Did you ever wonder how Infection Prevention Program Standards were developed for Critical Access Hospitals? In this podcast, IP experts discuss their work in customizing standards to meet the unique needs of smaller hospitals. They share the challenges faced, the importance of supporting IPs in such settings, and the role of the APIC-IP competency model. They also discus the impact of these changes on staffing, management, and critical areas like ENDO and OR. Join them as they share valuable insights and strategies that led to their success. Listen now!

Guests
Kathleen McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, Director for Infection Prevention at Mercy
Angela Gray, BA, BSN, RN, CIC,  Infection Prevention Specialist for Aspirus St. Luke’s
Jessica Banks, RN, Infection Preventionist and Education Coordinator, Mery Hospital Aurora and Cassville 

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Kathleen McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA

Kathleen received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Masters in Public Health concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from St. Louis University.  She is the Director for Infection Prevention at Mercy, coordinating efforts for 45 hospitals and healthcare facilities in MO, AR, OK and KS.  Kathleen is Board Certified in Infection Prevention and Control and a Fellow of APIC.  She is past chair of the APIC Practice Guidance Committee and has held several positions on her local APIC chapter board (Chapter 073, St. Louis, MO).  She is also a Fellow of SHEA, and a member of SHEA Disinfection and Sterilization guidelines and AAMI guideline committees.  She has been a presenter at APIC, SHEA and ID Week national meetings and is the author of many IP-related papers and abstracts.

Angela Gray, BA, BSN, RN, CIC

Angela received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, both from the University of Oklahoma. She is the Infection Prevention Specialist for St. Luke’s of Duluth (now part of Aspirus Health), covering the acute care facility, 28 clinics, 3 ambulatory surgery centers, and a critical access hospital. Previously Angela worked with Mercy in Oklahoma, overseeing the infection prevention programs for three critical access hospitals. Angela became Board Certified in Infection Control in 2011. She continues to be a member of APIC, Oklahoma Chapter 125 and now the Minnesota Chapter 18. Angela has also been a member for a local Oklahoma organization called Epidemiologists and Preventionists in Infection Control (EPIC), having served as their president, board member, conference committee vendor coordinator, program coordinator, and most recently the website administrator.

Jessica Banks, RN

Jessica received her Nursing Degree from Crowder College in Cassville MO.  She is the Infection preventionist for Mercy Aurora and Cassville, two critical access hospitals in southwest Missouri. Jessica was just elected this year to the board for the Southwest APIC Chapter.  Jessica has worked her way through the healthcare system in her 18 years of service with Mercy and started Infection Prevention in 2020.  She is a member of MOAHQ, MOSHE and APIC.