Patty Launer Earns Certified Infection Control Credential

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT (July 31, 2020) – CBIC has announced that Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Director of Quality and Infection Preventionist Patricia Launer has earned the Certified in Infection Control (CIC®) credential and has demonstrated a mastery of infection prevention and control knowledge by taking and passing this comprehensive examination. Certification is maintained through successful completion of the recertification examination every five years.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted all that goes into keeping staff and patients safe from healthcare-associated infections,” Launer said. “Multiple components work together to prevent infections within the healthcare setting, including monitoring of water and air quality, environmental cleaning, sterilization, purchasing of PPE supplies, tracking lab values and placing patients on the correct transmission precautions. This certification allows me to demonstrate my commitment to – and understanding of – these diverse areas of expertise.”

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC®) administers the exam certifying individuals as CICs. The purpose of the certification process is to protect the public by providing standardized measurement of current basic knowledge needed for persons practicing infection control; encouraging individual growth and study, thereby promoting professionalism among infection prevention and control professionals; and formally recognizing infection prevention and control professionals who fulfill the requirements for certification. Individuals who earn their CIC® credential join over 7,000 practitioners worldwide who are Certified in Infection Control. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredits CBIC’s certification program, which signifies that CBIC has met the highest national voluntary standards for private certification. CBIC periodically conducts job analyses to assure that certification measures current practices and knowledge required for infection prevention and control and applied epidemiology.

“NVRH recognizes the added value Patty brings to the Quality Management team as a Quality Director and Infection Preventionist with the CIC credential.” NVRH VP Quality Management Programs Colleen Sinon said. “She has played an integral part in crafting how NVRH has responded to COVID-19; this certification highlights not only her knowledge base, but how equipped she is to tackle this difficult time in healthcare.”

CBIC is a voluntary autonomous multidisciplinary board that provides direction for and administers the certification process for professionals in infection prevention and control and applied epidemiology. CBIC is independent and separate from any other infection control-related organization or association. In 2018, CBIC celebrated 35 years of protecting the public through the development, administration, and promotion of an accredited certification in infection prevention and control. For more information about CBIC, visit www.cbic.org.