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Despite the gains that have been made since the 1860s when Joseph Lister and Louis Pasteur identified infectious organisms and infection control practices to minimize their impact, today's healthcare environment persists in containing threats from infectious agents. There are an estimated two million hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) that occur each year (CDC, 2004). This number has remained generally stable over the past 30 years despite multiple changes to the healthcare system: Fewer hospitals, increased use of technology, shorter lengths of stay, a shift in care delivery from in-patient to out-patient, the nursing shortage, drug resistant organisms, newly emerging infectious agents, etc. It is clear that despite these many changes, healthcare providers must still be continually vigilant to the potential for the spread of infection.
Of the 2 million HAIs annually, 90,000 people die from these infections (CDC, 2004). The State of New York takes the spread of infection seriously. Chapter 768 of the Laws of 1992 contains legislation that requires select healthcare professionals take two hours of New York State Education Department approved coursework on infection control. In 1999, the coursework was revised to include an additional legal requirement regarding infection control and unprofessional conduct.
Identified professionals must receive infection control training every four years. The initial coursework in this mandatory training must include the six elements listed below; however in future four year periods, professionals may either repeat this coursework or take infection control training that is specifically relevant to their clinical work. Current requirements are listed at http://www.op.nysed.gov/icmemo.htm.
Element I: The healthcare professional's responsibility to adhere to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control and to monitor the performance of those for whom the professional is responsible.
Element II: The modes and mechanisms of transmission of pathogenic organisms in the healthcare setting and strategies for prevention and control.
Element III: The use of engineering and work practice controls to reduce the opportunity for patient and healthcare worker contact with potentially infectious material.
Element IV: Selection and use of barriers and/or personal protective equipment for preventing patient and healthcare worker contact with potentially infectious material.
Element V: The creation and maintenance of a safe environment for patient care through application of infection control principles and practices for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
Element VI: The prevention and management of infectious or communicable disease in healthcare workers.
This course has been approved by the New York State Education Department and meets the mandatory requirement. Upon successful completion of this course, results will be electronically sent to the New York State Education Department. You may want to print out a copy for your own records, but there is no need to submit the certificate to the New York State Education Department, since Access Continuing Educational Services will submit that information for you.
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