#17 Proper PPE is Always in Fashion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) has become as essential to everyday life as shoes, though masking guidelines for use haven't been so straightforward and often times confuse the public. The supply of PPE has been a challenge and educating healthcare workers on what they need to wear and under what circumstances is no easy task for Infection Preventionists. Dr. Darlene Carey and Georgine Kruedelbach join us this month to discuss what PPE is, the different types of equipment available, and where PPE falls under the ‘Hierarchy of Controls’. Hosted by: Silvia Quevedo About our Guests:   Georgine Kruedelbach MSN, RN, CIC Georgine is the Director of Infection Prevention and Performance Improvement at Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System in Naples, Florida. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she earned her nursing diploma from St. Alexis Hospital School of Nursing. Her nursing career launched at The Cleveland Clinic hospital and with military veterans at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, as a critical care and behavioral health nurse. Relocating to Florida, she joined the Emergency/Trauma/Decon team at Lee Health System. While earning her advanced degree at Nova Southeastern University, she found a passion in public health and joined an African medical mission trip to pursue that passion. The last fourteen years have been spent as an Infection Preventionist with the goal of improving the health of the Naples community. Her interests include coastal water health in Southwest Florida, reducing risks from medical devices, and building relationships with the healthcare team. Darlene Carey, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CIC, FAPIC Dr. Darlene Carey currently serves as the System Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Northside Hospital Gwinnett and Duluth campuses. She also served as the recent national chair of the Practice Guidance Committee for the APIC-Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, liaison to the CDCs HICPAC-Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, and the APIC liaison to SGNA representing the Practice Guidance Committee from 2016-2018. An experienced senior level nurse professional, Dr. Carey has successfully led collaborative teams in achieving a transformational vision. Highly motivated in leading teams, her approach is strategic and collaborative and creates measurable and sustainable results. She has passion for leadership, quality, infection prevention, and process improvement; her collaboration with all disciplines of the healthcare team creates an environment for improved quality, reduced costs, and desired patient outcomes. Her systems-level thinking and approach to process improvement promotes culture change, improves practice, and provides for optimal patient outcomes.