03/21/2018

Free Infection Control Training to meet RoPs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on the development of a free online training course in infection prevention and control for nursing home staff in the long-term care setting. This announcement was released on March 16 in the QSO 18-15-NH publication.

This training is in response to the Phase 3 Infection Preventionist component of the Requirements of Participation (RoP). The training will be available in the spring of 2019, well before the November 28 Phase 3 effective date. The Requirements of Participation (RoP) language falls under F882, §483.80(b) and all subparts will be implemented beginning November 28, 2019 (Phase 3). The facility must designate one or more individual(s) as the infection preventionist(s) (IPs) who are responsible for the facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP). The IP must have primary professional training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other related field; be qualified by education, training, experience or certification; work at least part-time at the facility; and have completed specialized training in infection prevention and control.

There is currently training available on the CMS surveyor training website for Universal Infection Prevention and Control (UIPC). CMS referenced 23 different resources for the Infection Control Requirements of Participation. These references and links can be found by clicking here.