A Dynamic Blueprint for Ambulatory Care Infection Prevention Program Design

Session Description: The ambulatory care environment is a rapidly accelerating area in healthcare with an increasing complexity in services offered. Many invasive procedures and treatments are now performed in outpatient settings requiring advanced device reprocessing methods, specialized training, and enhanced patient safety and quality improvement monitoring. Infection prevention (IP) programs designed to support safe practices in ambulatory care often lack resources, expertise, and structure. This session will guide infection preventionists with responsibility for ambulatory clinics in developing an infection prevention program that addresses regulatory standards, surveillance activities, and risk-assessed priorities. The presenters will describe their personal experiences in building and improving an IP program with a large ambulatory group of over 100 specialty clinics. This practice had been without a dedicated IP professional for over a year during the COVID-19 pandemic and many of the core IP functions had become dormant. The session will cover the preparation of an ambulatory IP risk assessment, plan, and annual evaluation, development of an ambulatory IP orientation and competency assessment, reinvigoration of a clinic champions initiative, revitalization of existing the hand hygiene program, and provision of new educational offerings for clinic staff.

Brittain Wood

Infection Prevention Program Manager, Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON)

Brittain Wood, BSN, RN, CRCST, CIC is an Infection Prevention Program Manager with Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON). He has previously held the position of Program Manager for Infection Prevention at Duke Raleigh Hospital. Brittain has been working in the field of infection prevention for 14 years and he is board certified in both Infection Control and Sterile Processing. Brittain is an active member of the North Carolina Association for Professionals in Infection Control where he has held many positions including Nominating and Awards committee member, Board Member, President of APIC North Carolina in 2022, and most recently as Chairperson of the Bylaws committee. APIC North Carolina awarded Brittain Practitioner of the Year in 2021.

Valerie Payne

Infection Prevention Program Manager, Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON)

Valerie holds a Master of Public Health and has served as a practicing Infection Preventionist for the last 14 years in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina. In these roles, she has experience in a variety of care settings including acute care, long term acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and ambulatory care. Valerie joined the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network in December 2021 to provide expert consultation to community hospitals and ambulatory healthcare settings. She has been certified in infection prevention and control by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology since 2014. In 2023, Valerie became a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality by the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Additionally, Valerie is an active participant in APIC North Carolina in a number of ways including mentorship, education and legislative committees. She has also held board positions including Chapter Secretary, Chapter President, and is currently serving as Chapter Legislative Representative.

Tiffany Kesinger

Infection Preventionist III, The University of Kansas Health System

Tiffany Kesinger, BSN, RN, CIC® has been a registered nurse since 1999 and has specialized in infection prevention since 2009. She achieved her initial Certification in Infection Control in 2012 and brings experience across diverse healthcare settings, including long-term care, acute care, and ambulatory environments. Tiffany currently serves as the Infection Prevention Liaison to ambulatory locations at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas. Tiffany is actively involved in professional leadership with APIC at both the national and chapter levels. She is a member of the APIC Nominating and Awards Committee and served as Committee Chair in 2025. She currently serves as Membership Chair for the Greater Kansas City APIC Chapter. Her prior roles include APIC Member Services Committee Chair, President of the Greater Kansas City APIC Chapter, and Secretary of the Wichita APIC Chapter.

Kellie Rusin

Infection Preventionist, Children's Hospital Colorado

Kellie has been a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) since 2011. For the past 13 years she has worked at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the only dedicated Level 1 trauma center in a seven-state region. Kellie has served at the local chapter and national level. Local chapter engagement includes Treasurer and Election Committee of the Mille High APIC chapter. Nationally she is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the Annual Conference Committee. Kellie received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Mesa University and her Master of Public Health degree with a focus on Epidemiology from the University of Colorado Denver. In addition to being certified in Infection Prevention, she maintains a certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.