Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T17:15:26.880Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Expanding Roles of Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control in Spite of Limited Resources and Compensation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sharon B. Wright ,
Belinda Ostrowsky ,
Neil Fishman ,
Valerie M. Deloney ,
Leonard Mermel  and
Trish M. Perl
Sharon B. Wright*
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Belinda Ostrowsky
Affiliation:
Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, New York
Neil Fishman
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Valerie M. Deloney
Affiliation:
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Alexandria, Virginia
Leonard Mermel
Affiliation:
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Trish M. Perl
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, SL-435, Boston, MA 02215, ([email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Objective.

Data on the resources and staff compensation of hospital epidemiology and infection control (HEIC) departments are limited and do not reflect current roles and responsibilities, including the public reporting of healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to obtain information to assist HEIC professionals in negotiating resources.

Methods.

A 28-question electronic survey was sent via e-mail to all Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) members in October 2006 with the use of enterprise feedback management solution software. The survey responses were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

Results.

Responses were received from 526 (42%) of 1,255 SHEA members. Of the respondents, 84% were doctors of medicine (MDs) or doctors of osteopathy (DOs), 6% were registered nurses, and 21% had a master of public health or master of science degree. Sixty-two percent were male (median age range, 50-59 years). Their practice locations varied across the United States and internationally. Two-thirds of respondents practiced in a hospital setting, and 63% were the primary or associate hospital epidemiologist. Although 91% provided HEIC services, only 65% were specifically compensated. In cases of antimicrobial management, patient safety, employee health, and emergency preparedness, 75%-80% of respondents provided expertise but were compensated in less than 25% of cases. Of the US-based MD and DO respondents, the median range of earnings was $151,000-$200,000, regardless of their region (respondents selected salary ranges instead of specifying their exact salaries). Staffing levels varied: the median number of physician full-time equivalents (FTEs) was 1.0 (range, 1-5); only about 25% of respondents had 3 or more infection control practitioner FTEs.

Conclusions.

Most professionals working in HEIC have had additional training and provide a wide, growing range of services. In general, only traditional HEIC work is compensated and at levels much less than the time dedicated to those services. Most HEIC departments are understaffed. These data are essential to advocate for needed funding and resources as the roles of HEIC departments expand.

Type
Survey of Shea Membership
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , February 2010 , pp. 127 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Haley, RW, Shachtman, RH. The emergence of infection surveillance and control programs in US hospitals: an assessment, 1976. Am J Epidemiol 1980;111:574–591.Google Scholar
2.O'Boyle, C, Jackson, M, Henly, SJ. Staffing requirements for infection control programs in US health care facilities: Delphi project. Am J Infect Control 2002;30:321–333.Google Scholar
3.Health Canada, Nosocomial and Occupational Infections Section. Development of a resource model for infection control and prevention programs in acute, long term, and home care settings: conference proceedings of the Infection Prevention and Control Alliance. Am J Infect Control 2004;32:2–6.Google Scholar
4.van den Broek, PJ, Kluytmans, JAJW, Ummels, LC, et al. How many infection control staff do we need in hospitals? J Hosp Infect 2007;65:108–111.Google Scholar
5.Richards, C, Emori, TG, Edwards, J, et al.Characteristics of hospitals and infection control professionals participating in the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System 1999. Am J Infect Control 2001;29:400–403.Google Scholar
6.Stevenson, KB, Murphy, CL, Samore, MH, et al.Assessing the status of infection control programs in small rural hospitals in the western United States. Am J Infect Control 2004;32:255–261.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.JSI Research and Training Institute; Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Massachusetts; Part 1: Final Recommendations of the Expert Panel. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2008:32–35. Available at: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/patient_safety/haipcp_final _report_ptl.pdf. Accessed December 3, 2009.Google Scholar
8.Voss, A, Allerberger, EBouza, E, et al.The training curriculum in infection control. Clin Microbiol Infect 2005;11(suppl 1):S33–S35.Google Scholar
9.Stone, PW, Larson, E, Kawar, LN. A systematic audit of economic evidence linking nosocomial infections and infection control interventions: 1990-2000. Am J Infect Control 2002;30:145–152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Perencevich, EN, Stone, PW, Wright, SB, et al.Raising standards while watching the bottom line: making a business case for infection control. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007;28:1121–1133.Google Scholar
11.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notifiable diseases/deaths in selected cities weekly information. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007;56:259–270.Google Scholar
12.Hamory, BE; Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Membership Committee. Second SHEA membership survey, 1991. SHEA Newsletter, September 1991.Google Scholar
13.Solomon, S; SHEA Membership Committee. The 1995 SHEA membership economic survey. SHEA Newsletter 1995.Google Scholar
14.Solomon, S; SHEA Membership Committee. 1998 SHEA membership survey. Preliminary results reported in PowerPoint presentation to SHEA Board of Directors, April 1999.Google Scholar
15.Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. 2006 APIC salary and career survey results. Available at: http://www.apic.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section = 2006_Salary_Survey_Results8s Template = /CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID = 10121. Accessed December 3, 2009.Google Scholar