Infection Prevention and Control Plan

Our Infection Prevention group is reviewing and updating the template they use to ensure we meet all infection prevention regulations. We are looking for a guide that incorporates the various attributes including risk assessment, goals, evaluation of goals, board appointment of infection prevention and more.

What Should an Infection Prevention and Control Plan Include?

The infection prevention and control (IC) plan should include:

1) IC risk assessment – the risk assessment must include:

• Geographic location, community, and population served
• The care, treatment, and services it provides
• The analysis of surveillance activities and other infection control data

2) A documented list of prioritized risks (from the above risk assessment)

3) Goals to address the above list of prioritized risks

4) Goals to also address: 

• Limiting unprotected exposure to pathogens
• Limiting the transmission of infections associated with procedures
• Limiting the transmission of infections associated with the use of medical equipment, devices, and supplies – Improving compliance with hand hygiene guidelines
• Goal of improving influenza vaccination rates needs to be part of your goals

5) It should document whose evidence-based guidelines that are used

6) A written description of the activities, including surveillance, to minimize, reduce, or eliminate the risk of infection

7) The process for investigating outbreaks of infectious disease

8) A plan for outbreak of infectious disease, usually as a separate plan/policy

9) Include in your plan the written methodology for calculating flu vaccine compliance rates

10) Usually the IC plan includes the “authority statement” which is where the medical staff delegate authority to someone who is responsible for the infection prevention program at your hospital

Finally, and as a separate document, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your IC plan annually.

Patton Healthcare Consulting

Patton Healthcare Consulting provides a complete range of Joint Commission and CMS Compliance Assistance and a full range of pre-survey and post survey services.

We serve more than 350 hospitals, behavioral health care organizations, ambulatory clinics and home care companies nationwide—hospitals ranging from critical access hospitals to the largest health systems. Contact us at (888) PHC-INC1 for more information.