New York – Infection Control

The Infection Control Training from New York State Department of Health and State Education Department, is a tool designed for health professionals in order to provide the necessary training to minimize the risk of contagion of infectious diseases in the work environment, properly using biosecurity tools; and applying the basic protocols of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, both of material and of work environments. Course assures that licensed, registered, or certified health professionals understand how bloodborne pathogens may be transmitted in the work environment: patient to healthcare worker, healthcare worker to patient, and patient to patient. It applies current scientifically accepted infection prevention and control principles.

NYS DOH Provider ID: I02254

NYSED Provider ID: IC202

In August 1992, Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992 established a requirement that certain healthcare professionals licensed in New York State receive training on infection control and barrier precautions by July 1994 and every four years thereafter unless otherwise exempted. These professionals include: Dental hygienists, Dentists, Licensed practical nurses, Optometrists, Physicians, Physician assistants, Podiatrists, Registered professional nurses, Specialist assistants, Medical students, Medical residents, and Physician assistant students.

• Learn about the standards of professional conduct in the field of practices of infection prevention and control.
• Recognize the responsibility of health care workers to adhere to scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection prevention, monitor compliance of infection control protocols and identify consequences of non-compliance.
• Describe how pathogenic organisms are spread in healthcare settings, prevention strategies and infection control concept application in profession practice.
• Define healthcare-associated disease transmission, engineering controls, safe injection practices, and work practice controls.
• Describe specific high-risk practices and procedures that increase the opportunity for healthcare worker and patient exposure to potentially infectious material.
• Describe specific measures to prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens from patient to patient, healthcare worker to patient, and patient to healthcare worker via contaminated injection equipment.
• Identify work practice controls designed to eliminate the transmission of bloodborne pathogens during use of sharp instruments and that can be utilized to prevent patient exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Identify the steps to follow in the evaluation, diagnosis and conduct of an accident due to exposure to infected biological material.
• Identify specific barriers or personal protective equipment and circumstances for patient and healthcare worker protection from exposure to potentially infectious material.
• Definitions of terms related to contamination and cleaning, level of disinfection and medical devices.
• Recognize the importance of the correct application of reprocessing methods for assuring the safety and integrity of patient care equipment in preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
• Recognize the professional’s responsibility for maintaining a safe patient care environment in all healthcare settings and the role of occupational health strategies in protecting health care workers and patients.
• Recognize non-specific disease findings that should prompt evaluation of healthcare workers.
• Identify occupational health strategies for preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens and other communicable diseases in healthcare workers and resources for evaluation of healthcare workers infected with HIV, HBV and/or HCV.
• Describe, identify, and understand the risk of developing sepsis, early signs and symptoms, and when to seek of medical evaluation for sepsis and the role of the NYS Sepsis Improvement Initiative.