APIC and SHEA are partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the 2012 Partnership in Prevention Award. The nature and purpose of the Partnership in Prevention Award is to highlight and promote the work of one hospital that has achieved sustainable improvements based on the concepts of the National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: Roadmap to Elimination and is helping to achieve the goals outlined in the HHS Partnership for Patients. Preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) requires a multidisciplinary and team-based approach involving facility-level executive leaders, clinical leaders, infection control and prevention experts and others.
The award program intends to recognize prevention leaders in the U.S. acute-care community who have achieved wide-scale reduction and progress toward elimination of targeted HAIs. It also intends to showcase the outstanding efforts of clinicians, hospital executives, and hospital facilities who have improved clinical practice through utilization of evidence-based guidelines, achieved and maintained superior prevention results, and advanced best practices to improve patient safety.
Awards will be granted according to specific criteria tied to national standards. The inaugural award will be presented during International Infection Prevention Week, Oct. 15, 2012 in Washington, D.C.
The application deadline is Aug. 1, 2012. For more information about the award, eligibility criteria, data requested, and application process, visit the 2012 Partnership in Prevention Award page on the APIC website.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.