In the 5 Second Rule podcast by APIC, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes discuss infection prevention and control in the context of hurricanes with professionals, Lori Crow and Cindy Prins. From sharing personal experiences to breaking down the role of infection preventionists in such situations, the podcast covers a wide range of topics - from maintaining food safety during power outages to averting mold growth post-flooding. Listen to the IPC experts shed insights on the crucial role played by IPs and infection prevention measures during a hurricane.

Hosted by:

Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC

About our Guests:

Cindy Prins, PhD, MPH, CIC, CPH, FSHEA

Dr. Cindy Prins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida, and is part of the UCF Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose research focuses on infection prevention and control in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings, and on compliance with vaccine recommendations. Dr. Prins is Board Certified in Infection Control (CIC) and Public Health (CPH) and is a Fellow of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (FSHEA).

Lori Zeringue Crow, MPH, MS, CPH

Lori holds a background in both microbiology and public health. After a career as a college microbiology instructor, Lori pivoted her path into public health by going back to school to obtain her MPH. Lori now works in public health emergency preparedness and response at a state health department. In that capacity, Lori is trained to prepare for and respond to all types of hazards that can impact public health. Two of the most common types of hazards her department encounters are hurricanes and flooding. Lori’s experience with the devastation that hurricanes can bring is not only professional, but also personal as she has lived most of her life on the Gulf Coast. Lori believes infection prevention plays a role in minimizing the impact hurricanes can have on people. She combines her microbiology and public health background to advocate for the inclusion of infection control in hurricane preparedness and response

Further Resources:

• How to build an emergency kit by Ready.gov
• General public health messaging before, during, and after hurricanes and floods. Covers food safety, mold, proper care of wounds, safe water, waterborne diseases: CDC Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters
• CDC’s Safe and Healthy Diapering for Emergency Settings and Shelters fact sheet
• CDC’s Preventing Diarrheal Illness After a Disaster fact sheet
• APIC’s Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters during Disasters
• Creating a food safety plan for hurricane season: Foodsafety.gov
• 2023 APIC Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force: Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters During Disasters
• Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities, 2019

Hear about the intricacies of healthcare equity in this episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, hosted by Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard. We welcome Caldwell Lewin and Jessica Tarabay from the APIC Health Equity Committee, diving deep into topics such as health equity, disparities, and crucial infection prevention strategies. Listen now to gain valuable insights into pressing concerns in the healthcare landscape.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guests:

Jessica Tarabay, MPH, MHR, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC

Jessica Tarabay holds a background in public health and epidemiology. Jessica joined Emory Healthcare in May of 2019. She is a purposely driven quality, patient safety, and infection prevention leader with 10 years of healthcare experience identifying areas of improvement through interdisciplinary collaboration, data analysis, and implementing strategies critical for successful outcomes. Jessica is a fellow of APIC, has published and presented on a variety of topics in infection prevention and control, and serves as the Chair of the National APIC Health Equity Committee and 2023 President of the Greater Atlanta Georgia APIC Chapter. Jessica was the recipient of the 2021 March of Dimes “Friend of Nurse” award in Georgia and is a current doctoral candidate in the DrPH program at the University of Georgia.

Caldwell Lewin, MSN, RN, CIC, CPHQ

Caldwell Lewin is a dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience in nursing and infection prevention and control. Currently working as an Operating Room Registered Nurse, Caldwell has a diverse background, having previously served as the Infection Prevention and Control system manager for Sentara Healthcare, a system encompassing 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.

Caldwell’s expertise in Infection Prevention and Control spans various settings, including acute care, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory surgery centers. She has served as a board member for the APIC chapter in New Orleans and participated on the National APIC Health Inequity and Disparities task force. Currently, she co-chairs the APIC Health Equity Committee, demonstrating her commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equitable healthcare practices.

In the latest episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, guest Chris Smith delves into the collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and APIC, resulting in the development of a school-based IPC Toolkit for Missouri Schools. This initiative equips the school community with valuable resources to enhance infection prevention practices in K-12 schools. Learn more about the toolkit's components, the TEAMS (Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support) model approach, impact assessment through pre/post evaluations, and its potential to enhance population health beyond the healthcare sector.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guest:

Chris Smith, MHA, Program Manager for APIC

Chris A. Smith, MHA, is currently a Program Manager for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), acting as the project manager for the MO KIDS IPC Toolkit project. Ms. Smith has worked in the public health and medical fields for the last 30 years. Roles that she has held include Environmental Health Specialist and Bio-terrorism Response Planner for Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Communications and Emergency Preparedness Manager for University of Missouri Healthcare, Emergency Preparedness Director for Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston), Senior Program Manager of the Boston Medical Intelligence Center, Boston Public Health Commission, and leading training development projects for workforce development for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Field Operations Directorate. Ms. Smith is also an adjunct professor for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, teaching Public Health Issues in Emergency Management. She earned her Master's in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Missouri - Columbia.