APIC

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading professional association for infection preventionists (IPs) with more than 15,000 members. Their mission is to create a safer world through the prevention of infection. This is achieved by the provision of better care to promote better health at a lower cost.

Most APIC members are nurses, physicians, public health professionals, epidemiologists, microbiologists, or medical technologists who:

• Collect, analyze, and interpret health data in order to track infection trends, plan appropriate interventions, measure success, and report relevant data to public health agencies.
• Establish scientifically based infection prevention practices and collaborate with the healthcare team to assure implementation.
• Work to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities by isolating sources of infections and limiting their transmission.
• Educate healthcare personnel and the public about infectious diseases and how to limit their spread.

Many IPs are employed within healthcare institutions and also serve as educators, researchers, consultants, and clinical scientists. The majority of APIC members are affiliated with acute care settings. An increasing number practice in ambulatory and outpatient services where they direct programs that protect patients and personnel from HAIs. Members are also involved in long-term care, home health, and other practice settings where infection prevention and control is an increasing area of responsibility for nurses and other healthcare personnel.

APIC’s educational programs, products, and services support the infection prevention activities of the many patient safety stakeholders.  APIC collaborates with other professional associations, consumer groups, and thought leaders, as well as regulatory and accrediting bodies, to maximize the synergy of shared interests and resources with the goal of improving patient outcomes.

For more information about APIC, visit www.apic.org.

AHE

The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) represents, defines, and advances the professionals responsible for the healthcare environment to ensure a clean, safe patient care environment as well as quality patient outcomes and healthy communities. A professional membership group (PMG) of the American Hospital Association, AHE serves more than 2,000 members. AHE provides education, networking and recognition for personal and professional achievements as well as collaboration with the AHA on public policy and advocacy issues related to patient safety, infection prevention and environmental sanitation.

For more information about the AHE, visit www.ahe.org.