Author: enlinn

The ABC’s of Viral Hepatitis: Update for Public Health Professionals (October 18 @ 12pm CT)

Presented by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance (ARC IPC), this virtual webinar will provide a snapshot of viral hepatitis epidemiology and an overview of the 2021-2025 US National Strategic Plan/Roadmap for Elimination which is highly relevant to the public health community. We will include a discussion about current surveillance data that reveals trends, challenges and opportunities, prevention through vaccination and approaches to treatment. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance (ARC IPC), Region IV Public Health Training Center, and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

  1. Describe key approaches to stopping the spread of viral hepatitis, eliminate it as a public health threat, and save lives
  2. Discuss key strategies to increase vaccination and improve care and treatment of viral hepatitis
  3. Describe the social determinants of health that contribute to the viral hepatitis epidemic and unequal burden of viral hepatitis in the United States 

Speaker: Barbara DeBaun, MSN, RN, CIC, Improvement Advisor at Cynosure Health

EVALUATION

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

Strategies for Combatting Health Misinformation (October 13, 2022 12pm CST)

Misinformation has been a risk factor throughout the pandemic, leading to more disease and death from COVID-19. Dr. Katrine Wallace (UIC School of Public Health) is an epidemiologist and social media science communicator who debunks misinformation and false claims about COVID-19 and the vaccines. In this webinar, Dr. Wallace will explain the difference between misinformation vs disinformation, discuss why disinformation is such a widespread public health issue, and identify strategies to combat health misinformation among your own friends/family/workplace. This webinar was co-sponsored by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control and the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Dr. Katrine Wallace,
Epidemiologist and Adjunct Assistant Professor
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics & Division of Community Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University of Illinois at Chicago

eVALUATION

Back to School Q&A with an Infectious Disease Pediatrician

It’s August and it’s not just kids back in class. School is now in session for germs, viruses and bacteria that cause illnesses that can make your child (or yourself as a parent, caregiver, or guardians) sick. Back-to-school is widely recognized in the medical community as a time when many children pick up infections from their classmates. As a parent or caregiver, what do you need to watch for? Dr. David Kimberlin, Professor and Co-Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, joins the podcast to discuss some common illnesses found in schools, the best way to treat them, and the importance of good hygiene practices to reduce the chances of catching these illnesses.

This podcast is presented by the Alabama Reginal Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance. Thank you to our co-sponsor for this podcast, the Alabama Public Health Training Network at the Alabama Department of Public Health a community-based training partner of the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

The Mystery and Epidemiology of Long COVID (September, 29 @ 12pm CT)

Dr. Stella Aslibekyan, Senior Scientist, Genetic Epidemiology, 23andMe and Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Kentucky

This webinar is presented by the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance. Two and a half years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is emerging evidence that in some patients, its symptoms may linger for months or even years after the initial infection. While prevalence estimates vary widely, such ‘long COVID’ symptoms likely persist in more than 10% of all COVID-19 cases. This webinar, Dr. Stella Aslibekyan, Senior Scientist, Genetic Epidemiology, 23andMe and Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Kentucky, will summarize the current scientific debate about long COVID– is it an autoimmune disease, a consequence of comorbidities, or something else? We will draw on a recent study of 100,000+ COVID-19 cases to understand who is susceptible to long COVID, how long the symptoms can last, and whether vaccination can improve long COVID outcomes.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 CEUs.

Watch on Youtube
Webinar Evaluation

What You Should Know About the 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak

From early May 2022 to June 13, 2022 (the date of this podcast recording), over 1,300 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported across 31 countries that normally don’t see any cases of monkeypox. Occasionally, outbreaks have occurred outside Africa. But, in most instances, these cases were associated with international travel or contact with individuals or animals from endemic regions. Currently, the CDC and World Health Organization are tracking multiple reported cases and monitoring several person in counties without endemic monkeypox and with no known travel links to an endemic area. 

In today’s podcast, we welcome back Dr. Rachael Lee, Associate Professor in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases and UAB Health Epidemiologist to talk to us about monkeypox – what it is and if we should be worried?

Thank you to our co-sponsor for this podcast, the Alabama Public Health Training Network at the Alabama Department of Public Health a community-based training partner of the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Further Reading:

For Healthcare Providers:

News Articles:

What Parents Need To Know About The COVID Vaccine For Children Under 5

For many months, parents have been told COVID vaccines for their children under 5 were on the way. But shifting timelines, delays and misinformation have left many parents frustrated and confused. In addition, as COVID restrictions are relaxed, many parents of young children are desperate to know when they can expect a vaccine to be authorized for their young children. To bring some clarity to this conversation, we have invited Dr. Candice Dye, an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Academic General Pediatrician at Children’s of Alabama, to join us to talk about the latest updates on the COVID vaccine approval for children under 5.

Thank you to our co-sponsor for this podcast, the Alabama Public Health Training Network at the Alabama Department of Public Health a community-based training partner of the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Infection Prevention: What is it? Can it really help protect us from pathogens? (March 22, 12pm CT)

The Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance presents “Infection Prevention: What is it? Can it really help protect us from pathogens?”. COVID has reminded us how vulnerable the human race is to pathogens. Infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics are not new. They have helped shape how the human race has evolved and how we live in the world. In this webinar, Mary Duncan, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Health System, will explain what infection prevention is and how it can help protect us from infectious diseases. She will review the evolution of infection prevention and explore key infection prevention measures that are used every day. Participants will also be able to identify potential trends in infection prevention and how these may help protect us from another pandemic. This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance, Region IV Public Health Training Center, and Deep South Center for OH&S .

The Deep South Center for OH&S is an approved provider of continuing education units for nurses by the AL Board of Nursing (Provider ABNP0420 Expiration Date 12/22/2025) and has awarded this program 1.0 contact hours.

Training Evaluation

Difficult Dialogues: Learning effective communication about tough topics (March 10, 12pm CT)

In today’s polarized and increasingly isolated communication landscape it can feel impossible to break through the noise and establish a meaningful dialogue about issues related to the COVID019 pandemic. In this webinar Dr. Adam Brooks from the University of Alabama shares with us the basis for effective communication and how to shift tough topics from a debate to a dialogue.

By the end of this webinar you will be able to:

  • Identify the techniques of effective communication.
  • Break down barriers to arrive at shared understanding.
  • Determine the difference between dialogue and debate.
  • Apply the four steps of active listening.
  • Recognize the barriers put up around complex issues like vaccine.
  • Develop strategies to structure conversations for better outcomes.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance and the Region IV Public Health Training Center.

Training Evaluation

Masks and Respirators: What they can do to protect against COVID-19?

Learn more about different types of masks and face coverings, how they protect against infection from COVID-19, and how to select which type of mask to wear from Dr. Claudiu Lungu, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. This video was created in partnership between the Alabama Regional Center of Infection Prevention and Control Training and Technical Assistance (ARC IPC) and the Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

Disinfection/Sterilization: A Primer With a Focus on Use in Healthcare Facilities

Webinar from the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT)

Proper cleaning and disinfection/sterilization of devices and surfaces are critical to safely providing care to patients in healthcare facilities. Dr. David Weber, Medical Director of Hospital Epidemiology (Infection Prevention) at University of North Carolina Hospitals, will provide a comprehensive overview of when and how sterilants and disinfectants should be used with a focus on critical instruments/devices, semi-critical devices and non-critical devices and surfaces. Other topics that will also be discussed include the ideal disinfectant, monitoring cleaning effectiveness of surfaces, no touch methods of room disinfection, and how to manage a breach in proper disinfection/sterilization of medical instruments.

David Weber, MD, MPH, FSHEA, FIDSA, FRCM
Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, UNC School of Medicine; Professor of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Medical Director, UNC Hospitals’ Departments of Hospital Epidemiology (Infection Prevention); Associate Chief Medical Officer, UNC Health Care
Chapel Hill, NC

Learn more at https://www.acmt.net/Disinfection_Sterilization.html