Essential Infection Control Certifications: Get Set for Your Facility

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant concern in any healthcare facility, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased medical costs, and, in severe cases, patient fatalities. According to the World Health Organization, good infection prevention and control (IPC) programs can reduce healthcare infections by 70%. As a facility manager or VP of Construction, you are responsible for setting up the systems and tools for your entire facility to ward off infection from the entire building. 

While facility management certifications can be a powerful way to combat the spread of disease, there are so many to choose from that it can be incredibly overwhelming. What areas of your hospital should be certified? Which organization should you ensure compliance with? How do you go about becoming certified? Keep reading to learn exactly how to set your facility up for infection control success.

Why Infection Control So Challenging in Healthcare Settings

Infection risks are ever-present in healthcare settings. Common sources include contaminated surfaces, medical equipment, and airborne pathogens. Regardless of where the risks come from, they can all be the start of a potentially dangerous HAI. HAIs can have severe consequences ranging from compromising patient safety to incurring significant financial penalties and fines. Facility managers and VPs of construction bear the responsibility of keeping healthcare environments safe and compliant during construction and maintenance activities of all kinds. 

Even standard hospital operations face the challenge of keeping infection control risks at bay, so when construction activities introduce new sources of contamination like building materials, construction equipment, extra staff and building crews, and more, hospital facility management teams must stay vigilant against the spread of disease. When your facility has a strong IPC program in place, you’re equipped to prevent a whopping 70% of HAIs. With statistics like these, it’s simply not worth the risk to let your infection control strategy become complacent. A facility management certification can give you a leg up against the spread of harmful disease-carrying particles in your facility. 

How to Navigate the Maze of Infection Control Certifications

When it comes to infection control and, specifically certifications, education is your best resource. Thankfully, technology and scientific knowledge are constantly evolving to continually get better and provide better patient care and disease prevention. However, with that in mind, you and your facility management teams must stay current with new research and emerging pathogens to protect your facility and keep your infection control measures up-to-date. Identifying which certifications offer the most relevant and credible information for your specific role is a crucial step in this process. 

What to Look for When Choosing Infection Control Certifications

Relevance to Role

Choose certifications that are specifically tailored to the responsibilities of facility managers and VPs of construction. These should address the unique challenges you face in maintaining a safe healthcare environment. For example, certifications that focus on infection control during construction, such as the Construction Infection Control Training Institute (CICTI), can provide targeted knowledge for team members who are in charge of overseeing renovation projects. The Joint Commission Survey can also provide more broad information about potential areas of improvement.

Recognition and Credibility

Opt for certifications from well-recognized and credible organizations. This not only ensures the knowledge and skills you gain are valued in the industry but also that you (and others) can trust a widely respected organization’s authority and knowledge to practically keep infection control strong in your facility. The Certified in Infection Control (CIC) certification, for instance, is globally recognized and provides comprehensive knowledge of infection prevention and control. Similarly, the Infection Control Risk Assessment, otherwise known as ICRA 2024, is a great place to start with both infection control and building up a solid reputation in safe healthcare during construction. ICRA

Practical Application

Look for certifications that offer practical knowledge and real-world applications. This helps you and your staff implement what you've learned directly into your facility's operations. Theoretical knowledge is certainly important, but make sure that you’re prioritizing certifications that will provide the practical side to pair with more conceptual training. Certifications like the Health Care Construction Certificate (HCC) provide actionable steps and strategies that can be applied during construction projects to maintain high infection control standards through even the most intense projects. A Joint Commission Survey offers an opportunity to get customized feedback about how to better your infection control practices practically. 

4 Essential Certifications for Facility Managers and VPs of Construction

We’ve curated a short list of some of the most important certifications so that you don’t have to. From concepts and high-level knowledge to the in-the-weeds strategies for daily hospital operations, these 4 certifications are a great place to start.

1. Certified Health Care Physical Environment Worker (CHCPEW)

The CHCPEW certification focuses on the physical environment of healthcare facilities. It covers essential aspects such as maintaining safe and compliant infrastructures, understanding the impact of construction on patient care, and implementing effective infection control measures. This certification is particularly beneficial for those involved in the day-to-day maintenance and operation of healthcare facilities.

2. Certified in Infection Control (CIC)

The CIC certification is globally recognized and provides comprehensive infection prevention and control knowledge. It equips healthcare and facility professionals with the most current best practices, helping them to effectively manage infection risks. This facility management certification is valuable for those looking to deepen their understanding of infection control across healthcare settings of all kinds.

3. Health Care Construction Certificate (HCC)

The HCC certification is designed for professionals involved in healthcare construction and renovation. It covers critical areas such as infection control during construction, compliance with healthcare regulations, and managing the unique challenges of healthcare projects. This certification is ideal for VPs of construction and project managers overseeing healthcare facility renovations.

4. Construction Infection Control Training Institute (CICTI)

The CICTI offers specialized training for construction professionals working in healthcare environments. It focuses on minimizing infection risks during construction activities, understanding healthcare-specific regulations, and implementing effective control measures. This certification is perfect for construction managers and workers directly involved in healthcare projects.

What’s Next After Certification? Put Your Strategies to Work. 

Becoming certified in infection control is one thing, but the only way to successfully keep the spread of disease at bay during healthcare construction is by putting those strategies into practice. 

Here are a few ways that your facility can become and stay compliant with a variety of regulatory bodies and their certifications: 

Daily Operations

Integrate the knowledge gained from certifications like ICRA 2024, CHCPEW, CIC, and other trusted organizations into your daily practices. This includes regular risk assessments, adhering to infection control protocols, and ensuring all staff are trained and compliant. Beyond improving habits and practices, you can further equip your infection control strategy with powerful tools and equipment like those from HEPACART® to improve dust containment, air purification, disinfection, and more. 

Compliance

Stay up-to-date with the latest protocols and standards. Certifications help ensure that your facility meets regulatory requirements and maintains a high standard of infection control. Regularly reviewing and updating your procedures is crucial to staying compliant with bodies like OSHA, the CDC, and The Joint Commission.

Continuous Learning

With infection control, you’ve never arrived. It’s important to pursue ongoing education and stay current with recertifications to keep your skills and knowledge sharp. Consider training courses, reading articles, and keeping in touch with other industry professionals to stay on top of new developments, best practices, and opportunities to make your facility a safer place to stay, work, or heal. 

Take the Next Step Toward Excellence in Infection Control

Implementing a strong infection control strategy through certification can greatly benefit your healthcare facility. By significantly reducing HAIs, you improve patient safety, shorten hospital stays, and cut down on medical costs. A safer environment for patients also boosts your facility's reputation, earning more trust and satisfaction from patients and their families.

For staff, a solid infection control program means a safer workplace, reducing infection risks and promoting a culture of health and safety. This can lead to higher staff morale, fewer sick days, and better job satisfaction.

By getting the right certifications and keeping up with the latest standards and research, facility managers and VPs of construction can keep improving their infection control practices. This proactive approach helps your facility stay compliant and become a leader in healthcare safety and quality. To continue your education on infection control certification and strategies, we recommend exploring the websites for the recommended certifications for more information, as well as exploring our articles on other certifications like the ICRA 2024 and audits like The Joint Commission Survey as well as articles on infection control tools like the GermBuster Room Air Purifier with UV-FORCE and more. 

Ready to take your facility's infection control to the next level during healthcare construction? Download our free guide, Infection Control for Facility Managers: The Complete Guide, and start implementing practical steps toward a safer healthcare environment today.