#63 IP Strategic Partnership: The Critical Role of Infection Preventionists As Advocates in Sterile Processing – Featuring Rebecca Taylor Alvino
5 Second Rule
In this special holiday edition, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes welcome Rebecca Taylor Alvino, a board-certified infection preventionist and perioperative nurse at UCSF Health. Rebecca shares her inspiring journey from a public health background to a focused career in surgical infection prevention. Rebecca dives into the challenges of infection control, innovative technologies, and key performance indicators that enhance productivity and minimize immediate-use steam sterilization. Rebecca offers practical advice for infection preventionists when rounding in the sterile processing...
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#62 Confronting the Storm: Infection Control in the Eye of a Hurricane
5 Second Rule
In the 5 Second Rule podcast by APIC, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes discuss infection prevention and control in the context of hurricanes with professionals, Lori Crow and Cindy Prins. From sharing personal experiences to breaking down the role of infection preventionists in such situations, the podcast covers a wide range of topics - from maintaining food safety during power outages to averting mold growth post-flooding. Listen to the IPC experts shed insights on the crucial role played by IPs and infection prevention measures during a hurricane. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC,...
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#61 Moving the Needle on Health Equity and Healthcare
5 Second Rule
Hear about the intricacies of healthcare equity in this episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, hosted by Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard. We welcome Caldwell Lewin and Jessica Tarabay from the APIC Health Equity Committee, diving deep into topics such as health equity, disparities, and crucial infection prevention strategies. Listen now to gain valuable insights into pressing concerns in the healthcare landscape. Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Jessica Tarabay, MPH, MHR, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC Jessica Tarabay holds a background in...
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#60 Community Health Heroes: Unpacking the Missouri Kids IPC Toolkit
5 Second Rule
In the latest episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, guest Chris Smith delves into the collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and APIC, resulting in the development of a school-based IPC Toolkit for Missouri Schools. This initiative equips the school community with valuable resources to enhance infection prevention practices in K-12 schools. Learn more about the toolkit's components, the TEAMS (Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support) model approach, impact assessment through pre/post evaluations, and its potential to enhance population...
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#59 Decoding the 2024 Infection Control Updates: A Deep Dive With The Joint Commission Expert Natalya Rosenberg
5 Second Rule
Are you up to date with the latest Infection Control Updates for 2024? Tune into the Five Second Rule Podcast, where hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard discuss these crucial updates with Natalya Rosenberg from The Joint Commission. Gain insights into competency-based training, protocols for high-consequence pathogens, ensuring vendor compliance, tips for conflicting MIFUs, and the role of leadership in ensuring quality in contracted services. Don't miss the invaluable perspectives and advice that could greatly benefit your health organization! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and...
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#58 Live in San Antonio
5 Second Rule
Listen in as our hosts, Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes, interview the authors of three impactful oral and poster presentations live at the 2024 APIC Annual Conference in San Antonio. Learn about a multi-prong approach to enhance outcomes in a dental unit, insights from a pediatric measles outbreak, and the adoption of a veterinary occupational and infection control assessment for enhanced safety. Discover more details on each presentation in our Further Resources section. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our Guests: Andrea Lombard, RN, BSN, MPH,...
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#57 IP Strategic Partnership: Diving Into Occupational Health With Allison Zelikoff
5 Second Rule
In this insightful podcast, nurse manager Allison Zelikoff explores the history and importance of occupational health, its partnership with infection prevention, and how she found her calling in this field. Find out more about the critical role of occupational health in promoting workplace safety and the challenges this discipline faces including administrative and financial barriers. Listen in to understand the future of occupational health and the crucial connection it maintains with infection prevention. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our...
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#56 Pulling Back the Curtain on the APIC Abstract Review Process With Trent MacAllister
5 Second Rule
In this episode of the Five Second Rule podcast, hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard speak with Trent MacAllister, Infection Preventionist at the Washington State Department of Health and APIC Annual Conference Committee member. He shares insights into the abstract review process for the APIC Annual Conference. Trent provides information on how to submit speaker proposals and abstract submissions, discusses common mistakes in submissions, and explains how the committee determines oral presentations versus poster presentations. This episode offers invaluable tips for those looking to...
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#55 Nipping Infections in the Bud: Spotlight on IPs in Long-Term Care
5 Second Rule
Explore the world of infection prevention and control in the long-term care sector on APIC's 5 Second Rule podcast. This episode features A.C. Burke, a veteran of the public health and healthcare sectors, who shares her passion for infection control in long-term care facilities. From issues of staffing and burnout to the ongoing need for roles dedicated to IP, Burke provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing IPs in long-term care. Tune in to understand more about the importance of infection prevention in these critical healthcare settings, where the need to balance...
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#54 From MRSA to Influence: A Patient’s Path to Advocacy
5 Second Rule
In this engaging episode of the Five Second Rule podcast, hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard converse with patient advocate Rosie Bartel, sharing her incredible battle with a persistent MRSA infection, which began as a complication of knee replacement surgery. As a survivor and activist, Rosie's brave story takes us through her grueling journey of surmounting multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, and amputations, underscoring the importance of patient perspective in healthcare and infection control. Listen in to learn more about her crucial role in infection prevention advocacy and the...
info_outlineOur hosts are joined in-person by three oral and poster presenters at the 2023 APIC Annual Conference in Orlando! You'll hear about insights from a new IP director, hand hygiene compliance technology, and Candida auris. Check out more information about each oral or poster presentation in our Further Resources section.
Hosted by:
Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC
About our Guests:
Benjamin Galvan, MLS (ASCP), CIC, CPH
Benjamin D. Galvan is a board-certified infection prevention director in Tampa, FL and a consulting infection prevention subject matter expert with APIC Consulting Services. Since 2018, Benjamin has demonstrated a passion for infection prevention and patient safety by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration and performance improvement methodologies to improve health outcomes. In June 2021, Benjamin was awarded the inaugural Emerging Leader in Infection Prevention award by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and was selected as a rising star in healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2022. In 2015, Benjamin attained his bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is presently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of South Florida.
Emily Gaddam, BSN, RN, CIC
Emily Gaddam is a Nurse Epidemiologist, Infection Prevention Consultant, and Health Delivery Scientist dedicated to quality and patient safety. She plays an active role in Greater Los Angeles APIC chapter as the Communication Chair, webmaster, and legislative committee member. Emily's achievements include earning a prestigious blue ribbon at the National APIC conference for her pioneering efforts in C. auris prevention, publishing a recent stem cell investigation in Transfusion, and demonstrating unwavering commitment to preventing central line infection at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the nation's premiere heart transplant center.
Marissa Yee, MPH, CIC
Marissa Yee, MPH, CIC, is an infection preventionist at the University of Michigan Health. She began her infection prevention career in 2016 at U-M Health as the data coordinator for the institution’s hand hygiene program before taking on infection prevention analyst responsibilities and, in 2019, becoming an infection preventionist. Marissa covers inpatient adult and pediatric units along with several ambulatory health centers and specialty clinics. She works closely with the outpatient pediatric and adult dialysis units to identify opportunities for reducing bloodstream infections and vascular access infections. She leads Ambulatory Care Infection Prevention meetings and actively participates on the Ambulatory Care Regulatory Readiness Advisory Council.
Harry Zhen, MPH, CIC
Harry Zhen, MPH, CIC, is an infection preventionist at the University of Michigan Health. He began his career in infection prevention in 2019 as an analyst and data coordinator for the institution’s hand hygiene program before transitioning to the role of infection preventionist in 2020. His current areas of focus include the adult pulmonary moderate and intensive care unit, pediatric surgery and operating rooms, interventional radiology, and respiratory care. He is the Infection Prevention lead for the Mold Surveillance and Response Program at the University of Michigan Health, and is also the co-lead of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Surgical Site Infection Prevention Workgroup at the University of Michigan Health.
Further Resources:
Emily Gaddam Oral Presentation: Candida Auris: A Team-based Approach to Taming the Wild Yeast