New APIC Course Helps Infection Preventionists Manage HAI Data

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has developed the innovative EPI Analytics Virtual Learning Lab that will teach infection preventionists (IPs) to convert complex data into meaningful information.

The new course is a departure from previous APIC educational online offerings in that it provides students with a structured experience to systematically build practical skills for real-world infection prevention situations. This virtual, instructor-led class is designed to help novice IPs build the techniques needed to effectively manage, analyze, and communicate data. Increased transparency and public reporting of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data may have financial and reputational implications for healthcare organizations.

“Data must not only be gathered but intentionally used to drive performance,” says APIC clinical advisor Linda R. Greene, RN, MPS, CIC.  “This course will enable users to take data and turn it into useful information which can be utilized to give feedback to care providers, drive improvement efforts, inform administrators of progress toward goals, and make the business case for infection prevention.”

This course includes take-home assignments and data-related questions similar to those on the Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC®) exam. It begins on Oct. 27, 2014 and runs for six weeks. Certification review exercises with answers and rationales will be available to those completing the program.

The EPI Analytics Virtual Learning Lab is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Covidien, an APIC Strategic Partner.

Source: APIC