Risk Management Webinar: Immunizations and Infection Prevention for Aging Services

Tuesday, September 21, 2021
1:00 – 2:00 pm EST
CE Credits: Yes

Description: When vaccines became available against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, our older adults in aging services settings and the staff that care for them were first in line! They were societies’ most vulnerable and fragile population and deserved to be protected as soon as possible. Over a few months’ time, aging services provider organizations achieved high vaccination rates for their residents and large, devastating, facility-wide outbreaks finally subsided. The current vaccines proved to be safe and to provide protection for the elderly against an often deadly virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for all immunizations, as well as the important role that immunization programs play in infection prevention and helping to mitigate the risk for outbreaks. This presentation will highlight the need for routine immunizations and safe injection practices through the lens of an infection preventionist.

Objectives:

• Identify opportunities to enhance immunization program and vaccine campaign administration in aging services post COVID-19
• Describe elements of an effective immunization program that recognizes and is tailored for the needs of both the resident and workforce populations
• Explain injection safety and infection prevention in aging services settings
• Discuss sepsis prevention and recognition in various aging services settings

Speakers: Margaret M. Miller, BS, MT (ASCP) M, CIC, FAPIC

Brief Guest Speaker Bio: Margaret M. Miller, BS, MT (ASCP) M, CIC, FAPIC joined the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) as an infection preventionist in December 2020. Prior to joining ECRI, Ms. Miller was the sepsis project manager at The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and a subject matter expert for HAPevolve for infection prevention, COVID-19 care in acute and post-acute facilities, sepsis, and highly infectious diseases. She is also a consultant for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and has worked to re-open international non-healthcare businesses during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Prior to joining HAP, Ms. Miller worked at Geisinger Health and most recently at Penn State Health – initially in laboratory medicine earning an advanced microbiology technologist certification (M), briefly in clinical documentation, and as an infection preventionist for over 25 years.

Ms. Miller earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Bloomsburg University and began Master’s studies at Marywood University. She is an active member of APIC, a recent board member of APIC Chapter 043 East Central PA, has maintained certification in infection prevention (CIC) since 1996, and was designated by APIC as a fellow in infection prevention (FAPIC) in 2016. Ms. Miller is published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) and has had poster and oral presentations at national APIC conferences. During the Ebola outbreak in western Africa, she was one of a five member core team that worked to attain Ebola treatment center status for a Pennsylvania hospital.

Target Audience: Corporate and campus risk managers, compliance officers, administrators, medical directors, PCPs, directors of nursing, mid-level providers, infection preventionist, and QAPI Committee members

This free event is only for current employees of a Member organization of Caring Communities or Peace Church. If you are interested in attending but are not a Member please contact us on how to register as a guest.