Newly updated: AHCA/NCAL’s Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long term care settings and is specifically tailored to train Infection Preventionists (IPs) in nursing facilities.

• Recent updates to the training are related to COVID, influenza and other respiratory viruses.

By the numbers: More than 4,000 individuals have taken AHCA’s IPCO course and 98 percent of those recommend the training to others.

• While CDC/CMS does offer a free general infection prevention training course, AHCA’s IPCO training is far more comprehensive and includes updated information that is taught by experts with practical long term care clinical experience.

Why it matters: The CMS Requirements of Participation (ROP) include robust requirements related to skilled nursing facility (SNF) infection prevention and control programs. CMS also mandates that nursing facilities have a designated and specially trained IP who is responsible for implementing a comprehensive infection prevention and control program.

• F880—Infection Control remains the second most frequent CMS citation.
• In addition, CMS has a special focus this year on F-Tag 882 covering infection preventionist training.
• RNs and LPNs/LVNs who have the professional training necessary to serve as a SNF IP must provide evidence of additional specialized training per CMS regulation. These individuals must be employed at least part-time and on-site by SNFs and must actively participate in each SNF’s Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) committee.

AHCA recommends that all nursing facilities train at least two clinical staff members to serve as IPs should one IP leave the facility or be unavailable.

• Additionally, CMS ROP guidance states that facilities should consider a backup IP when the primary IP is not available.
• While many administrators will not have the clinical credentials needed to serve as a designated IP, AHCA/NCAL recommends that administrators consider taking the course to gain a deeper understanding of infection prevention and control in the overall operation of a nursing facility as this remains a high target area for survey and liability

The registration fee for IPCO is $450 for AHCA/NCAL members and $650 for non-members.

• Registrants have one year to complete the course. Payment and registration are made online at ahcancalED.
• Discounted group purchase rates are available for groups of five or more by contacting educate@ahca.org.
• Please note that there are no refunds and no registrant transfers.