APIC to Provide National Healthcare Safety Network Trainings Throughout Texas

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has been selected by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide free training courses for Texas healthcare professionals on the use of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). DSHS awarded APIC with a grant to provide trainings in 15 different locations across the state from December 2010 to April 2011.

The NHSN is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s online healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance system. New requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as Texas state regulations, have increased HAI reporting requirements for healthcare facilities. APICs courses will educate healthcare professionals on the proper entry and tracking of HAIs in NHSN in order to fully comply with new requirements.

"APIC is excited to be working with Texas healthcare professionals to increase transparency and accuracy of HAI data collection," says APIC interim CEO Robert T. Van Hook, MSPH, CAE. "Accurate reporting is essential for assessing health outcomes and improving patient safety. Collaboration between infection prevention experts, healthcare facilities, and government agencies is one of the most effective ways to improve this process and protect patients."

For more information on the NHSN training courses, as well as dates and locations, visit www.apic.org/TexasNHSN.