Course Description:

Effective infection prevention and control in skilled nursing facilities requires strong leadership, consistent oversight, and data-driven auditing. This session explores how facility and corporate nursing leaders can build a robust IPC program that means regulatory requirements while promoting a culture of safety and accountability. Participants will learn strategies for infection surveillance, program evaluation, competency auditing, and team engagement to ensure compliance and improve resident outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on leadership roles, communication practices, and quality improvement integration within the facility’s QAPI program.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the leadership responsibilities for infection prevention oversight in skilled nursing facilities

2. Describe effective methods of auditing infection prevention practices, including hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, environmental cleaning, antibiotic stewardship, and immunizations

3. Analyze infection surveillance data to identify trends, monitor performance, and guide targeted interventions and integration into QAPI

4. Develop strategies to engage and educate staff, fostering shared ownership and accountability for infection prevention across all departments