2023). Include projected ROI over three to five years, which aligns with how CFOs evaluate capital decisions.
• Patient: Improves safety, reduces readmissions, elevates satisfaction scores( Huang et al. 2020). Patient stories humanize the numbers and emphasize the stakes.
• Process: Streamlines workflows, strengthens compliance( Greene et al. 2022). Highlight connections to broader operational priorities like discharge efficiency or supply chain optimization.
• Learning & Growth: Supports training, mentorship, and long-term safety culture. Demonstrates investment in staff retention and professional development.
Suddenly, infection prevention is no longer just a support function, it’ s strategic value creation. Breaking the“ Support Service” Stereotype Many IPs are pigeonholed as clinical support rather than strategic leaders. Overcome this by:
• Knowing which metrics matter to your executive team
( Kaplan and Norton 1996).
• Presenting concisely, backed by data( Bialek et al. 2019).
• Anticipating questions about costs, benefits, timelines, and contingency plans.
• Framing every proposal in terms of risk mitigation, cost avoidance, and alignment with strategic organizational priorities.
We must consistently demonstrate that infection prevention is not an isolated department— it underpins the financial, operational, and reputational health of the entire organization.
The Strategic Imperative
Infection prevention is no longer just about sterile procedures. IPs influence finances, patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and workforce growth. By speaking the C-suite language— grounded in Balanced Scorecard, I think we can secure the resources needed to keep patients safe and systems resilient.
CEOs and COOs respond when we connect our initiatives to what matters to them: outcomes, finances, and growth. When we do, infection prevention becomes a core driver of organizational strategy, patient safety, and sustainable excellence.
Deborah Ellis, PhD, MS, MT( ASCP), CIC, LTC-CIP, CPHQ, FACHE, is the system director of infection prevention and control at Alameda Health System in California. With extensive experience in infection prevention, she brings a microbiology-based lens to healthcare epidemiology and system-level risk management. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a graduate of UCLA’ s Executive Education program, Ellis is passionate about advancing IP leadership in health system governance. She is also a national consultant and advocate for equity in infection prevention leadership pathways.
References: Becerra RJ, et al. 2023. Infection Prevention as a Strategic Lever in Value-Based Care. J Healthcare Management. 68( 4): 245-256. Bialek R, et al. 2019. Engaging Executives in Infection Prevention: Evidence and Practice Guidance. Am J Infect Control 47( 12): 1469-1475. Greene, TM, et al. 2022. Streamlining Hospital Infection Prevention: Integration with Operational Workflows. Am J Infect Control 50( 5): 536 – 544. Huang S, et al. 2020. Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections Through Infection Prevention Programs: Updated Evidence. J Hosp Infect. 106( 2): 251-262.
Kaplan RS and Norton DP. 1996. The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Porter ME and Lee TH. 2013. The Strategy That Will Fix Health Care.” Harvard Business Review. 91( 10): 50-70.
Umscheid CA, et al. 2021. Healthcare-Associated Infection Costs in the Era of Value-Based Care: A Systematic Review. Infect Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 42( 12): 1425-1435.
SUBMISSIONS WANTED
Healthcare Hygiene magazine invites infection prevention stakeholders from all aspects of prevention and control( including IP / healthcare epidemiology, healthcare value analysis, quality / safety / risk management, surgical services, sterile processing, environmental services, biomedical engineering and scientific research) to submit sciencedriven, best practice-based articles for consideration for publication. Please, no public relations pitches or articles with commercial overtones. Send your queries to Kelly Pyrek at: kelly @ healthcarehygienemagazine. com
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