Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) cost millions of dollars each year, and result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of patients. Infection preventionists and their colleagues play a critical role in addressing these problems. Consequently, a recent article from Infection Control Today (ICT) looked at a State of the Industry Report, which analyzed how members of this practice area maintaining their education to fight HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
An important finding from the report showed that “77 percent of respondents (infection preventionists and their colleagues) to the survey participated regularly or frequently in educational events such as conferences, Webinars and self-study courses, in order to improve their knowledge about infection prevention and control.” While some programs are offered by professional organizations and hospitals, many of these events are sponsored in part by industry, and others are exclusively held by industry. This high level of participation clearly shows that infection preventionists find value in attending these kinds of programs.
However, the author noted that this left “23 percent who indicated that they rarely engage in education-related activities.” Does this mean that infection preventionists and their colleagues are becoming stagnant in their quest for life-long learning? The author also noted that “approximately one-third of survey respondents pointed to a lack of education as one of the biggest barriers to healthcare workers’ compliance with infection prevention practices.”
Do critics of commercially funded continuing medical education (CME) really think that eliminating industry funding will help reduce this lack of education? If this many people already point to a lack of education, imagine what would happen if industry funded is severed from CME.
One of the reasons for this lack in education is that “many obstacles lie in the path of continuing one’s education, including literacy challenges as well as economic- and time-related factors.” Overcoming these obstacles is crucial because as the author recognized, “it is critical that infection preventionists and the control profession stay current because they are the disseminators of essential information relating to proper principles and practice to other healthcare professionals.”
A growing area of concern for infection preventionists is healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs). There is a need for infection preventionists to better understand how and why these HAIs occur and how to prevent them. Although the author recognized that more research is needed to address current prevention practices and to indentify the best practices, industry is beginning to take up this important initiative to help close these gaps. In fact, “while myriad educational opportunities present themselves online and in person these days, many infection preventionists are turning to industry-based experts for guidance and instruction.”
For example, 3M’s Infection Prevention Division, “recently hosted a group of experts in all areas of infection prevention for the Infection Prevention Leadership Summit. Cheryl Pederson, RN, BA, customer education manager for 3M explained that during the summit, attendees were surveyed and indicated that educating staff on new standards, regulations, technologies and best practices was a challenge in addition to supporting all other infection preventionists’ responsibilities and priorities. “The infection preventionists surveyed also expressed a need for more education in the areas of operating room protocols as well as sterilization and endoscopy processing recommended practices.”
Additionally, Wava Truscott, PhD, MBA, director of scientific affairs and clinical education in the Medical Sciences Department of Kimberly-Clark Health Care, points to the persistence of pathogens as a knowledge gap. He also identified another area that has become a concern, which is the “inadequacy of healthcare cleaning and disinfection practices and techniques.”
Another way industry has become involved is by offering educational programs and instruction. For example, just this past year, the Potomac Center for Medical Education offered a program in anti-microbial stewardship. In addition, MedMined Services and CareFusion, “are constantly looking for new ways to ensure they provide the most accurate and tailored information to the infection prevention community.” In fact, as part of CareFusion’s dedication to making healthcare safer and more productive, educating healthcare workers is a key priority and the company often provides grants and sponsorships to further this education and research.
Moreover, the speakers programs for ChloraPrep and MedMined™ are something that infection preventionists can use as part of their education efforts. The program offers respected thought leaders in the healthcare community to provide peer-to-peer education on best practices and the most recent data in the fight against HAIs.
Similarly, MedMined services, infection surveillance technology from CareFusion, offer healthcare leaders to speak at statewide quarterly educational forums, providing an environment for professional networking and to learn from other industry experts about improving patient safety. In many states, the educational forums are held in partnership with the state hospital association, thereby drawing from their resources.
In addition, the ChloraPrep team provides other educational offerings, such as a clinical education theater at medical meeting exhibit booths, in-service DVDs and manuals available online, and a wide array of CME programs focusing on HAIs. Additionally, the ChloraPrep and MedMined services team offer a group of clinical educators that partner with infection preventionists to hold training sessions onsite at the healthcare institution.”
Conclusion
The role industry is playing and the important steps industry has taken thus far in the infection prevention practice area are both encouraging and promising. Critics of industry supported education, research and support should closely look at the example these companies have set. Companies such as MedMined and programs such as CholraPrep are created for the sole purpose of educating practitioners to improve patient outcomes and to reduce HAIs, which lead to less health care costs, not more.
With industry leading the way in identifying gaps in care and education, the public should recognize and appreciate the efforts they are placing in such a critical area of health care needs. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 people each year die from HAIs and associated problems. It is clear that industry is taking this problem very seriously. Accordingly, it is important that we applaud the efforts of these companies for taking on such valuable endeavors to ensure that their support and focus continue improving this critical area of need.