Healthcare-Associated Infections and Prevention (HAI)

An experienced team of clinical and public health professionals leads the Iowa HHS HAI program. They work with infection prevention partners to reduce the occurrence of HAIs in acute, ambulatory and long-term care healthcare facilities across Iowa. 

Service hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For questions or to schedule a service, email hai-ar@hhs.iowa.gov

Regional Nurse Clinicians

Working to protect and preserve Iowans’ health and safety, nurse clinicians offer consultation, education and training, assessments, technical assistance and more to hospitals and clinics, long-term care facilities, surgery centers and congregate living settings in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. 

Refer to the table below to identify the nurse clinician assigned to support your county or download a map.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Strategy, a quality improvement framework. 

Iowa HHS TAP Strategy can help you strengthen your hospital or other care facility’s infection prevention programs by gauging: 

• Staff awareness and compliance
• Educational needs
• Policy gaps
• Opportunities for improvement 

Learn More

• TAP Assessments Informational Flyer, Iowa HHS
• TAP Learning Resources and Implementation Guides, CDC
• TAP Video Learning Series, CDC 

Improve your infection prevention and control program by scheduling a free Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) on-site visit. 

During the visit, an Iowa HHS HAI nurse clinician, utilizing CDC’s ICAR tools, will assess current HAI risks and infection mitigation strategies at your hospital, clinic or long-term care facility. The visits are non-regulatory and non-punitive. 

You will also receive at no charge: 

• A comprehensive assessment of your existing program.
• A customized evaluation of infection prevention strengths and opportunities for your reference only.
• Guidance on your current infection prevention and control policies, quality improvement priorities and planning activities.
• The most up-to-date resources, tools and training tailored to your needs.
• A supportive, ongoing relationship with your Iowa HHS HAI nurse clinician for as long as you want to use them as a resource.

Learn More

• ICAR On-Site Visit Informational Flyer, Iowa HHS
• ICAR Tool Section Information and Forms, CDC 

All future healthcare professionals must learn about and understand HAIs, the risks involved and best practices for infection prevention. 

Iowa HHS experts offer free guest lectures lasting up to 60 minutes, focusing on students’ interests and areas of study. 

Request a presentation on a specific subject area or choose from a wide variety of infection prevention and control-related topics, including: 

• The history of HAI prevention efforts
• The chain of infection
• State and federal reporting requirements
• Available technical assistance
• Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
• Surveillance
• Containment strategies 

Learn More

• HAI Lecturer Opportunity Flyer, Iowa HHS 

Iowa HHS HAI nurse clinicians provide one-on-one technical support, assist with onboarding new staff, and offer guidance on meeting quality standards for the CDC’s web-based National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The NHSN is the most widely used tracking system in the United States for reporting HAIs and healthcare personnel immunizations.

Resources

General Information

• Enrollment and Set-Up Training, CDC
• Guided NHSN Training by Component, CDC
• How to Change an NHSN Facility Administrator, CDC
• NHSN Training Website, CDC
• NHSN Training Videos, CDC
• Secure Access Management Services (SAMS) for New Users, CDC 

For Acute Care or Critical Access Hospitals

Print and post this Hospital NHSN Resources Quick Guide in work areas for easy reference.

• Hospital NHSN Quick Guide
• Analysis and TAP Report Training, CDC
• Annual Surveys, Locations and Monthly Reporting Plans, CDC
• COVID-19 Modules and Dashboards, CDC
• Resources for Acute Care/Critical Access Hospitals, CDC
• Self-Paced Interactive Trainings by Event Module Type, CDC 

For Long-Term Care Facilities

Print and post this Long-Term Care NHSN Resources Quick Guide in work areas for easy reference.

• LTC NHSN Quick Guide
• Long-Term Care Facility Component, CDC
• Resources for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, CDC 
• Resources for Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, CDC

The Iowa HHS HAI program team hosts two 30-minute virtual open office hour sessions each month: one for providers in long-term care (nursing home) settings and one for providers in acute care (hospital) settings. 

These informal meetings allow healthcare providers to ask questions, request information and receive guidance. To register to participate in open office hours, email hai-ar@hhs.iowa.gov. 

Infection Prevention Education and Training Resources

Access the tools and information below to build awareness and understanding within your facility of proper practices to help prevent and control HAIs.