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Webinar Summary

Communication Strategies: Creating a robust and effective infection control program is essential in reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, multiple barriers stand in the way of implementing or expanding infection prevention programs which leads to frustration among staff as well as increased risk for disease transmission. Communication is one of the most powerful tools that can be used when advocating for infection prevention, and it will be the focus of this presentation.

We will discuss how to use clear and comprehensive communication when having difficult conversations, particularly when it comes to infection prevention. We will also share strategies that can be implemented in the workplace to improve communication and, in turn, contribute to an overall culture of safety. Using the best communication practices will empower you to engage leadership in information-sharing and collaboration sessions. You will learn how to work with your leadership team to design meaningful and attainable goals within your organization.

Respiratory Protection: Having and maintaining a Respiratory Protection Program in long-term care is a regulatory requirement enforced by WA Labor and Industries. Workers in long-term care face a number of occupational hazards, including respiratory hazards such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Proper respiratory protection is important in protecting this workforce as they care for vulnerable populations across WA state. However, long-term care facilities continue to face a number of challenges in this regard. Understanding the L&I requirements and implementing them is essential to maintaining compliance with the Respiratory Standard, supporting general infection prevention and control, and protecting the workforce. This presentation will focus on the Respiratory Protection Program, its components, and strategies, and resources for successful implementation and maintenance. Participants can expect to leave with knowledge and tools to confidently provide leadership and support for their workforce regarding respiratory protection.

Presented by Katelyn Anderson, Inna Antonchuk, Stella Daniels, & Miriam Mina

Katelyn Anderson, BSN, RN, is an Infection Preventionist with the Washington State Department of Health’s Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance team. Katelyn is also a doctoral student in the University of Washington’s Doctor of Nursing Practice – Population Health and Systems Leadership Program. Katelyn has a particular passion for communication and leadership strategies in healthcare, particularly with a focus on the development of infection prevention programs.

Inna Antonchuk, MPH, BSN, RN, is an occupational nurse who recently joined WA DOH to assist with respiratory protection for long-term care facilities. Prior to DOH, Inna was a registered nurse in an acute care setting. She also has experience working in long-term care, such as assisted living and memory care. She received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Washington and continued on to receive her master’s in public health with a focus in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing. She completed additional training in Worker Health and gained experience in safety and health policy by interning with OSHA and WA DOH. She is passionate about worker health and safety, having herself experienced injuries at work and seeing the same in her co-workers and family members. These experiences fueled her interest in worker health and safety in the healthcare industry.

Stella Daniels, MPH, BSN, RN, COHN-S, is the supervisor of the DOH HAI/AR Occupational Health team. She has been with the WA DOH since April 2021, assisting long-term care facilities with their respiratory protection program. She is an experienced registered nurse in the acute care and outpatient settings. She obtained her Master’s in Public Health with a focus in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing in 2015 and her certification as an Occupational Health Nurse – Specialist in 2016. She worked as an occupational health nurse in manufacturing and hospital settings before starting at DOH. Her work is now focused on keeping the workforce safe and healthy to have a better outcome later in life.

Miriam Mina, RN, BSN, MPA, CIC, is the supervisor for the Washington Department of Health (WA DOH) Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) A-Team. She has been with the WA DOH team since March 2021, conducting onsite and tele-visits for Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) consults for long-term care, acute care, and other healthcare facilities. Prior to working for the DOH, she worked as a registered nurse in acute care, public health nursing, regulatory and accreditation specialist, long-term care surveyor, risk and quality management and infection prevention management in acute care. She received her Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on healthcare and worked for a U.S. Senator on constituent issues in healthcare. She remains passionate about patient safety and her experiences have influenced her drive to assist facilities with infection prevention issues.