Ready for Anything: Infection Preventionists in Real-Time Crisis

Session Description: Crisis situations in healthcare rarely come with advance notice, and Infection Preventionists (IPs) are often called upon, whether the issue originates in our domain or not. From construction mishaps and water leaks to infectious exposures and supply challenges, we are expected to respond quickly, think broadly, and communicate clearly.

This session introduces IPs to the fundamentals of crisis management and how these principles apply to our daily work. Participants will explore the four phases of crisis management (preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery) using real-world examples and Infection Prevention-specific insights. Together, we will walk through a relatable crisis scenario, pausing to reflect on leadership actions, communication strategies, and cross-functional coordination.

The participants will engage in a group activity. Each group will receive a scenario and take on roles beyond IP, such as facilities, nursing leadership, or emergency management, to apply what they’ve learned and gain new perspectives.

Whether you're newer to the field or looking to strengthen your leadership approach during challenging moments, this session will help you feel more prepared and confident navigating crisis situations as an IP.

Ravneet Kaur

Infection Preventionist/ Quality Program Lead, PeaceHealth

Ravneet Kaur, MPH, CIC, serves as Quality Program Lead and Infection Preventionist for two critical access hospitals in Washington State. A dentist by training with a strong background in public health and epidemiology, Ravneet combines clinical insight with data-driven strategies to improve patient safety and prevent hospital-acquired infections—particularly in rural settings. She earned her MPH in Epidemiology from Texas A&M University, is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society for Public Health, and holds CIC certification. Ravneet has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and is passionate about building safer, more reliable systems of care. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, whether hiking in the mountains or relaxing by the water.

Dina Conigliaro

RN Clinical Data Abstractor - HAI Surveillance, PeaceHealth

Dina Conigliaro, BSN, RN, CIC, PCCN-K is a board certified Infection Preventionist with 9 years of acute care Nursing experience in cardiac, pre/post-operative care, and leadership. Dina proudly has 3 years of experience in infection prevention and control. Dina’s professional interests include incorporating artificial intelligence into fun infection prevention-focused messaging, collaborating to optimize infection prevention workflows in electronic healthcare records, and prevention of surgical site infections. Dina is currently an Infection Preventionist with PeaceHealth in Oregon and Washington supporting surgical services at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, as well as SouthWest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA. In her free time, Dina enjoys writing music as a singer-songwriter, embarking on Oregon hiking adventures, and pampering her lovely Persian cat, Socrates.

Tammy Cunningham

Manager, Infection Prevention and Control , AdventHealth Shawnee Mission

Tammy Cunningham has been in infection prevention for six years. Her nursing background included ICU and NICU. She currently is a member of the APIC Communication Committee and is the Infection Prevention Manager at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.