In light of financial constraints and federal funding cuts, many healthcare systems across the US are opting for staff reductions to alleviate cost pressures. Among these redundancies, many infection control professionals are reportedly losing their jobs, leading to concerns about the potential impact on patient and staff safety. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and The Leapfrog Group have come forward to admonish this trend.
They have issued a joint statement, urging hospitals and health systems to retain priority on preventing hospital-acquired infections and implored leaders to refrain from infection control staff cuts. Devin Jopp, CEO of APIC, pointed out that in one large healthcare organization, there was a shocking 25% reduction in infection prevention and control resources. Even if one staff member is removed from a smaller team of four or five professionals, it can have a significant impact on their capabilities.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already cancelled hundreds of grants for hospitals and universities, constraining their funding further. Though there are efforts to restore these funds, the impact of these financial pressures is apparent. Hospitals also warn that further cuts in Medicaid would exacerbate these pressures. What surprised Jopp the most was the willingness of healthcare leaders to cut infection control staff, despite the crucial nature of their work in maintaining hospital safety.
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, expressed deep concern over the budget cuts which could result in a potential surge in hospital-acquired infections, harkening back to a time when this was a major issue in healthcare. Despite recent improvements in infection control, Binder emphasizes that there is still much work to be done and the workforce dedicated to infection prevention should not be reduced.
As healthcare organizations aim to manage cost reduction, both Binder and Jopp advise that patient safety should always take precedence. They warn that once an increase in infection rates is observed, it’s usually too late for a quick fix as re-staffing and re-implementation of programs take time. They also caution that potentially losing experienced staff and their knowledge presents its own risks.
Jopp advises that hospital leaders should recognize the value of infection control programs, stating that hospital CEOs should familiarize themselves with the individuals leading these programs. Overall, the ongoing pandemic and related financial stressors have put a strain on hospital resources, but Binder and Jopp emphasize that infection prevention cannot and should not be a casualty of cost-cutting measures.