 pandemic, CNSs were critical to success in perioperative settings. - establishing protocols in times of crises - expertise in infection control - expertise in patient education - coordination of care activities - creating new guidelines - consultant for complex patients = improved PATIENT OUTCOMES

Best Practices for hospital operation Best practices in hospitals are essential for delivering high-quality patient care, ensuring patient safety, and optimizing operational efficiency. By implementing clear communication protocols, efficient workflows, staff training and development, patient-centered care approaches, quality improvement initiatives, infection control measures, emergency preparedness plans, technology integration, patient safety protocols, and collaboration with community partners, hospitals can enhance the overall healthcare experience for patients and improve outcomes. Prioritizing these best practices can lead to better patient outcomes, increased staff satisfaction, and a stronger reputation for the hospital within the community.

🚨 From Apex Health Associates: Discover the critical fight against HAIs in UK healthcare. Our latest blog explores the intersection of legal and clinical measures in infection control. 🏥💡 #NHS #Infection #HAIs #Nursing #Healthcare #InfectionControl https://lnkd.in/eDF23fkb

🌟 The Vital Role of Laundry Services in Nursing Homes 🌟 As our population ages, the demand for nursing homes and long-term care facilities is on the rise. In these settings, where the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens is paramount, the importance of professional laundry services often goes unnoticed. However, these services play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, which directly impacts resident safety and comfort. 🔍 Infection Control & Hygiene One of the biggest challenges nursing homes face is managing the risk of infections. With healthcare-associated infections

😐 Why the Infection prevention in special needs home is so hard? Learn more on Soapy's latest blog post. If you work in one, please share insights and comments! #HAI #LTC #SNF #healthcare #SoapyGlobal

This new 12-month webinar series begins January 9th, Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy and High Risk Tags. This series is designed to empower nursing home professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the top risk areas associated with Immediate Jeopardy citations. Drawing from real-life examples of IJ citations, you will delve into actionable solutions to prevent these critical citations in facilities. Elopement, Falls & Accidents, Abuse & Neglect, Quality of Care, Infection Control, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Medication Errors, Pressure Ulcers, Changes in Condition, Competent Nursing Staff, Nutrition & Hydration, and Respiratory Care will be covered. Register now to attend this series that will run the 2nd Tuesday of each month: https://lnkd.in/eb6W_nS5

🤓 Soapy's new blog post is quite an interesting view of the infection prevention approach for special needs housing, nursing homes, and community living. 😷 What are the similarities and differences between them, and why are they different? Soapy - Clean Hands, Clean Data Sophie Blair #handhygiene #innovation #technology #healthcare #snf #ltc #infectionprevention

Noticed an Infection Preventionist finger-licking before turning pages? That might just land you an F880 tag! 😟 This is one of the many insights our experimental, AI-generated audit checklists reveal. Dive into our first two f-tags: F880: Infection Control - https://lnkd.in/d3gyiggk F812: Kitchen & Food Service - https://lnkd.in/dbYytiEs Our goal is to to make the vast amount of monthly facility citations more accessible and actionable for Compliance Officers, healthcare consultants, Nursing Home Administrators (NHAs), and Directors of Nursing (DONs). We believe that in the right format, and with the help of AI, these detailed surveyor reports can help better inform professionals and drive learning and improvement. 👉 Interested in more audits based on the most recent citations? Share your thoughts in the comments!

SPD Staffing Shortages: Implications for Patient Safety and Outcomes Sterile processing departments (SPDs) are an essential part of healthcare facilities' infection prevention measures, ensuring proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments. However, the critical role played by SPDs in patient safety can be overlooked, leading to issues with inadequate staffing. The impact of staffing shortages on SPDs can be severe, including burnout, lower productivity, and poor quality, ultimately compromising patient safety and outcomes.