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May Event Calendar
Check out the VIPTA Event Calendar for more details and to register for events.
Events in May
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Featured Training Resource
IP Training Power Tools Logo
Your Infection Prevention Training Toolbox is Ready to Go
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Training Step-by-Step Guides: Ready-to-use guides that walk you through delivering engaging IP trainings from start to finish. Each includes clear instructions, materials, and tips so you can confidently lead activities like Caught Red-Handed, PPE Fashion Show, Glowing IP Education, and Creating an Educational Game.
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Hands-On Learning: Interactive activities designed to get staff thinking, talking, and applying infection prevention in real time. Use tools like Rank the Risk, IP Sketch Pad, and puzzles to spark discussion, reinforce key concepts, and make learning stick.
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Kick off World Hand Hygiene Day: Run Caught Red-Handed during shift change to quickly show missed spots and reinforce good hand hygiene technique.
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Annual education days: Use PPE Fashion Show to train a large group in a fun engaging way while using a limited number of PPE supplies.
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Downtime: Set up puzzles and coloring pages as a low-pressure way to reinforce key concepts like isolation precautions or transmission routes.
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Regulation & Guidance Updates |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) Surveillance (March 19, 2026)
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The guidance on Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) emphasizes the importance of implementing prevention strategies, including appropriate antibiotic use, enhanced infection control practices, and patient education to reduce the incidence of C. diff infections in healthcare settings.
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It highlights the role of the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) in monitoring C. diff cases, promoting research on infection trends, and improving response efforts to effectively manage outbreaks and improve patient care.
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Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence (DxEx) (February 4, 2026)
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The document provides guidance to implement actionable strategies within hospitals to enhance diagnostic accuracy through improved diagnostic reasoning, testing methodologies, and communication processes, ultimately elevating patient safety standards.
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The core elements encourage the implementation of systematic approaches and evidence-based practices for improving diagnostic processes, ultimately aiming to reduce errors and increase patient safety across healthcare settings.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
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Clinician Letter: Updates on Virginia Department of Health Vaccine Recommendations (2/19/2026)
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The clinician letter reports that Virginia recommends continued use of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 immunization schedule despite recent federal changes, emphasizing that current vaccine guidance should remain grounded in established scientific evidence and clinical best practices.
- The letter also states that there are no changes to Virginia school immunization requirements and urges clinicians to continue offering recommended vaccines and use clinical judgment in shared decision-making with patients and families
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Cheers for Peers
Celebrating Patty Bracy’s Creative Leadership in Infection Prevention Education
Patty Bracy, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Manager at Eastern State Hospital, continues to raise the bar for engaging education in behavioral health settings. At the hospital’s Quality Expo, she showcased not only her expertise, but also her creativity and commitment to making infection prevention meaningful for every staff member.
Using the Expo’s Pi Day theme, Patty transformed infection prevention core concepts and data into an interactive learning experience. Staff from nursing, administration, central office, IT, environmental services, and physicians visited Expo stations, collecting stickers that earned them pie and coffee.
Patty’s display blended clear, relevant data with hands-on activities covering hand hygiene, N95 fit testing, isolation precautions, mask types, regulated medical waste disposal, and distinguishing urinary tract infections from asymptomatic bacteriuria. She incorporated puzzles, question cards, and other bite-sized learning tools that made complex topics approachable. The board was so effective that it’s now being used for roving education throughout the hospital.
Attendees stayed engaged and asked thoughtful questions, proof that her approach resonated. Patty shared how much she enjoys her role and collaborating across departments, and with the support of her leadership, continues to grow professionally, recently earning her LTC-CIP certification!
Tools and Tips to Get Started
Patty’s Tips to Get Started
- Choose a theme that’s fun, timely, or relevant to your audience.
- Pair data with interaction - puzzles, quizzes, stickers, or small challenges keep people moving and learning.
- Use bite-sized education so staff can engage quickly without feeling overwhelmed.
- Invite multiple departments to create a sense of community and shared purpose.
- Repurpose your materials for ongoing education after the event.
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Search the VIPTA library of curated infection prevention and control (IPC) education and training resources. The IPC Education & Training Resource Library includes state and national resources related to healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and/or IPC. |
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