Sustaining strong infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in long-term care requires collaboration, workforce development, and practical strategies that can adapt to ongoing staffing and resource challenges.
NACCHO and APIC hosted a webinar on August 21, 2026, for Sustaining Infection Prevention in Long-Term Care: Partnerships, Workforce, and Practical Solutions, featuring infection prevention leaders from local health departments and healthcare. Panelists discussed the challenges facing long-term care IPC programs, highlighted successful partnerships between local health departments and long-term care facilities, and shared practical approaches to strengthening workforce capacity, onboarding new staff, succession planning, and sustaining infection prevention efforts over time.
Participants gained insights into:
Current challenges affecting infection prevention programs in long-term care settings;
Effective partnership models between local health departments and long-term care; facilities;
Strategies to support workforce development, onboarding, succession planning, and long-term program sustainability; and
Resources available through APIC and CDC’s Project Firstline to strengthen infection prevention capacity.
Featured Speakers:
Deb Burdsall, PhD, MSN, RN, LTC-CIC, CIC – Infection Preventionist and APIC President-Elect
Geraldine Hidalgo, MPH, LPN, CIC – Biological Scientist IV, Polk County Health Department (FL)
Megan Westcott, MPH – Community Health Coordinator/Epidemiologist, West Hartford-Bloomfield Health Department (CT)
Watch the webinar recording: https://naccho.zoom.us/rec/share/uIao6kkJjWeVP3mSX3om_Qtbjrb4uSHkHAi7IPyhh-f0tOKdgwf-ESgl4mJYlO09.epd1qbkF5IpyI_VV?startTime=1787331750000
Review the webinar slides: https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/Programs/Sustaining-Infection-Prevention-in-Long-Term-Care-Partnerships-Workforce-and-Practical-Solutions.pdf
Join the NACCHO Project Firstline Virtual Community to access webinar recordings, resources, and ongoing peer learning opportunities: https://virtualcommunities.naccho.org/communities/community-home?CommunityKey=02de12bb-a233-4984-94df-442ba0d7be34
