Professionals interested in talking with others who are pursuing CIC certification

Paramedics and emergency care personnel associated with the transport of patients, as well as the various first-responder components, fire departments, police agencies, corporate emergency response teams, volunteers, public access defibrillation programs, and citizen rescuers.

Infection preventionists who have worked in IPC for up to 3 years. Access is restricted to individuals with the “New to Profession” member type.

Professionals who manage IPC programs within critical access hospitals (hospitals certified under a set of Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP), which are structured differently than the acute care hospitals CoP). Typically, CAHs have no more than 25 inpatient beds; maintain an annual average length of stay of no more than 96 hours for acute inpatient care; offer 24-hour, 2-day-a-week emergency care; and are located in a rural area, at least 35 miles drive away from any other hospital or CAH. Small rural hospitals without the CAH certification are also served by this section.

Infection preventionists who work in free-standing LTC or extended care facilities or who specialize in meeting the long-term and acute care needs of the LTAC patient population, both in free-standing and hospital-in-hospital settings.

Infection prevention and control professionals who are dedicated to the care of cancer patients. Access is restricted to infection preventionists from cancer centers, cancer hospitals, and facilities with an oncology unit.

Professionals who work in all aspects of veterinary medicine and animal health to advance the science of veterinary infection prevention and control and biosecurity, promote and support One Health interprofessional collaboration, and assist and support colleagues working in veterinary infection prevention. Professionals may originate from a variety of different disciplines and facilities including: small and large animal companion animal clinics/hospitals, production animal, wildlife rehabilitation, zoos, shelters, sanctuaries, research, education, public health, and human healthcare.

Behavioral Health section members serve uniquely characterized clients that require creative and individualized adaptations of infection prevention principles. The section is devoted to assisting infection preventionists who serve behavioral health populations in a variety of settings.

Home care began as a voluntary home nursing service in the late 1800s, and today has evolved into a specialized field of patient care. Infection preventionists in home care and hospice are part of an interdisciplinary team. These professionals have multiple roles, one of which is preventing home care-acquired infections.

The Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) section was established in 2012 after several years of operating as an APIC focus group. This group exists to help define and educate members and others about this unique practice setting and associated patient care challenges. The LTAC section aims and works collaboratively with APIC to provide education, networking opportunities, and a forum for evidenced-based and best practice feedback in the daily care and management of the LTAC population.

The Long-Term Care (LTC) section provides a strong mentor base, support, and resources to assist LTC infection preventionists in implementing excellent infection prevention and control practices within their facilities. Because LTC facilities are regulated by state and federal mandates as well as the Joint Commission and other agencies, the understanding and implementation of guidelines must be adapted to this environment.

APIC’s Public Health Section strives to support infection preventionists working in community based organizations, quality improvement organizations, and local, state, and federal public health departments as they coordinate efforts to reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across the continuum of care.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs serves America’s veterans with dignity and compassion and is their principal advocate in ensuring that they receive the care, support, and recognition earned in service to this nation. APIC’s Veterans’ Affairs section represents more than 200 infection preventionists (IPs) who work for the VA.