Infection Control in Long-Term Care Facility Program

Program Goal: Implement infection control program in a long-term care facility

Program Purpose: Ensure patients in the long-term facility are protected from disease and illness by using an evidence-based management system to ensure ongoing good health and well-being

Program Scope: All aspects of the facility, environment, patient care, and employee health are maintained in a level that is consistent with infection control guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Program Audience: Medical staff, management, patients, employees, long-term care facilities, regulatory agencies, and accreditation organizations

Program Background: Patton-Fuller Hospital will evaluate the infection control program in its long-term care facility. Currently, the program exists on a rudimental level. The program has been in place since December 2008, when the facility was bought out. At this time, it was discovered that the previous infection control program was not robust enough to cover the current concerns of the facility, including nosocomial infections, community-acquired infections, surveillance issues, and ongoing infection control activities. The program is still in its infancy at this unique facility that includes long-term ventilation units, tracheotomies, and other acute-type situations that are not traditionally found in a long-term care facility. With the nature of the population being served, a strong infection control program must be in place to ensure that all are being served by its purpose.

To consider this, a mission and a vision for the program were developed. The mission is to ensure that all patients in the facility are protected from disease and illness in a concise, scientific manner to ensure ongoing good health and well-being. Furthermore, patients will remain free from infection or, if infection occurs, will receive the highest care to ensure that the level of health prior to infection is restored. The vision of this program is to ensure that all aspects of the facility, environment, patient care, and employee health are maintained on a level that is consistent with infection control guidelines as outlined by the CDC and APIC.