My timing could not have been better to reach out to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) requesting an Applied Practice Experience placement. As a research doctoral candidate focused on health equity in infection prevention and control, I wanted to work with a public health organization to apply key elements of policy, management, leadership, and program analysis. My research area of focus in health inequities and disparities aligned perfectly with APIC's new initiatives in this area. APIC had recently appointed a new Chief Executive Officer and the APIC Board of Directors had been grappling with the global Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19 or SARS CoV-2) pandemic and the social and political reckoning underway in the United States regarding racial inequities. It is as if the proverbial stars had aligned me with APIC and its newly minted initiatives to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) among its members and staff as well as tackle health equity and disparities in the world of infection prevention and control.
APIC, like many other organizations, acknowledged the long-standing health equity gaps and vowed to be among those organizations that would close or eliminate the gaps. The formation of two new taskforces, the APIC DE&I Taskforce and the Health Inequities and Disparities Taskforce, were convened in summer 2021 to begin the arduous work. In this landscape, I became the inaugural Research Fellow.
As APIC's first research fellow, the responsibility included serving as subject matter expert on APIC task forces, workgroups, and research committees to engage in health equity conversations and support APIC's work effort in this area. The assigned duties and tasks aligned with the University of Georgia's Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) core competencies: data analysis, policy evaluation, organizational management, and supporting best practice modalities in pedagogical practices for distribution of learning.
A literature review is one of the significant accomplishments that encompassed the tasks and objectives outlined in the project and DrPH competencies. The literature review focuses on health inequities and health disparities in the infection prevention and control landscape. We wanted to identify current literature and available data that provide insight into how racial disparities are addressed in healthcare settings to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and evaluate policy implications. The review includes eight studies with a direct correlation between HAI incidence and racial inequalities, indicating a limited amount of data in the field. Additionally, recommendations for actions were shared with the Inequities and Disparities taskforce and will be included in a scoping review that will be submitted to American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) for publication.
Working with a professional member organization was a unique experience for me. The individuals I worked with came from a wide range of background immersed in one common goal. Therefore, I felt that my past experiences, training, and knowledge helped guide the discussions and tasks presented. My formal training is in molecular biology, but since changing track into the hospital epidemiology setting, I have gained a deeper understanding and foundation of public health and, more importantly infection control and prevention. This opportunity with APIC assisted in further strengthening the training I received as an infection preventionist.
I primarily served as a subject matter expert and thought leader in helping guide APIC with its health inequities and disparities initiatives. In so doing, I looked at the literature landscape to help set the stage and address knowledge gaps in infection control relative to disadvantaged populations. This was the ideal platform to brainstorm ways in which APIC can tackle the issues surrounding health inequities and health disparities in infection control. Because this was a new focus for the association, I had the advantage of coming in with fresh ideas and listening to other recommendations.
I gained a new awareness about under-resourced facilities and communities that many APIC members work in and the role of a national association in helping to close the gap for the under-resourced communities. Coming into this fellowship, I thought APIC just provided education, not realizing a prominent role of advocating for all members.
I was impressed to see how APIC functions. Being a member in the past, I relied on educational materials such as Certification of Infection Control (CIC) preparation. However, working with APIC staff and members has allowed me to understand that more is going on behind the scenes. APIC members are such a significant component of why APIC is successful. The APIC membership provides valuable insight into what infection preventionists need, which includes newsletters and podcasts. The networking opportunities are considerable, including partnering with various stakeholders and key agencies like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and The Joint Commission (TJC) across the continuum of care. The culture within APIC is such that new ideas are welcome and leadership is approachable.
One of the many takeaways I have from my experience at APIC is the fostering of awareness that healthcare associated infections can impact select groups differently. Diversifying the infection preventionist workforce is critical. Infection preventionists also need to build up their knowledge and competence to address health inequities. Including concepts of health inequities and health disparities in all APIC strategic planning for the future should not be considered an afterthought or add-on. It must remain the forefront of managing change.
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: None.