CBIC President's Message

Welcome to the Spring edition of CBIC's Certification Corner! This is a busy time of year for many of you, and this also holds true for CBIC. The CBIC Board is engaging in strategic planning activities in order to help ensure the future of the certification process for infection prevention and control. Some of you may be contacted to participate in a survey or focus group. Please consider investing some of your time in this process to help us improve and advance the certification process for the future of our profession. We welcome your participation!

In May, I’ll be attending the CHICA-Canada National Education Conference in Toronto, where I look forward to meeting many of our Canadian certificants, as well those who are considering certification in the future. We’ll have a CBIC booth in the exhibit hall, and I invite you to stop by to see us, pick up certification information, and to ask us any questions about the certification process. In addition, if you were certified over the past year, there will be a poster displayed with all new certificants and those who are newly re-certified recognized. Come by and see your name listed, and bring your camera if you’d like to get a picture for your records!

I’ll also be attending the APIC Annual Education Conference in Baltimore in June. There will be several opportunities to meet with members of the CBIC Board, and to discuss questions or concerns about the certification process. The CBIC booth in the exhibit hall will be open daily, and we look forward to seeing you there. We’ll have posters with the names of all who were certified or recertified during the previous year recognized for their achievement. To celebrate this accomplishment, if you bring your camera, you can capture the moment! On Tuesday afternoon, there will be a concurrent conference session where we will formally present information about the process of obtaining your CIC^®. Participants will have an opportunity to speak to members of the CBIC board, and further discuss ideas, concerns, and questions about the process of obtaining certification.

I want to encourage you to consider getting further involved with the certification process in one of three ways: 1) Serve as a member of the CBIC Board. All members of the Board must be certified (except for the Consumer Member), and are appointed by APIC each year. The application can be found on the APIC website, and the deadline for submission is June 3.

2) Serve as a member of the CBIC Test Committee. Under the direction of the CBIC Board, the Test Committee is responsible for developing the certification exam and the Self-Achievement Recertification Exam (SARE). Committee members are selected by CBIC for a two-year term. The application for membership can be found on the CBIC website in early August. Please watch for a Call for Volunteers.

3) Submit a question for a future CIC^® exam to the Test Committee. Don’t worry about whether or not the question is worded exactly right, but do make sure that it matches with a part of the official content outline (found in the Candidate Handbook), and to include the correct answer, as well as a reference that validates the information. Be careful not to include any issues that are specific to any local, state, provincial, or federal regulations. If your question is chosen for use on a future exam, you may not recognize the final product; test development and subject matter experts will review the item and edit it to ensure that it meets test specifications before including it. This is your chance to help the exams reflect current practice-related issues from all healthcare settings. To submit a question, send it to info@cbic.org.

Thanks for your continued interest in your unique profession. Your commitment to practice excellence helps to protect the patients we serve, and lights the way for your colleagues to follow!

We’d love to hear from you -- Call (414-918-9796), or email the office (info@cbic.org) or me (tlee@cbic.org) with any questions or comments.

Terrie Lee

Terrie B. Lee, RN, MS, MPH, CIC
2011 CBIC President

The current practice of infection prevention as demonstrated by the practice analysis survey of the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.

By Fran Feltovich, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ

This article, written by CBIC's Immediate Past President, Fran Feltovich, originally appeared in the September 24th, 2010 online issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

Since the last practice analysis (PA) survey was taken in 2005, there have been many changes in infection prevention practice so CBIC made the decision to conduct an additional survey in 2009 instead of the five year period mark of 2010. An advisory committee was formed, including Infection Prevention Professionals (IP's) with varying IP tenure from all over the United States and Canada, along with assistance from the Psychometrics Division of CBIC's testing company, Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP). Read more here.

Importance of Credentials

CBIC believes certification represents an Infection Preventionist's and institution's commitment to improvement of infection prevention and control and their contribution to healthcare and patient safety. As an IP, certification affirms you have an internationally recognized level of knowledge in the field of Infection Prevention and Control.

Recently, President Obama stated in his weekly radio address that "investments in education are critical for our nation's future. The same rings true for Americans as individuals: investments in continuing education and attaining professional credentials will be critical to secure jobs and advance in their careers. This conclusion was supported during the first meeting of the President's Council on Job Creation and Competitiveness, where executives of companies like GE, Intel, Comcast, and others met to discuss strengthening employment in the United States. Leaders at the February 24th meeting agreed that the return of jobs to the US will rely on a workforce with the right skills, from the factory floor to the board room."

In addition, "According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the greatest job growth over the coming decade will be in health care, science & technology, educational services, and construction. Health care and social assistance will generate more than four million new jobs between 2008 and 2018. Professional, scientific, and technical services will generate more than 2.6 million new jobs, and educational services will generate more than 1.6 million jobs in this same time frame. Each of these industries calls for professionals with highly specialized skills."

Read full article here: ("PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS ARE A VALUABLE ASSET FOR JOB SEEKERS AS ECONOMY RECOVERS")

CBIC Exhibits at 2011 Conferences

This year's CHICA-Canada meeting is being held May 28th-June 2nd and will feature names of Canadian CIC's who have certified and recertified between May 2010-May 2011. This is a great photo opportunity, so bring your camera. We'll have some fun giveaways, CIC^® product order forms, and for those studying for the exam, we'll have copies of the content outline and references, as well as practice exam demonstrations. Board members will be there to talk with you.

For those of you attending the APIC meeting June 27th–29th, be sure to stop by the CBIC booth #954. If you have certified or re–certified between June 15, 2010 and June 1, 2011 your name will be displayed on large posters. Again, this provides for a great photo opportunity, so bring your camera. CBIC's booth at this conference will also feature giveaways, CIC product order forms, copies of the content outline and references and practice exam demonstrations. Board members and staff will also available.

Certified Professionals Day during IIPW in October

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) is pleased to announce that we will be recognizing certified Infection Preventionists during International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) in October 2011 by sponsoring the first Certified Infection Preventionists Day.

CBIC recognizes your commitment to achieve and maintain your certification and for your dedication to improve infection prevention and control. Certification helps to protect the public by providing an objective measurement of standardized current knowledge recognized and respected within and outside the infection prevention profession. Infection Preventionists who are certified are authorized and encouraged to use the internationally recognized CIC® initials after their names.

We are pleased to have the support of the APIC, CHICA-Canada, and IFIC as we launch this new initiative.

Please watch for additional information in the coming months and join us as we recognize Certified Infection Preventionists in October. For additional information, please visit the CBIC website at www.cbic.org.

Mystery in the Park

Need a little sparkle in your Infection Prevention meetings or an educational adventure with a different twist? Most APIC and CHICA-Canada Chapter meetings usually include an educational presentation along with their monthly business meeting.

The APIC Puget Sound Chapter (Western Washington) members wanted an outdoor meeting; but how could it provide an educational learning experience? No problem!!! "Mystery in the Park" was developed.

The picnic shelter at a city park was reserved, the invitations were sent to the chapter members; come dressed for the weather, bring a hand held calculator and your detective and epidemiology skills to solve a medical mystery.

At the park, chapter members divided into teams of four to five people. The original plan was to have the teams look for their mystery clues throughout the park. But the day of the event, it was raining – that's Washington! So, a packet with the clues was handed to each team.

The teams sorted through their clues to organize their project. Gummy worms provided nourishment as the Outbreak Mystery scenario unfolded. Biology, mathematics and statistics skills were used along with environmental science knowledge.

Lunch was provided. Prizes were awarded and fresh flowers were presented to the participants for their efforts. It was such fun that the chapter members have requested that the "Park Adventure" become an annual event.

Glenda Schuh, RN, BSN, CIC
APIC Puget Sound Chapter President

Don't Forget to Re-Certify!

To maintain certification, the Infection Preventionist must recertify within five calendar years of passing the examination. All currently certified infection preventionists are eligible for recertification. If you have not already taken the following steps, please review the following options for recertification:

Take and pass the proctored computer-based (CBT) examination
The proctored computer-based (CBT) examination can be taken at over 150 Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) Assessment Centers Monday through Friday at either 9:00 am or 1:30 pm. You can apply online via the link on the CBIC website (www.cbic.org) or by going directly to the testing agency website at www.goamp.com. You can also download a candidate handbook at www.cbic.org for all the information on administrative policies and an application form. International certificants can also recertify via the computerized examination. For a list of domestic and international assessment center locations, please visit the AMP website at www.goAMP.com. If you wish to recertify via CBT, you must have your examination appointment scheduled for on or before December 30, 2011 (assessment centers are closed on December 31st).
Take and pass the Self-Achievement Recertification Examination (SARE)
The SARE is offered online in web-based format. You can schedule testing on your own home computer and on your own schedule. The test can be ordered at any time between now and December 1, 2011. A passing score must be achieved, and your SARE must be completed by December 31, 2011. You must have an email address to receive the confirmation e-mail with specific instructions on how to logon to the SARE. The e-mail will include a unique ID and password that must be used during the login process. Certificants are able to login and out as many times as necessary, within the established testing window, to complete the examination; responses/answers during the previous logins will be saved. Candidate results are provided following completion of the test and will also be sent to the candidate's e-mail address.

Please be aware that if you do not recertify within the deadlines outlined above, your certification will lapse on December 31, 2011. If you allow your certification to lapse, you cannot use the CIC© credential after December 31, 2011. Should your certification lapse and you decide to pursue the credential again, you must apply through the same application process, criteria, and fee as a first-time applicant at the time of application.

If you need further information regarding the CBIC Examination process, please visit the CBIC^® website at www.cbic.org and download the current CBIC Candidate Handbook.

The Value of Certification PowerPoint slides available for use

The CBIC leadership has updated the PowerPoint presentation, Understanding CBIC and the CIC credential, available on the CBIC website. The slides have been separated into five different sets including: About CBIC, How Do I Know I Qualify to Take the Exam, the CBIC Certification Process, Preparing for the Certification Exam for the First Time, and the Value of Certification.

The slides can be presented at APIC and CHICA-Canada chapter meetings as a means of educating your colleagues about CBIC and the certification process and the importance of becoming certified. You may also use the slides to provide information to your employer or other colleagues at your organization about the CIC® credential. Click on the link above to download the slides.

You Asked, We Answered

In our ongoing effort to provide answers to questions we receive from the general public, potential candidates, and current CIC® certificants, we have updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the CBIC website. We receive great questions from all of our constituents everyday and we're committed to keeping the FAQ pages as up-to-date as possible. If there is a topic that you think should be added to the Frequently Asked Questions, please send it in an email to info@cbic.org. The FAQ pages can be located by clicking on the links below.

Out with the Old, In with the New

You may have noticed something a little different about your e-newsletter. We are excited to announce that we have launched a new CBIC logo! After considering several different designs, the leadership selected one from the outstanding submissions to become the new CBIC logo. CBIC Board members agreed that this logo represented a more modern yet scholarly design.

CBIC New Logo

We're also excited to announce that we will be launching a new website in the Summer of 2011. CBIC is committed to the professional growth of our certificants as well as educating the public, employers, and certification candidates and we believe that a website that's easier to navigate will help us fulfill that goal. Watch for announcements and further information on the website re-design in the coming months.

Thank you for reading CBIC's April, 2011 E-Newsletter.
To send suggestions for future articles or feedback on this issue,
please write to info@cbic.org.


The Certification Corner Welcome to The Certification Corner — CBIC's electronic newsletter, bringing you timely information about your organization.
	CBIC: The Certification Corner Volume 4; Issue 2 April 2011
CBIC 555 E. Wells Street Suite 1100 Milwaukee WI 53202-3823 (414) 918-9796 info@cbic.org www.cbic.org AMP (CBIC's testing company) 18000 W. 105th St Olathe, KS 66061-7543 (888) 519-9901 info@goamp.com www.goamp.com APIC 1275 K St., NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC, 20005-4006 (202) 789-1890 apicinfo@apic.org www.apic.org CHICA PO Box 46125 RPO Westdale Winnipeg MB R3R 3S3 (866) 999-7111 chicacanada@mts.net www.chica.org Don't miss any news or updates from CBIC! Click here to help us update your record in our database. It takes commitment to become Certified in Infection Control. Show your status with pride. Click here to order your CIC Pin. CBIC President's Message Welcome to the Spring edition of CBIC's Certification Corner! This is a busy time of year for many of you, and this also holds true for CBIC. The CBIC Board is engaging in strategic planning activities in order to help ensure the future of the certification process for infection prevention and control. Some of you may be contacted to participate in a survey or focus group. Please consider investing some of your time in this process to help us improve and advance the certification process for the future of our profession. We welcome your participation! In May, I’ll be attending the CHICA-Canada National Education Conference in Toronto, where I look forward to meeting many of our Canadian certificants, as well those who are considering certification in the future. We’ll have a CBIC booth in the exhibit hall, and I invite you to stop by to see us, pick up certification information, and to ask us any questions about the certification process. In addition, if you were certified over the past year, there will be a poster displayed with all new certificants and those who are newly re-certified recognized. Come by and see your name listed, and bring your camera if you’d like to get a picture for your records! I’ll also be attending the APIC Annual Education Conference in Baltimore in June. There will be several opportunities to meet with members of the CBIC Board, and to discuss questions or concerns about the certification process. The CBIC booth in the exhibit hall will be open daily, and we look forward to seeing you there. We’ll have posters with the names of all who were certified or recertified during the previous year recognized for their achievement. To celebrate this accomplishment, if you bring your camera, you can capture the moment! On Tuesday afternoon, there will be a concurrent conference session where we will formally present information about the process of obtaining your CIC^®. Participants will have an opportunity to speak to members of the CBIC board, and further discuss ideas, concerns, and questions about the process of obtaining certification. I want to encourage you to consider getting further involved with the certification process in one of three ways: 1) Serve as a member of the CBIC Board. All members of the Board must be certified (except for the Consumer Member), and are appointed by APIC each year. The application can be found on the APIC website, and the deadline for submission is June 3. 2) Serve as a member of the CBIC Test Committee. Under the direction of the CBIC Board, the Test Committee is responsible for developing the certification exam and the Self-Achievement Recertification Exam (SARE). Committee members are selected by CBIC for a two-year term. The application for membership can be found on the CBIC website in early August. Please watch for a Call for Volunteers. 3) Submit a question for a future CIC^® exam to the Test Committee. Don’t worry about whether or not the question is worded exactly right, but do make sure that it matches with a part of the official content outline (found in the Candidate Handbook), and to include the correct answer, as well as a reference that validates the information. Be careful not to include any issues that are specific to any local, state, provincial, or federal regulations. If your question is chosen for use on a future exam, you may not recognize the final product; test development and subject matter experts will review the item and edit it to ensure that it meets test specifications before including it. This is your chance to help the exams reflect current practice-related issues from all healthcare settings. To submit a question, send it to info@cbic.org. Thanks for your continued interest in your unique profession. Your commitment to practice excellence helps to protect the patients we serve, and lights the way for your colleagues to follow! We’d love to hear from you -- Call (414-918-9796), or email the office (info@cbic.org) or me (tlee@cbic.org) with any questions or comments. Terrie B. Lee, RN, MS, MPH, CIC 2011 CBIC President The current practice of infection prevention as demonstrated by the practice analysis survey of the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. By Fran Feltovich, MBA, RN, CIC, CPHQ This article, written by CBIC's Immediate Past President, Fran Feltovich, originally appeared in the September 24th, 2010 online issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. Since the last practice analysis (PA) survey was taken in 2005, there have been many changes in infection prevention practice so CBIC made the decision to conduct an additional survey in 2009 instead of the five year period mark of 2010. An advisory committee was formed, including Infection Prevention Professionals (IP's) with varying IP tenure from all over the United States and Canada, along with assistance from the Psychometrics Division of CBIC's testing company, Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP). Read more here. Importance of Credentials CBIC believes certification represents an Infection Preventionist's and institution's commitment to improvement of infection prevention and control and their contribution to healthcare and patient safety. As an IP, certification affirms you have an internationally recognized level of knowledge in the field of Infection Prevention and Control. Recently, President Obama stated in his weekly radio address that "investments in education are critical for our nation's future. The same rings true for Americans as individuals: investments in continuing education and attaining professional credentials will be critical to secure jobs and advance in their careers. This conclusion was supported during the first meeting of the President's Council on Job Creation and Competitiveness, where executives of companies like GE, Intel, Comcast, and others met to discuss strengthening employment in the United States. Leaders at the February 24th meeting agreed that the return of jobs to the US will rely on a workforce with the right skills, from the factory floor to the board room." In addition, "According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the greatest job growth over the coming decade will be in health care, science & technology, educational services, and construction. Health care and social assistance will generate more than four million new jobs between 2008 and 2018. Professional, scientific, and technical services will generate more than 2.6 million new jobs, and educational services will generate more than 1.6 million jobs in this same time frame. Each of these industries calls for professionals with highly specialized skills." Read full article here: ("PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS ARE A VALUABLE ASSET FOR JOB SEEKERS AS ECONOMY RECOVERS") CBIC Exhibits at 2011 Conferences This year's CHICA-Canada meeting is being held May 28th-June 2nd and will feature names of Canadian CIC's who have certified and recertified between May 2010-May 2011. This is a great photo opportunity, so bring your camera. We'll have some fun giveaways, CIC^® product order forms, and for those studying for the exam, we'll have copies of the content outline and references, as well as practice exam demonstrations. Board members will be there to talk with you. For those of you attending the APIC meeting June 27th–29th, be sure to stop by the CBIC booth #954. If you have certified or re–certified between June 15, 2010 and June 1, 2011 your name will be displayed on large posters. Again, this provides for a great photo opportunity, so bring your camera. CBIC's booth at this conference will also feature giveaways, CIC product order forms, copies of the content outline and references and practice exam demonstrations. Board members and staff will also available. Certified Professionals Day during IIPW in October The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) is pleased to announce that we will be recognizing certified Infection Preventionists during International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) in October 2011 by sponsoring the first Certified Infection Preventionists Day. CBIC recognizes your commitment to achieve and maintain your certification and for your dedication to improve infection prevention and control. Certification helps to protect the public by providing an objective measurement of standardized current knowledge recognized and respected within and outside the infection prevention profession. Infection Preventionists who are certified are authorized and encouraged to use the internationally recognized CIC® initials after their names. We are pleased to have the support of the APIC, CHICA-Canada, and IFIC as we launch this new initiative. Please watch for additional information in the coming months and join us as we recognize Certified Infection Preventionists in October. For additional information, please visit the CBIC website at www.cbic.org. Mystery in the Park Need a little sparkle in your Infection Prevention meetings or an educational adventure with a different twist? Most APIC and CHICA-Canada Chapter meetings usually include an educational presentation along with their monthly business meeting. The APIC Puget Sound Chapter (Western Washington) members wanted an outdoor meeting; but how could it provide an educational learning experience? No problem!!! "Mystery in the Park" was developed. The picnic shelter at a city park was reserved, the invitations were sent to the chapter members; come dressed for the weather, bring a hand held calculator and your detective and epidemiology skills to solve a medical mystery. At the park, chapter members divided into teams of four to five people. The original plan was to have the teams look for their mystery clues throughout the park. But the day of the event, it was raining – that's Washington! So, a packet with the clues was handed to each team. The teams sorted through their clues to organize their project. Gummy worms provided nourishment as the Outbreak Mystery scenario unfolded. Biology, mathematics and statistics skills were used along with environmental science knowledge. Lunch was provided. Prizes were awarded and fresh flowers were presented to the participants for their efforts. It was such fun that the chapter members have requested that the "Park Adventure" become an annual event. Glenda Schuh, RN, BSN, CIC APIC Puget Sound Chapter President Don't Forget to Re-Certify! To maintain certification, the Infection Preventionist must recertify within five calendar years of passing the examination. All currently certified infection preventionists are eligible for recertification. If you have not already taken the following steps, please review the following options for recertification: Take and pass the proctored computer-based (CBT) examination The proctored computer-based (CBT) examination can be taken at over 150 Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) Assessment Centers Monday through Friday at either 9:00 am or 1:30 pm. You can apply online via the link on the CBIC website (www.cbic.org) or by going directly to the testing agency website at www.goamp.com. You can also download a candidate handbook at www.cbic.org for all the information on administrative policies and an application form. International certificants can also recertify via the computerized examination. For a list of domestic and international assessment center locations, please visit the AMP website at www.goAMP.com. If you wish to recertify via CBT, you must have your examination appointment scheduled for on or before December 30, 2011 (assessment centers are closed on December 31st). Take and pass the Self-Achievement Recertification Examination (SARE) The SARE is offered online in web-based format. You can schedule testing on your own home computer and on your own schedule. The test can be ordered at any time between now and December 1, 2011. A passing score must be achieved, and your SARE must be completed by December 31, 2011. You must have an email address to receive the confirmation e-mail with specific instructions on how to logon to the SARE. The e-mail will include a unique ID and password that must be used during the login process. Certificants are able to login and out as many times as necessary, within the established testing window, to complete the examination; responses/answers during the previous logins will be saved. Candidate results are provided following completion of the test and will also be sent to the candidate's e-mail address. Please be aware that if you do not recertify within the deadlines outlined above, your certification will lapse on December 31, 2011. If you allow your certification to lapse, you cannot use the CIC© credential after December 31, 2011. Should your certification lapse and you decide to pursue the credential again, you must apply through the same application process, criteria, and fee as a first-time applicant at the time of application. If you need further information regarding the CBIC Examination process, please visit the CBIC^® website at www.cbic.org and download the current CBIC Candidate Handbook. The Value of Certification PowerPoint slides available for use The CBIC leadership has updated the PowerPoint presentation, Understanding CBIC and the CIC credential, available on the CBIC website. The slides have been separated into five different sets including: About CBIC, How Do I Know I Qualify to Take the Exam, the CBIC Certification Process, Preparing for the Certification Exam for the First Time, and the Value of Certification. The slides can be presented at APIC and CHICA-Canada chapter meetings as a means of educating your colleagues about CBIC and the certification process and the importance of becoming certified. You may also use the slides to provide information to your employer or other colleagues at your organization about the CIC® credential. Click on the link above to download the slides. You Asked, We Answered In our ongoing effort to provide answers to questions we receive from the general public, potential candidates, and current CIC® certificants, we have updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the CBIC website. We receive great questions from all of our constituents everyday and we're committed to keeping the FAQ pages as up-to-date as possible. If there is a topic that you think should be added to the Frequently Asked Questions, please send it in an email to info@cbic.org. The FAQ pages can be located by clicking on the links below. Frequently Asked Questions for Candidates Interested in Becoming Certified Frequently Asked Questions for Currently Certified CIC's Frequently Asked Questions for the Healthcare Consumer Out with the Old, In with the New You may have noticed something a little different about your e-newsletter. We are excited to announce that we have launched a new CBIC logo! After considering several different designs, the leadership selected one from the outstanding submissions to become the new CBIC logo. CBIC Board members agreed that this logo represented a more modern yet scholarly design. We're also excited to announce that we will be launching a new website in the Summer of 2011. CBIC is committed to the professional growth of our certificants as well as educating the public, employers, and certification candidates and we believe that a website that's easier to navigate will help us fulfill that goal. Watch for announcements and further information on the website re-design in the coming months. Thank you for reading CBIC's April, 2011 E-Newsletter. To send suggestions for future articles or feedback on this issue, please write to info@cbic.org.