Columbia University Nursing Professor Receives APIC's Distinguished Scientist Award

Patricia Stone, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Centennial Professor in health policy and director of the Center for Health Policy at Columbia University School of Nursing, will receive the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
 
Given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the science of infection prevention and control as determined by the APIC Research Committee, the award will be presented at APIC’s 44th Annual Conference, June 14-16, in Portland, Oregon.
 
“Dr. Stone’s research has increased our understanding of the infection control structures and practices that are needed to prevent healthcare-associated infections, and importantly, has informed national policies and guidelines aimed at preventing patient harm,” said Linda Greene, RN, MPS, CIC, FAPIC, 2017 APIC president. “APIC is very proud to honor her in this way.”
 
Over the past two decades, Stone has focused her research on the impact of organizational factors and various processes of care on patient safety outcomes and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). An expert in cost-effectiveness analysis, she has applied her economic expertise to help quantify the financial and personal costs of HAIs, and ultimately the cost-effectiveness of processes of care that reduce infections. She is one of only a few nurse researchers who understands the complexity of conducting such comparative and economic evaluations in the context of preventing HAIs and has been the principal investigator on various federal and foundation grants to conduct large-scale, national studies to inform effective healthcare policy and practice.
 
Stone has served on national health policy-making committees, and her work has been cited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the “National Action Plan to Prevent HAIs” and in guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  
 
Stone will be delivering a lecture when she receives the award, Thursday, June 15, and a session with her Columbia University colleagues on Friday, June 16, on the State of the Art in Nursing Home Infection Prevention. 
 
Source: APIC