Nations Infection Control Leaders to Convene Futures Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leaders of the nations pre-eminent infection control association will be convening a fall summit in San Diego to explore the challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving field of infection prevention, and to contemplate and help shape the future direction of the profession, the practice, and the association. The by-invitation gathering will be a day and a half, with thought leaders from across the continuum of healthcare, academia, government, and the nonprofit world.

This Summit affords us a tremendous opportunity to harness the experience and insights of many leading experts of the day, in an effort to identify some important themes and potential challenges of future healthcare delivery, explained Jeanne Pfeiffer, RN, MPH, CIC, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the organizers of the Summit. It is our hope that the recommendations that emerge from the Summit, once published, will serve as an important tool for the future.

It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the worlds populations and economies rests on our ability to successfully prevent, control, and otherwise respond to the threat of infectious disease, noted APIC executive director, Kathy Warye. The practice of infection control permeates virtually every aspect of emergency response from dealing with a bioterrorist attack to confronting an emerging public health threat such as SARS and has never been more important. While the challenges are numerous, so too are the opportunities to advance infection control practice as well as the profession.

In addition to hearing views from thought leaders on the future of infection prevention and control, Summit participants will also identify and discuss what infection control professionals will need in the future to meet both existing and emerging demands on their expertise and service. The highlights of these discussions will result in a published report intended to create the foundation for APICs strategic approach for the next three to five years.

APIC is a multi-disciplinary voluntary international health organization with more than 10,000 members whose primary responsibility is infection prevention and control and epidemiology. APICs mission is to improve health and promote patient and employee safety by reducing risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. APIC advances this goal through education, research, collaboration, practice and credentialing.

Source: APIC