Infection Prevention in Long Term Care - Focus on the Environment

Course overview

In 2016, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), rolled out a 3-year phase-in period for their revised regulations in long-term care settings. The revised regulations require more robust infection control programs. The phase in-period ended in November of 2019, with the expectation that facilities be in full-compliance. This webinar will provide a review of the revised regulations for infection control and why it is important. Participants will learn about: The epidemiologic important pathogens in the long-term setting, as well as emerging ones The key steps needed to create an effective and successful environmental cleaning and disinfection program in the long-term care setting will be outlined, including risk assessment, needed policies and protocols, and staff education and competency. The properties of ideal disinfecting products Several tools such as risk assessment, protocols, and cleaning responsibility grids will be provided that the participant can use in their respective facilities. The over-arching goal of this webinar is to help eliminate the environment as a source of infection. Learning Objectives Discuss the current status of post-acute care (PAC) in the U.S. Describe the new CMS regulations for infection control in long-term care Explain the epidemiology of common pathogens in the long-term care setting Apply best practices to eliminating the environment as a source of infection Conduct infection control risk assessment for the setting Evaluate the properties of an ideal disinfectant for their facility Identify required policies and protocols for an environmental cleaning & disinfection program Establish plans for staff education, training, and competency List resources available to the LTC IP