Author: Carole W. Kamangu
January 9, 2024
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, the critical role of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) cannot be overstated. Since the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a primary focus of discussion among healthcare professionals. Recently, we had the privilege of tapping into the expertise of a leader in the field as my interlocutor, Vanessa Makarewicz, expanded on the topic.
In this first part of our blog series “Infectious Wisdom”, we get to explore key themes that contributed to establishing the foundation for a robust infection prevention and control program.
Perfected Mastery: A Journey of 15 Years in Infection Prevention
Vanessa Makarewicz, an Infection Preventionist and program leader with over 15 years of experience, serves as a guiding force in the field. Her expertise is respected among professionals in the regions that she serves, and her insights often lead to the implementation of strategic infection prevention and patient safety initiatives.
As she reflects on her journey, it's evident that her commitment to collaboration stands as a cornerstone of her success. "It takes the collaboration of the bedside, both physicians and nurses, for you to even understand what is happening because we can see it within our infection control lens. You have to remember you're going to their turf" she wisely notes, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting the unique cultures within various healthcare units. Stressing this concept is key because this is the starting point for a truly successful partnership. It helps close the gap between leadership and frontline healthcare workers. Forging these partnerships allows frontline employees—who are essentially the backbone of their healthcare units, clinics, or departments—to view IPC professionals as experts in their field. This, in turn, fosters a greater openness to their recommendations.
“It takes the collaboration of the bedside, both physicians and nurses, for you to even understand what is happening because we can see it within our infection control lens. You have to remember you're going to their turf” - Vanessa Makarewicz
The Power of a Diverse and Specialized Team
Historically, organizations have prioritized hiring nurses to lead their IPC programs. The idea behind this requirement relied mainly on the employee’s clinical background as a stepping stone to ensure the effectiveness of programmatic operations. Embracing diversity in backgrounds and expertise within infection prevention teams can act as a powerful driver for productivity, fostering their ultimate success.
This becomes apparent as Vanessa notes that one of the cornerstones of her facility's success in infection prevention lies in the diversity and specialization of her team. She stresses the importance of avoiding overburdening one or two individuals with multiple responsibilities, opting instead to assign subject matter experts to various aspects of infection control. This specialization allows for in-depth expertise and comprehensive coverage of all aspects of infection prevention.
“We have a great team. We have a team of four infection preventionists that all specialize in certain aspects of the program. So, each IPC program is set up differently but the way we have it in our institution is that an IP is really an identified subject matter expert for each kind of initiative.” - Vanessa Makarewicz
Watch the conversation on YouTube
The Collaborative Imperative: Engaging with Frontline Staff
Collaboration emerges as a recurring theme in our conversation. It’s natural for teams to operate in isolation from the rest of their organizations as it’s often simpler to work with those who understand the culture and way of doing things within a specific department. This type of isolation, referred to as silos, typically arises from each team's sense of ownership in their work and hesitancy or reluctance at sharing that ownership with those considered outsiders. This can result in potential communication breakdowns, which can hamper a collaborative mindset, crucial for organizational success.
Vanessa emphasizes the significance of collaboration in preserving patient safety. She believes that this approach not only garners support but also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among healthcare professionals, creating a foundation for effective and sustainable change throughout the organization. Her IPC team achieves a healthy partnership with frontline employees by remaining committed to educating and empowering staff to make informed decisions at the bedside. By simplifying access to IPC policies, providing clear guidance, and encouraging questions, they aim to foster a sense of ownership among all healthcare professionals.
“Being more collaborative, getting their buy-in, in order to enact change is also really important […] It's not a dictatorship. It really is a collaboration.” - Vanessa Makarewicz
Building a Strong Foundation: Vanessa’s Approach through Ambassador Teams and Champion Strategies
Another aspect of this partnership between her team and frontline staff involves the creation of ambassador teams at the bedside and within ancillary departments. Vanessa acknowledges that staff turnover and the need for consistent training can be challenging. To address this, her IPC team has implemented a strategy of creating champions within various departments throughout the facility. These champions are an identified resource for their respective teams, ensuring that the correct policies and procedures are followed. This approach reinforces best practices and encourages a culture of peer-to-peer support.
If high turnover has been a challenge at your facility, and you would like to discuss how to build a team of champions to sustain your infection control operations, click here
In conclusion
Our insightful conversation with Vanessa Makarewicz, spanning over a decade of her experience in infection prevention, has illuminated the importance of collaboration and interpersonal relationships as the secret sauce for her IPC program’s success. Vanessa's emphasis on forging partnerships and bridging the gap between leadership and frontline healthcare workers sets the tone for a truly successful collaboration. From her strategies in building an effective infection prevention program to fostering a culture of ownership among frontline staff, Vanessa's insights echo a powerful narrative. The success of her diverse and skilled team underlines the importance of covering all bases.
In the next part of this series, we’ll discover more about her team’s strategies for maintaining patient safety. Until next time, tell us what’s working in your facility. Have you used similar strategies to promote patient safety? What’s your secret sauce? Tell us in the comments below.
About Our Guest
Vanessa A Makarewicz received her Bachelor’s in Nursing from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing where she was a Fuld Fellow and researched the incidence of infections from vascular access devices. In 2004, she moved to Seattle and began working on 5NE, a cardiothoracic surgery floor at University of Washington Medical Center. In June 2008, she received her Master’s degree from the University of Washington as an Infectious Disease Clinical Nurse Specialist. She practiced for four years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at UWMC with the focus on decreasing central line infections as it relates to insertion and maintenance. Currently, she is the Infection Prevention & Control Director at Harborview Medical Center and continues to be an advocate for patients and staff in the Quality Improvement and Infection Prevention specialties. She has been at UW Medicine for 20 years and at HMC for 11 years.
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