Schedule

Contagious Conversations: Strategies for Confident and Effective Communication

Immerse yourself in an enriching session that delves into the vital realm of effective communication. Elevate your skills as a healthcare professional through the guidance of our expert speaker, Kara Sand. She will provide a step-by-step communication process, enabling you to gain tangible strategies and invaluable insights to adeptly navigate challenging conversations. Whether you’re seeking to increase your confidence or refine your finesse in communication, this session caters to individuals determined to cultivate seamless interactions, fostering both stronger connections and more harmonious relationships.

10:30 - 11:30am

Water Management: Avoiding and Mitigating the Risks

Water management presents many risks for healthcare organizations, including a risk of infection to patients, visitors, and staff as well as regulatory and financial risk.  Knowing what is required is imperative for infection prevention and control professionals.  This presentation will review the risks and expectations for an effective water management plan.

1:00 - 2:00pm

Protect All Patients: A Paradigm Shift Focusing
on the Impact the Nose has on Infections

This session will explore a major shift in strategy from screening and
isolating/treating to decolonizing the pathogen at its source, the nose. This
active source control strategy is proving to be the paradigm shift needed.
Nasal colonization is recognized as the primary driver of staph-related
HAls. A Director in the Office of HAI Prevention Research at the CDC
recently recommended a paradigm shift using universal nasal
decolonization as a strategy to protect all patients.

2:00 - 3:00pm

Healthcare-Associated Infection/Antibiotic Resistance Program Updates from the South Dakota Department of Health

This session will provide updates from the South Dakota Department of Health’s HAI/AR Program and discuss current MDRO threats and concerns.

3:00 - 3:30pm

Break/Vendors Open

3:30 - 4:30pm

Sexually Transmitted Infections

This session will provide background on STIs and the STI climate in South Dakota. 

4:30 - 4:45pm

APIC & South Dakota APIC

4:45 - 5:30pm

Escape Room - Hosted by Project Firstline

Microbiology Challenges to Consider When Processing
Flexible Endoscopes

Flexible endoscopes are exposed to microbiological challenges during and after use. Recognizing those challenges and employing appropriate strategies for mitigation can help reduce the risk of infection.

Break/Vendors Open

Everyone Hide - Surveyors are Here!

Everyone's pulse speeds up a bit when surveyors arrive at your door.  Being prepared and knowing how to share your processes with surveyors will help.  We're going to examine common issues on surveys, how to prepare for surveys, and how to talk to surveyors. 

Disease Transmission in the Workplace

This session will review OSHA standards that are intended to prevent disease transmission.

SDICC Annual Meeting