Building Bridges to a Culture of Care Conference

On June 18th, 2024, the Infection Prevention and Control Department at Carilion Clinic hosted an educational conference at the Hotel Roanoke and Convention Center.  The conference is part the Virginia Long-Term Care Infrastructure Pilot Project (VLIPP) grant awarded to Carilion by Virginia Department of Health (VDH) , itself a recipient of CDC STRIKE funding. The goal of Carilion’s pilot project is to support and strengthen infection prevention and control programs in long-term care facilities and nursing homes across Southwest Virginia. 

The Building Bridges to a Culture of Care: Infection Prevention in Our Shared Communities conference brought together infection preventionists, facility leaders, and healthcare partners to delve into practical and effective infection prevention and control strategies in long-term care (LTC) settings. Attendees included representatives from 16 local facilities, as well as the CDC, Virginia Department of Health, VA Medical Center, Southwest Healthcare Coalition, and a multidisciplinary team from Carilion Clinic. Discussions covered a range of topics, including best practices, collaboration with health departments, staff training, engagement, and shared challenges in infection prevention. Interactive sessions fostered shared learning and discussion among participants.

This year’s conference was a success, and provided a platform for meaningful learning, discussion and strategy. The conference and pilot project exemplify the Infection Prevention and Control’s continued commitment to quality and excellence in the communities we serve.