Infection Prevention and Control
Carilion Clinic Infection Prevention and Control supports our mission of research, teaching and patient care by reducing the risk of acquiring infections and preventing the transmission of infectious agents among patients, visitors and staff. We are committed to collaborating with healthcare p...
VLIPP Grant Overview
In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Carilion Clinic is engaging long-term care and skilled nursing facilities to enhance infection prevention and control programs across the continuum of care. Our goal is to work with facilities and supplement their efforts to prevent the spread of disease and to foster a safe environment of care for staff and residents. Our dedicated infection prevention team will partner with your facility to:
- Improve interfacility communication and collaboration between long-term care and skilled nursing facilities and acute care hospitals
- Mitigate the transmission of infections across the continuum of care
- Decrease healthcare-associated infections
Staying in the Know Webinar Series
Staying in the Know Webinar Series
The Carilion Clinic VLIPP team hosts quarterly webinars focused on infection prevention and control topics focused on long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. The target audience for the webinar series is administrators, directors of nursing, infection preventionists and team members in the long-term care community who play a role in infection prevention and control.
Staying in the Know: Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) Infections in Long-term Care Facilities
In this webinar, recorded March 14, 2024, we hear from experts, Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD, system hospital epidemiologist and medical director of Infection Prevention and Control for the Carilion Clinic health system; Paige Bordwine, MPH, MT(ASCP), regional epidemiologist for Virginia Department of Health serving the Southwest Region of Virginia; and Sylvia Abbeyquaye, PhD, MPA, RN, a healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience in long-term care. They discuss Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) Infections, learn practical tips for preventing spread of iGAS infections in your facility and identify and report on outbreaks of iGAS.
Staying in the Know: Having Fun with Infection Prevention Education
Ginger Vanhoozer, infection prevention and control educator for the Virginia Department of Health's HAI/AR program, leads the webinar, covering topics such as:
- Creative thinking for delivering infection prevention education
- The power of fun in facilitating knowledge retention
- Unique ways to deliver infection prevention education to your staff
Please click the link below to view the recorded webinar.
Staying in the Know: Demystifying Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Staying in the Know: Demystifying Enhanced Barrier Precautions, our second webinar focused on infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities, was held Aug. 31, 2023.
Sylvia Abbeyquaye, PhD, MPA, RN, an expert in nursing and infection control in long-term care settings, presented on enhanced barrier precautions.
Staying in the Know: Why Infection Control in Long-Term Care Matters
This presentation occurred on June 15, 2023. The content is geared toward administrators, directors of nursing, infection preventionists, case managers and any team members of long-term care communities who play a role in infection prevention and control.
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD, medical director of Infection Control at Carilion Clinic, presented on the importance of infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities.
Staying in the Know: Mastering QAPI for Infection Prevention and Control
Staying in the Know: Mastering QAPI for Infection Prevention and Control. Prented by Dr. Sylvia Abbeyquaue. This presentation occurred on July 30th, 2024. Learning topics covered include:
- Application of QAPI to improving infection prevention practices
- Identification of quality benchmarks
- Development of strategies for data collection and analysis
- Implementation of QAPI-driven initiatives to enhance infection prevention and control outcomes
Infection Prevention Workshop for LTC IPs
Session 1: Identifying Common Challenges Related to Infection Prevention in Your Facility
In Part 1 of this two-part workshop held on February 27, 2024, Sylvia Abbeyquaye PhD, MPA, RN, introduces participants to skills and tools that help infection preventionists identify facility education needs. Assessing learning needs aids in developing a plan for targeted training for long-term care staff.
After reviewing the video, 1 CEU is available by completing the evaluation and knowledge questions.
Session 2: Content Development, Implementation, and Evaluation
In Part 2 of the workshop, held on April 2nd, 2024, Sylvia Abbeyquaye PhD, MPA, RN, discusses how to design, implement and evaluate appropriate training, and provides information on Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI).
After reviewing the video, 1 CEU is available by completing the evaluation and knowledge questions.
Infection Prevention Resources
External Resources
Virginia Infection Prevention and Control Training Alliance (VIPTA)
The Virginia Infection Prevention and Control Training Alliance (VIPTA) is designed to provide resources to anyone who is searching for information about infection prevention and control, healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and/or antimicrobial stewardship.
2023 Building Bridges to a Culture of Care Conference
2023 Building Bridges to a Culture of Care: Advancing Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care
On Oct. 3, 2023, Carilion Clinic Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) hosted Building Bridges to a Culture of Care: Advancing Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care.
The conference brought leaders, infection preventionists and healthcare partners from 34 facilities across Southwest Virginia together with health department partners and a multidisciplinary team from Carilion Clinic to discuss practical, evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies. The conference provided a platform to highlight shared challenges and strategies to overcome these challenges.
The educational conference is part of our grant work with the Virginia Long-Term Care Infrastructure Pilot Project (VLIPP). Carilion Clinic IPC was awarded part of the CDC STRIKE funding through the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to support and strengthen infection prevention and control programs in nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Southwest Virginia.
Conference Materials - Building Bridges to a Culture of Care: Advancing Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care
Handouts from Building Bridges to a Culture of Care: Advancing Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care Conference
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD, medical director of Carilion Clinic Infection Prevention and Control, provided an introduction to the conference.
Session 1: Communication Across Care Transitions with Long-Term Care Settings: Infection Control Implications
Michelle Doll, MD, VCU Health System hospital epidemiologist, presented on Communication Across Care Transitions with Long-Term Care Settings: Infection Control Implications. Click the links below for the session 1 video and slides.
Session 2: Confusion in the Long-Term Care Setting (It's not always a UTI)
Sarah Stubbs, MD, and Barbie Wagnon, NP, from the Carilion Clinic Center for Healthy Aging, presented on Care of the Elderly and Confused Patient in Long-Term Care Settings: Implications for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control. Click on the links below for the session 2 video and slides.
Session 3: Leveraging Daily Nursing Bedside Activities to Enhance Infection Control in Long-Term Care Settings, Sylvia Abbeyquaye, PhD, MPA, RN
Sylvia Abbeyquaye, PhD, MPA, RN, presented on Leveraging Daily Nursing Bedside Activities to Enhance Infection Control in Long-Term Care Settings. Click on the links below for the session 3 video and slides.
Partners in Care: The Role of the VDH Southwest Regional Team in Supporting Long-term Care Facilities
Paige Bordwine, MPH, MT(ASCP), the southwest regional epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) presented on The Role of the VDH Southwest Regional Team in Supporting Long-term Care Facilities in Our Region. Click on the links below for the Partners in Care video and slides.
2024 Building Bridges to a Culture of Care Conference
Building Bridges to a Culture of Care 2024: Advancing Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care
Date: June 18, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
The 2024 conference theme underscored the paramount importance of nurturing a culture of care within our communities. It presented a unique opportunity for professionals engaged in infection prevention within long-term care settings to convene for a day of insightful discussions, networking and practical learning.
Designed to unite healthcare professionals and stakeholders, the conference explored evidence-based strategies for infection prevention and control. Esteemed experts shared their knowledge, fostering meaningful dialogue and the establishment of supportive networks.
Key Highlights for the 2024 Conference:
A Keynote Address: Delivered by a distinguished expert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the keynote speech provided invaluable insights and practical strategies for preventing and controlling outbreaks within long-term care settings.
Networking Opportunities: Attendees had the chance to connect with peers and industry leaders in long-term care facilities, fostering collaboration and the exchange of best practices.
Evidence-Based Strategies: Participants gained practical insights and actionable strategies to implement within their facilities, empowering them to elevate infection prevention standards and safeguard the well-being of those under their care.
2024 Conference Agenda
Please select the link below for the 2024 conference agenda.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, MD, medical director of Carilion Clinic Infection Prevention and Control, provided an introduction to the conference.
Session 1: Infection Prevention and Control Implications for the Use and Management of Indwelling Medical Devices in Long-Term Care
Michelle Doll, MD, VCU Health System hospital epidemiologist, presented Infection Prevention and Control Implications for the Use and Management of Indwelling Medical Devices in Long-Term Care.
Breakout Sessions
- Surveillance Scenarios presented by Matthew Skinner, MPH
- Nurturing the Caregiver: Self Care for Long-Term Professionals presented by Lindsay McKinnon, Carilion Wellness
- Building an IPC Skills Day, presented by Steve Carter, MPH
Session 2: Engaging Staff to Improve Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-term Care Setting
Sylvia Abbeyquaye, Phd, MPA, RN, presented Engaging Staff to Improve Infection Prevention and Control in the Long-term Care Setting.
Session 3: Your Health Department and You: Collaborating for the Health of Our Communities
Paige Boardwine, MPH, regional epidemiologist with VDH, and Hope White, MPH, senior epidemiologist with VDH, presented Your Health Department and You: Collaborating for the Health of Our Communities.
Session 4 Keynote: Preventing and Managing Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Long-Term Care
Heather Jones, DNP, NP-C, Long Term Care Team, Prevention and Response Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, delivered the keynote presentation: Preventing and Managing Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Long-Term Care.
Session 5: VLIPP Successes and Highlights
Mai Jatta, MSN, RN, CIC, Steve Carter, MPH, and Matthew Skinner, MPH, presented highlights from the Virginia Long-Term Care Infrastructure Pilot Project (VLIPP).
