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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities within congregate care settings, including nursing homes. These types of facilities are usually under-resourced and struggle to comprehensively prepare for and respond to infectious health threats. Through establishing a non-regulatory and consultative relationship between local and state public health representatives, these facilities can be equipped to prepare and respond to such threats, whether it comes in the form of healthcare-associated infections, novel pathogens, or multi-drug resistant organisms. The ability to prepare and respond to infectious diseases, however, relies on a solid infection prevention program at the facility and local health department (LHD) level. Our colleagues within our communities’ LHDs can assist these facilities through participating in education and training designed to empower LHDs to support infection prevention programs within congregate care settings.
The MDHHS healthcare-associated infections program has developed a program to empower infection prevention practitioners within LHDs to support and strengthen infection prevention programs within their communities’ congregate care settings. The MI-ECHO program consists of a team of infection prevention experts that will provide self-directed, relevant, and practical education and training to local health department staff. MDHHS will assist and support local health departments in building infection prevention expertise and capacity locally through engaging either new or existing LHD staff. This will both increase infection prevention-based knowledge and workforce in Michigan, establish clear points of contact for communications, strengthen collaborative relationships with congregate care settings, expedite response to facility concerns in a trusted capacity, and lead to better health outcomes for some of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.
Upon completion of the program, LHD staff will be able to investigate and mitigate a variety of infectious disease threats in congregate settings by accomplishing the following objectives:
- Providing opportunities for professional development to retain staff trained in infection prevention who can then train your additional LHD staff through:
- Virtual and in-person train-the-trainer learning models
- Provision of tools and templates to assist LHD in fully applying the ICAR model
- Job shadowing (e.g., ICAR site visit) experiences
- Routine check-ins between local and state health department partners to assess success and barriers
- Attaining a certificate of completion of training through an accredited program from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
- Utilizing the state support systems of the MDHHS healthcare-associated infections program when a local and state collaborative response is needed
- Learning objectives upon completion of education and training include, but are not limited to:
- Understanding basic elements included in a solid infection prevention program infrastructure
- Identifying gaps in infection prevention programs and utilizing available resources to close these gaps.
- Application of sound evidence-based models when making recommendations for improvement
This project is funded as a primary component of the ELC Contract Tracing, Investigation, Testing Coordination, and Infection Prevention award for the Fiscal Year 2023. To maximize the utilization of this funding, LHDs are encouraged to invest in programs that are aimed toward the professional development of LHD staff so they can effectively address the physical and behavioral health impact of COVID-19 on the public health workforce and infection prevention programs among congregate care settings within the communities they serve.
MI-ECHO will launch November 2022, and we want to ensure you can join us for the kick-off meeting. Local Health Departments are requested to provide their primary and secondary contact name, email, and phone number to the IPRAT inbox (MDHHS-IPRAT@Michigan.gov) by November 1, 2022, with MI-ECHO in the subject line. If you have any questions, please email the IPRAT inbox.
AmeriCorps, in partnership with CDC, launched the 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Grants, a $400 million investment to engage new communities and individuals in public health, recruiting, and building a new workforce ready to respond to the nation’s public health needs. Funding is open to nonprofit, faith-based, tribal, and community-based organizations; higher education institutions; and state, local, and territorial government entities, including local public health departments. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. For additional guidance, contact AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov.
The University of New Hampshire has created online trainings on disability cultural competency for healthcare providers. You can access and take these trainings anytime at the links below:
There’s an info sheet attached that includes a course overview, links to both trainings, and information about how to access continuing education credits
The MDHHS Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated & Resistant Pathogens Unit and Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team (IPRAT) are co-hosting three Infection Prevention Symposia. The purpose of these half day (3 hour), in-person symposia are to share infection prevention best practices and training resources. There is no cost to attend. Registration space is limited. All individuals interested in attending are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Registration will close on Friday, October 21, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. or once maximum capacity has been reached.
Audience:
Local public health communicable disease staff and administrators who are interested in learning about current Healthcare Associated Infection investigation tools and infection prevention training resources.
Skilled nursing facility Directors of Nursing, Infection Preventionist, Directors of Environmental Services and other health professional who are interested in learning about current Healthcare Associated Infection and Infection control and prevention recommendations in Michigan.
Topics:
- Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Michigan
- Application of Informatics in Long-Term Care Infection Prevention Programs
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Project Firstline
Locations:
- Grand Rapids October 25, 2022
- Livonia November 16, 2022
- Lansing November 30, 2022
Local Health Department Session - 9:00 a.m.
Skilled Nursing Facility Session - 1:30 p.m.
This activity has been submitted for approval to award nursing contact hours.
The Michigan State Police – Emergency Management Homeland Security Division (MSP-EMHSD) is bringing two federal courses to Michigan in 2023:
Registration for these courses through MI-TRAIN is required.
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