In the light of an alarming shortage of infection preventionists (IPs) in various healthcare institutes across the U.S, such as hospitals, surgical centers, and nursing homes, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has assumed a pivotal role. In providing their expert knowledge to the Urban Institute and the U.S. Department of Labor, it has worked to shape a unique and promising framework for IP apprenticeship programs. This development has been initiated in reaction to the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of ‘Infection Preventionist National Occupational Framework.’
This registered framework aims to help train fresh IPs, equipping them with the required skills to excel in the field of infection prevention and control. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research body, received a grant under the Employment Training Administration to design occupational standards for registered apprenticeship programs. APIC contributed actively in creating this framework for IP apprenticeship programs. The newly devised national occupational framework paves the way for satisfactory training standards using Registered Apprenticeship. Zach Boren, Senior Policy Program Manager at the Urban Institute, stated that this model aims to shape a highly skilled workforce that pledges to maintain public health.
This initiative has taken a crucial step ahead when there is a 25% vacancy in the field of infection prevention and control, an issue that even predates the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, given the imminent wave of retirements expected, the field of IP is becoming more invested. Statistics reveal that 65% of IPs are 46 years or older and 38.5% are 56 years or older.
The introduced apprenticeship ensures an add-on pathway for those who want to carve a career in infection prevention and control. Such programs align well with APIC’s prismatic academic route for IPs. Devin Jopp, EdD, MS and CEO of APIC, emphasizes the new apprenticeship program is a significant move to handle the critical IP staffing crisis and build the future workforce. APIC, having more than 15,000 members, has paved the path for infection preventionists and epidemiologists since it was founded in 1972. Dedicated to the cause of preventing infection, it accomplishes its mission through efforts in research, advocacy, patient safety, and training.