AORN, APIC set tone of collaboration on International Infection Prevention Week
AORN CEO Linda Groah speaks at the National Press Club in Washington
to help kick off International Infection Prevention Week.
By Matt Gunn
News Editor/Writer
AORN and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) set a new precedent this year, coming together as Partners in Prevention to present International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW).
The annual event kicked off Oct. 16 at the National Press Club in Washington. Among the ceremonies, AORN CEO Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, CNAA, FAAN, gave a speech addressing the importance of a collaborative relationship between perioperative nurses and infection preventionists.
“Our associations have many areas of mutual concern focused on preventing surgical site infections and providing a safe environment for our patients and staff,” Groah said. “The relationship that we, as OR nurses, develop with our infection preventionist colleague is essential to achieving optimal outcomes in surgery. International Infection Prevention Week is the perfect opportunity for us to open the door to the surgical suite and invite them in to tour the department – we should be using infection preventionists as the valuable resource that they are.”
The new collaboration between the two organizations reflects the theme for this year’s IIPW, “Infection Prevention is Everyone’s Business.”
Beyond the symbolism of AORN and APIC partnering for IIPW, there are a number of reasons why fostering a relationship between the operating room and the facility’s infection prevention staff can become an important step toward improving patient – and staff – safety.
“Having a surgical conscience is not the end-all of safety,” said George Allen, PhD, RN, CIC, CNOR, infection preventionist at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and AORN Journal editorial board member. “You can’t see everything, particularly if you are working in a specific area. You’ve got to invite other people in who can do some of that observation to tell you where safety lapses can occur. The infection preventionist is another set of eyes that can ensure asepsis can be maintained. They can ask the questions of “what are we doing to prevent surgical site infections?”
Read the Managers Q&A in this month’s issue of AORN Management Connections for more information from Allen on the importance of collaboration between infection preventionists and perioperative nurses.
IIPW, which officially spans Oct. 18-24, also featured a host of other educational events including a series of webinars on October 20, 21 and 22 which are free to AORN members. . More information on APIC’s Webinar series is available at webinars.apic.org.
The first Webinar, on Oct. 20, titled Partner in Prevention, was a topic particularly relevant to IIPW’s theme and the partnership formed between AORN and APIC. The idea of partnership is brought about by more than working together in times of crisis, Groah cautioned.
“All too often the relationship between our departments is developed due to a crisis, for example when a series of wound infections occur,” Groah said. “When this is one of the few times or the first time we meet the infection preventionist the relationship is saddled with negativity and defensiveness.”
Instead, a relationship should be formed through better communication and by creating a welcoming environment for peers who might see the operating room as a closed system.
“The professional relationship we develop can extend beyond the double doors to your AORN and APIC Chapter or State Council Meetings,” Groah suggested.
She also challenged AORN members to reach out to their peers in infection prevention.
“Make a commitment today to reach out to the Infection Preventionist at your facility,” Groah said. “Start today to foster a collaborative partnership – they bring an important expertise and will welcome the opportunity to participate with you in making surgery safe for our patients and our staff.”
Find more information on IIPW here.
Read more news in AORN Management Connections.