Pennsylvania Executive Receives APIC's 2016 Healthcare Administrator Award

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) today presented Beth Duffy, chief operating officer, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery (EMCM) in East Norriton, Penn., with its 2016 Healthcare Administrator Award. The award, presented at APIC’s 43rd Annual Conference in Charlotte, N.C., is given annually to a member of a healthcare facility’s executive team who champions infection prevention efforts.

“Ms. Duffy has been a tremendous supporter of infection prevention and patient safety at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery and sets an example for other leaders,” said APIC 2016 President Susan Dolan, RN, MS, CIC. “Her backing included allocating appropriate financial and personnel resources to ensure successful implementation of infection prevention initiatives that have improved patient safety and quality of care.”

Under her leadership at EMCM, infection prevention has continually been a high priority. Duffy has increased the number of positions in the infection control department, helped to troubleshoot roadblocks, educated staff on the importance of prevention initiatives, and provided leadership on infection prevention action groups.
Duffy’s advocacy for infection prevention has made a significant impact on the medical center. Her support was instrumental in the success of EMCM’s “Wash in/Wash out” campaign to increase hand hygiene compliance. The campaign exceeded its goal with 87 percent compliance.

Duffy is described by her colleagues as a hands-on leader whose focus on infection prevention is felt throughout the entire organization. During a “shadow” day with front-line staff, it was expected that Duffy would merely observe and provide recommendations. Instead, she worked side-by-side with team members, emptying trash bins, feeding patients, greeting visitors, and even donning personal protective equipment to scrub the base of a surgical table.

APIC 2016 Annual Conference, June 11-13, is the most comprehensive infection prevention conference in the world, with more than 60 educational sessions and workshops led by experts from across the globe and attended by nearly 4,000 professionals. The conference aims to provide infection preventionists, physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, educators, administrators, and medical technologists with strategies that can be implemented immediately to improve prevention programs and make healthcare safer. Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #APIC2016.