The four Initiative Workgroups

Each workgroup consists of cross-industry team members who have made a commitment to identify specific project deliverables that will be their group's focus throughout the year. They will work collaboratively to fulfill initiative goals and objectives that support the mission of the Healthcare Surfaces Institute.

Education

Chair, Dr. Amber Hogan Mitchell

Create and disseminate tools, resources, educational material, and other critical information for providers, patients, and the public to reduce transmission of surface related pathogens.  A range of materials including infographics, presentations, checklists, training parameters, and educational curricula will be developed to target individuals at all levels of awareness to improve their knowledge, skills, and ability to act as agents of change. 

Research

Chair, Matthew Hardwick

Utilize broad-based evidence for prevention of infections in healthcare and other settings to design and disseminate a toolbox to help interrupt the spread of infections from surfaces.

Standards and Utilization

Chair, Darrel Hicks

Research and recommend surface hygiene testing methods with real-time, objective measurements. Review current cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization guidelines and unify testing and validation methods. Co-develop an education and certification program for professionals. Provide scientific sights in support of regulatory standards and guidance.  Develop “Designed for Maintainability Guideline” to empower and support healthcare professionals in the selection of safer surfaces.

HSI Incubator

Design and build critical healthcare environments to use as a simulation test site to holistically evaluate the compatibility of surface materials and textiles disinfectants, products, and processes as well as human behavior. The incubator will also serve as a test site for the development of consistent testing and validation standards that provides data and evaluation of the ways surfaces support microbial acquisition and transmission.

 

Participants in each of the workgroups include:

  • Manufacturing and Engineering expertise

  • Infection Prevention

  • Facilities Management

  • Environmental Services

  • Regulatory Agencies

  • Academia

  • Microbiologists

  • Occupational Health