Infection Preventionists versus a Natural Disaster During the Pandemic

Session Description: It's Friday at 4 pm, raining heavily, when your desk phone rings. The House Supervisor is notifying you of a water intrusion. You prepare for the "normal" minor water intrusion event response. Now your cell phone rings, followed by texts, photos, and videos coming in like a tidal wave of emergent notifications. You soon realize this is one of those career moments you will never forget.

When a massive flood occurred in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, essential infection prevention concerns became critical in combination with continuous evolving priorities. The natural disaster flooded 55,000 square feet of clinical space in minutes, but the remediation and restoration lasted more than eight months and included the need to combine five ambulatory clinics into other existing clinics. Management and reduction of disease outbreak risks became a central focus for everyone involved.

This presentation serves as a valuable opportunity to highlight the importance of prioritizing rapidly evolving issues and utilizing diverse infection control risk methods during the flooding of an acute care hospital and ambulatory clinic space. It sheds light on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in maintaining a safe environment to prevent disease transmission amongst caregivers and patients during a crisis and emphasizes the need for preparedness and innovative strategies. Ultimately, it underscores the critical role of infection prevention and control in ensuring patient safety and public health resilience in the face of compound risks such as extreme weather events and pandemics.

This presentation is suited for Infection Preventionists of all experience levels, as well as healthcare administrators, facility partners, and construction project managers. From floods to pandemics, it's clear that infection prevention is critical. Join us to learn how to navigate the perfect storm.