Le Lézard
Classified in: Health
Subjects: NPT, STP, AVO

APIC: New York State legislature considers bill requiring certification for personnel who prevent hospital infections


ALBANY, N.Y., May 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New York State legislature is moving to consider legislation that would require infection preventionists (IPs) to be certified in infection prevention and control in order to practice in New York hospitals.

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D), and Senator Rich Funke (R) A.10671/S.8185 stipulates that IPs would be required to:

An IP not meeting the certification requirements would have three years from the date of hire to obtain an infection prevention and control credential.

"All patients deserve to have highly qualified personnel keeping them safe from infections," said 2018 APIC President Janet Haas, PhD, RN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC. "We commend New York for taking steps to ensure that IPs working in this state have demonstrated mastery of a fundamental core body of knowledge through certification in infection prevention and control."

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 25 hospitalized patients contract healthcare-associated infections. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that IPs who are certified in infection prevention and control achieve better outcomes for their patients. IPs are experts in identifying sources of infections and limiting their transmission in healthcare facilities.

"I am proud to lead an effort that will enhance patient safety in New York hospitals by ensuring that infection preventionists have appropriate credentials," said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther. "I hope other states follow this example."

"Patients and families expect hospitals and their staff to provide the best level of care possible at all times and in all positions," said Senator Rich Funke. "Infection preventionists play a crucial role in a patient's recovery, so it seems only logical that they should be going through a proper certification process."  

ABOUT APIC
APIC's mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association's more than 15,000 infection preventionist members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Visit APIC online at www.apic.org.

SOURCE Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)


These press releases may also interest you

at 13:51
BRIJ Medical proudly welcomes three distinguished industry leaders to its Board of Directors: John Grotting, Bob Zollars, and Jim Hinrichs. Leveraging their extensive experience and insights, they will steer the company's strategic vision and drive...

at 13:47
Everyone deserves to succeed. But today, for too many Canadians, your hard work isn't paying off like it did for previous generations. Your paycheque doesn't go as far as costs go up, and saving enough to go after your dreams seems harder and harder....

at 13:41
With sadness, AAD announced today that its influential board member and investor James Herbert has died following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 83....

at 13:40
March is Women's History Month, and for the first time in U.S. history, four women legislators are leading the four organizations that make up the Quad Caucus, a collaborative initiative comprised of the National Caucus of Native American Caucus of...

at 13:24
Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization, applauds Representative Patty Acomb (D-Minnetonka) for introducing legislation that would eliminate financial barriers to clinically appropriate genetic testing, as well as the...

at 13:16
Risas Dental & Braces ("Risas"), a dental and braces provider that serves patients in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Nevada, has learned of a data security incident that may have involved the protected health information of certain Risas patients....



News published on and distributed by: