Overview
Bay River College’s 16-week Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Program is an online-based interactive program, endorsed by IPAC Canada. This program is designed for front-line health care workers, and or health professionals who are looking to enter the field of Infection Prevention and Control. The ultimate learning goals for this course are to increase student’s theoretical knowledge and to establish practical skills to prevent infections and diseases and solve real healthcare problems. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) is an evidence-based practice that, when applied consistently and efficiently, can prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms.
BRC’s IPAC Course is a fully online program with interactive content for health professionals who are new to or are about to enter into the practice of IPAC. The purpose of the course is to introduce learners to the practice of IPAC and to increase participants’ knowledge and skills for managing the prevention and control of infections and disease. This IPAC complete certificate program is firmly grounded in system theory and experiential skills and provides students with forward-thinking education, knowledge and skills required to lead in the field as IPAC professionals.
The Infection Prevention and Control Program is a facilitated, asynchronous, and self-determined program that gives the schedule flexibility for students to progress and complete the training in the allotted time at their own pace. By providing and utilizing industry-related theories, students will learn and be equipped with the principles of planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating infection and prevention control in all Canadian health care settings.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this program, participants will be able to:
- Identify fundamental concepts of epidemiology and microbiology as they relate to IPAC
- Examine and investigate scenarios to practice problem-solving for IPAC
- Practice critical thinking and management skills for engaging in:
- routine practices and additional precautions,
- surveillance,
- outbreak control of infections and disease within clinical and public health settings
- Collaborate with professional and academic organizations in the creation of health and safety programs that enhance IPAC Canada protocols.
- Analyze risk factors and trends in order to design prevention and control strategies for populations.
- Apply research, teaching, and life-long learning skills through engagement within a case-based, online learning community
Topics include
This course includes the following topics and modules:
- Adult Education Researching the Literature IPAC
- Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Microbiology
- Nosocomial and Community Associated Infections / Routine and Additional Practices
- Laboratory Approaches Antimicrobial Resistance
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- The Basic Concepts of Epidemiology
- Surveillance / Surveillance Program
- Outbreak Knowledge and Response
- Occupational Health and Safety/Environmental Sanitation
- Facility Design and Development
- IPAC and principles of Communication and Leadership
- IPAC and Principles of Management and Professionalism
Why become an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Practitioner?
Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners (ICP) are professionals who have dedicated their careers to preventing the spread of infections in health care settings.
ICPs are employed as a part of an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) teams in a variety of settings including Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities, Public Health authorities, various ministries, and consulting companies. Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners from a variety of backgrounds: many have training as nurses, epidemiologists, public health professionals, microbiologists, lab technicians, or physicians. One of the important achievements in a career of Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners is the CIC certification, achieved through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
If you are an individual who enjoys collaborating with several different departments including nursing, housekeeping, maintenance, lab, and pharmacy to name a few; loves a good challenge, enjoys forensic work in searching for answers, and you are looking for a career in which you will touch many lives, and impact outcomes by sharing your expertise you found your calling. You can be a team player and have strong interpersonal and collaborative skills. If you are looking for the next step in your career with a desire to help others you must apply for this course.
Some Career Perspective
- Public health units
- Congregate settings such as shelters
- Hospitals: complex continuing care/rehab, acute care, mental health/addictions, dialysis
- Long-term care facilities
- Retirement facilities
- Retirement facilities
- And…
