Core competencies for the Infection Prevention and Control Professional

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Core competencies for the Infection Prevention
and Control Professional

• Ramona Rodrigues M.Sc(A), CIC
• Manager, Infection Prevention and Control
• McGill University Health Centre
• Associate Professor, McGill University, School of
  Nursing

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Mission

• To prevent health care associated infections and
  to ensure a safe and secure environment with
  quality clinical practice in a health care system
  that is in constant evolution.

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Core competencies

• Define conditions that increase the likelihood
  that highly-qualified infection prevention and
  control practice will be provided
• Provide the basis for educational programs for
  professionals
• Identify areas for professional growth
• Develop job descriptions
• Provide criteria for performance evaluations

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Core competencies

• Essential knowledge
• Multiple skill sets
• Attitudes
• Judgment
• Define accountability and the expectation
  required to exercise and apply the profession in
  clinical practice

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Role and Professional Practice standards

• First published
• 1991 in Quebec by AIPI (Bibliothèque nationale du
  Quèbec, 4em trimestre 1991, ISBM 2-802784-0-8)
• 1997 in Canada and US with CHICA and APIC (
  published in AJIC Am J Infect Control
  19992747-51)
• 2000 in United Kingdom with ICNA (www.icna.co.uk)
• 2005 in Quebec with OIIQ, AIPI and CHICA-Montreal
  (request for a recognised specialization -
  pending)

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Objective

• Role
• Relevant core competencies

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Role
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Core competenciesMedical microbiology

• Knowledge and understanding of
• Micro-organisms (colonization, infection and
  contamination)
• Resistant and emerging organisms
• Marker organisms for immediate review and
  investigation
• Laboratory processes
• Various test methods
• Specificity and sensitivity of testing
• Specimen collection and transport
• Interpretation of results

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Core competencies Infectious diseases

• Knowledge and understanding of
• Epidemiology of infections
• in various populations (pediatrics, geriatrics,
  adults, teens, day cares, military, etc)
• Reservoirs and incubation periods
• Mode of transmission and periods of
  communicability
• Prevention and containment strategies

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Core competencies Biostatistics and epidemiology

• Has an understanding and knowledge of
• Various statistical methods
• Confounding variables, bias, limits
• Stratifying data (risk factors, etc.)
• Presenting data and calculating rates (P values,
  confidence intervals, risk stratification, odds
  ratios)
• Critically analysing data

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Core competencies Pharmacology

• Understands the principles of
• Antimicrobial chemotherapy
• Treatments, prophylaxis, side effects
• Resistance development
• Antibiotic control measures

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Core competencies Immunology

• Understand the mechanisms of
• The Immune response ( local and systemic)
• Immunization
• Immunocompromised host

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Core competencies Behavioural and Social Sciences

• Understanding the principals of
• Adult learner
• Theories on social behaviour
• Behaviour changes
• Organisational and political cultures

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Role
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Core competencies Clinical care practices

• Knowledge and experience in
• Human physiology (normal and disease)
• respiratory, digestive, urinary, etc.
• Nursing practice
• Understanding of the various nursing practices
• Medicine, surgery, operating room, Geriatrics,
  etc..
• Aseptic and sterile techniques
• Maintenance and care
• medical devices sites (CVL, Foleys, Trach. Etc..)
• Skin and wounds
• Current principals and practices of infection
  prevention and control
• Management of infectious patients
• Prevention and containment strategies

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Core competencies Occupational and Public Health

• Knowledge and experience in
• Blood borne transmission - prevention
• Contagious illness screening-management
• Immunization programs
• Work restrictions analysis
• Assessing risk of occupational exposure and
  prevention

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Core competencies Environmental hygiene

• Understands the principals related to
• Cleaning,
• Disinfection
• Sterilization
• Environmental management
• Waste management
• Assesses the risk related to
• Equipment and materials
• Reuse of single and reusable devices

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Core competencies Technical and Building Sciences

• Knowledgeable about
• Air handling systems
• Plumbing, water reservoirs systems
• Health care facility design standards
• Infectious risk during construction and
  renovations

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Surveillance Epidemiological investigation
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Core Competencies Surveillance and
Epidemiological investigations

• Knowledge of the various surveillance methods and
  data collection tools
• Applies a systematic standardised surveillance
  approach to monitor infections or the
  effectiveness of infection prevention and control
  strategies (process)
• Based on the program goals and objectives.
• Applies epidemiological principles to data
  gathered
• analyze trends, prevelances, incidence and risks
• Critically evaluates the significance of findings
• Incorporate findings for patient and program
  improvement
• within the context of clinical reality

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Program management
Role

• In keeping with the objectives
• Develops, reviews and coordinates the
  organization of the program
• Determines appropriate resources needed to
  accomplish the proposed plan
• Manages critical and non-critical situations

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Core competencies Program management

• Knowledgeable and incorporates
• Principals of program management
• elaborates, implements, evaluates, revises
• Principals of resource management
• personnel, equipment, financial
• performs Impact analysis for practice change
• Crisis management skills

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Leader - Communicator
Role

• Markets and promotes the infection prevention and
  control program
• Disseminates pertinent information
• Serves as a liaison and advocator
• Serve as a role model and a mentor
• Brings creativity and innovation to practice

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Leader - Communicator
Role

• Possess function and hierarchical authority and
  is capable of using it when the situation arises
• Seeks opportunities to influence others
  (policymaking bodies, cooperate leaders,
  co-workers, peers, etc.)

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Core competencies Leader and Communicator

• Possesses the following skills attitudes
• Articulates and communicates effectively
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Tack and finesse (know-how and diplomacy)
• Assertive, creative and influential
• Appreciative
• Positive role model

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Core competencies Leader and Communicator

• Possesses the following skills attitudes
• Excellent writing skills
• Negotiator, Advocator, Mentor
• Manages stress effectively
• Self motivated
• Autonomous

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Educator
Role

• Serves as an educational resource
• Explores new methods of learning delivery
• Acts as a role model for good practice
• Mentors
• Facilitates learning and behaviour change

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Core competencies Educator

• Expert in content knowledge
• Skills at articulating knowledge
• Understands behaviour change theory
• Understands adult learning theory
• Mentoring skills
• Facilitator skills

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Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
Role

• Integrates performance improvement into clinical
  practice
• Ensures the accreditation standards (quality
  indicators) are integrated into program
• Ensures improvement of practices and patient
  outcomes
• Systematically evaluates the quality and
  effectiveness of the program

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Core competencies - CQI

• Engage in critical observation
• Uses appropriate benchmarks
• Identifies measurable outcomes to validate
  practices
• Identifies and incorporates opportunities for
  improvement in practice
• Program evaluation skills
• Considers both clinical outcomes and financial
  implications

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Research
Role

• Applies relevant research findings to clinical
  practice
• Identifies research opportunities for performance
  and program improvement
• Communicates research findings to advance the
  profession

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Core Competencies - Research

• Critically analysis and evaluates published
  literature
• Uses relevant published research findings in
  practice
• Uses the concepts of applied research in clinical
  practice
• Publishes or presents research findings

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Team Player
Role

• Participates and integrates in team activities
• Demonstrates respect for the members of the team
• Is aware of team dynamics
• Adapts and adjusts to maintain team effectiveness

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Core competencies of Team Player

• Politically savoury
• Open to diversity
• Functions in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory
  manner
• Recognizes and is willing to resolve conflict
• Is respectable, ethical and professional
• Collaborates openly and effectively

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Professional accountability
Role

• Attains, maintenance, and advance own
  professional practices
• Establishes professional goals and objectives
• Performs regular self-evaluations to identify
  strengths and areas for improvement
• Advances own knowledge and skills through
  continuing education or by pursuing formal
  education
• Participates in projects and professional
  organization activities to advance the profession

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Core Competencies Professional accountability

• Demonstrates learning initiatives
• Accountable in self learning
• Achieves own professional objectives

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Mosaic Core Competencies
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Across services
Various settings
Pharmacy
Radiology
Occupational Health and Safety
Laboratories
Antibiotic usage
Physio-ergo Therapy
CVL, PICC line
Medical Research
Vaccination exposures
Microbiology
Cultures/screens
IPCS
Medicine
Infection Rates
Ventilation Renovation
Surgical Services
Building services
Medical Services
Cleaning and disinfection practices
Recall of non-sterile instruments
Nursing
House keeping Services
Indicators
Evaluation of products and supplies
Clinical units
Central sterilization Service
Purchasing
Quality assurance and risk management
Operating Rooms
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Thank you
Questions and comments