American Sentinel University Launches Infection Prevention And Control Certificate For Health Care Professionals Seeking Additional Credentials

Certificate Meets Growing Demand for Infection Prevention and Control Specialists

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health, which is why health care facilities are under increasingly strict guidelines to prevent the spread of infection.

If they don't, they jeopardize millions of dollars in reimbursements from Medicare and other payers for hospital-acquired infections among patients.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that hospital-acquired infections result in a direct annual cost of $28.4-$45B to the industry. "This is why infection prevention is at the forefront of health care," says Kelli Highfill, business development manager, nursing relations at American Sentinel University. "For nurses and clinicians who have the necessary skills and knowledge, they could help lead facility efforts for preventing and controlling infection."

American Sentinel University is proud to announce one of the only Infection Prevention and Control Certificate programs available online.

The certificate is designed to provide credentials and academic knowledge about infection prevention and control best practices to bachelor's-degree-holding health practitioners, including RNs, nurse practitioners, physicians, medical technologists, microbiologists, non-nurse practitioners and clinicians.

"Each year millions of patients contract infections in hospitals and health care settings, creating a tremendous burden on health care systems," says Highfill. "The career outlook for infection preventionists is exceptionally bright. Academic training is in high demand, so the combination of earning a certificate in this field and practical experience will give health care professionals an edge for filling in-demand positions."

A Certificate That Covers Design, Surveillance and Data Interpretation The Infection Prevention and Control Certificate helps to advance a health care professional's skills with the core competencies used in assessing, planning and managing not only infection control, but best practices for prevention of infection outbreaks and control efforts within an organization or community.

The program's core knowledge is derived from the latest evidence-based content and recommendations from leading infection control agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and other health organizations.

Most importantly, the program offers an academic foundation covering the principles of epidemiology, the design, collection and interpretation of surveillance data through curriculum that aligns with the new APIC competency model through academic credits.

"Our infection prevention and control certificate is designed to enhance critical-thinking skills. It allows for the immediate application of knowledge to the real world," says Highfill.

The 15-credit hour program takes approximately 10 months to complete through American Sentinel's affordable, flexible, online format and is open to those who have at least a bachelor's degree in a health care-related field.

For more information or to register for American Sentinel University's Infection Prevention and Control Certificate program, please visit http://www.americansentinel.edu/health-care/infection-prevention-and-control-certificate.

About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of accredited online nursing degree programs in nursing, informatics, MBA Health Care, DNP Executive Leadership and DNP Educational Leadership.

Its affordable, flexible bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.