Fundamentals of Healthcare Epidemiology

Online Educational Offering

• Sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
• Developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Approved by the California Department of Public Health

Overview

This online eight-hour activity, adapted from the SHEA/CDC Training Course in Healthcare Epidemiology, consists of case studies supplemented with lectures and seminars covering fundamental aspects of healthcare epidemiology, including:

• Outbreak Investigation & Management
• Prevention Strategies for Healthcare-Associated Infections: A review of the SHEA-IDSA Compendium
• Environmental Hygiene & Disinfection and Sterilization
• Isolation Precautions
• Epidemiology & Surveillance
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• California Mandates for Infection Control and Public Reporting

Registration

• SHEA Members: $149
• Non-Members: $199

Statement of Need

In 2008, California enacted requirements for training in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention and control as part of a series of legislation addressing healthcare associated infections. In response, SHEA and CDC collaborated to derive a concise, one-day curriculum that met the spirit of the state training mandate and provides physicians, infection preventionists and other allied health professionals an overview in basic issues, techniques and resources to implement infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. More recently, federal ARRA funding enabled states to develop action plans and specific programs targeting reduction in healthcare associated infections. This curriculum offers a basic level of training accessible on-demand to state public health officials and all individuals with infection control responsibility in a variety of healthcare settings.

The objectives of this activity are to:  

1. Provide learners with practical knowledge of the key methods and strategies used for infection control surveillance, outbreak investigation and management, and sterilization and disinfection (environmental hygiene). 
2. Review examples of evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections derived from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the SHEA/IDSA Compendium of Practical Strategies for Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Settings, and discuss strategies for implementation. 
3. Provide information and resources to implement prevention programs that address both common HAIs as well as emerging multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), effective isolation and hand hygiene strategies, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and effective infection control oversight.

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

• Fellows seeking basic training in hospital epidemiology
• Hospital epidemiologists
• Infection control chairs
• Infectious diseases physicians
• Infection preventionists
• Microbiologists
• Public health officials
• Other healthcare providers seeking knowledge in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention.

Accreditation

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America designates this educational activity for a maximum of 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.