Truly an unsung hero, Julie Spallino of Kindred Hospitals of Las Vegas has received national recognition for her efforts to prevent infection, by achieving the Hero of Infection Prevention status with the Association of Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC). One of only 12 recipients to receive the honor in 2010, she will be appearing as Hero of the Month in the annual APIC Calendar.Julie has been a member of APIC for 9 years. She achieved certification as an endoscope technician in 2005. As a self-motivated achiever, Julie has continued her education steadily since beginning work at Kindred in 1994 as a CNA and sterilization technician. Other honors received include EndoNurse Magazine MVP 2007, Strathmore’s WHO’S WHO 2005, and Infection Control Today Magazine 2009, Who’s Who in Infection Prevention. Julie is a member of SGNA and currently President of the Nevada’s local chapter, and a member of IAHCSMM since 1998.Her advocacy for infection prevention is reflected in the high success rate of zero post procedure infections for endoscopic gastric tube insertions for 10 years. There have been no infections related to vascular catheter or PermaCath placements since 2007. She coordinated the development of an interdisciplinary pre-procedure evaluation process. Patients and families benefit from her pre-procedure education and follow up. During procedures, Julie monitors for possible/potential breaks in infection prevention while also working alongside the RN to monitor how the patient is tolerating the procedure. Following procedures, Julie performs the sterilization of the scopes and equipment. Julie is so skilled at defining the quality measures of sterilization that reviewers from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention consulted with her while evaluating outpatient surgery centers in Nevada during an exposure crisis in 2007.We are proud of Julie, her National Hero of Infection Prevention status, and the contribution she makes to provide an infection free environment to Kindred patients.
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