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Regional Infection Prevention Program

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The Regional Infection Prevention Program (RIPP) is housed within the Medical Services Division in the Office of the Director. Our infection control coordinators (ICC) are experienced infection prevention nurses who provide consultation to local health departments, hospitals, and long-term care and other high-risk congregate care facilities in their regions.

Infection control coordinators:

  • Support outbreak response in health care settings
  • Provide education and support in the prevention of multi-drug resistant organisms and other health care-associated infections
  • Conduct Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) site visits
  • Provide infection prevention support to sister state agencies

RIPP works closely with the HAI/AR, Communicable Disease, Environmental Health, and other divisions at IDPH to respond to outbreaks of health care-associated infections in congregate settings.

Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Program Site Visit

The ICAR is a tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for comprehensive assessment of an infection prevention program and its practices. The ICAR process includes the following steps:

  1. After requesting an ICAR visit, you will be contacted to schedule the one-day onsite assessment.
  2. A calendar invitation and visit details will be provided once a visit date is scheduled.
  3. On the day of the visit, the infection control coordinator will review infection control processes with facility representatives (including the facility infection preventionist, director of nursing, environmental services and maintenance managers, regional staff, and other staff as available). Following a sit-down discussion, the ICC will tour the facility and observe infection prevention and control practices. When able, the ICC may be joined by other RIPP members and local health department staff.
  4. After the visit, the facility point of contact will receive a summary of findings, including strengths, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for addressing identified gaps in infection prevention and control practices.
  5. The ICC will follow up over the next few months to discuss the implementation of recommendations.

Request a FREE Infection Prevention Assessment and Consultation

IDPH invites long-term care facilities in the state to request an on-site infection control assessment and consultation. Other facilities, such as acute care, critical access, ambulatory surgery centers, dental clinics, and other outpatient clinics, will be accommodated as resources permit. Reach out to your local health department or email RIPP at DPH.IP@illinois.gov.

RIPP Coverage Map

 

Bellwood

 

Champaign and Marion

 

Metro East and Peoria

 

West Chicago and Rockford

 

Infection Control Coordinators by Region

Bellwood/Chicago
Champaign and Marion
Metro East and Peoria
West Chicago and Rockford
Infection Prevention Medical Advisor

Bellwood/Chicago

Infection Control Coordinator

Tracy Boyle, RN, BSN, CIC

Counties Served

Cook

DuPage

Lake

McHenry

Independent Health Departments within Cook County:

Evanston

Oak Park

Skokie

Stickney

Champaign and Marion

Infection Control Coordinator

Mike Bierman, RN, BSIT, CIC

Counties Served

Alexander

Champaign

Clark

Clay

Coles

Crawford

Cumberland

De Witt

Douglas

Edgar

Edwards

Effingham

Fayette

Ford

Franklin

Gallatin

Hamilton

Hardin

Iroquois

Jackson

Jasper

Jefferson

Johnson

Lawrence

Livingston

Macon

Marion

Massac

McLean

Moultrie

Perry

Piatt

Pope

Pulaski

Richland

Saline

Shelby

Union

Vermilion

Wabash

Wayne

White

Williamson

Metro East and Peoria

Infection Control Coordinator

Yvonne Overton, BSN, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP

Counties Served

Adams

Bond

Brown

Calhoun

Cass

Christian

Clinton

Fulton

Greene

Hancock

Henderson

Jersey

Knox

Logan

Macoupin

Madison

Mason

McDonough

Menard

Monroe

Montgomery

Morgan

Peoria

Pike

Randolph

Sangamon

Schuyler

Scott

St. Clair

Stark

Tazewell

Warren

Washington

Woodford

Independent Health Departments:

East Side Health District

West Chicago and Rockford

Infection Control Coordinator

Jacob Rothmeyer, MS-RN, MPH, CIC

Counties Served

Boone

Bureau

Carroll

DeKalb

Grundy

Henry

Jo Daviess

Kane

Kankakee

Kendall

LaSalle

Lee

Marshall

Mercer

Ogle

Putnam

Rock Island

Stephenson

Whiteside

Will

Winnebago

Statewide Infection Prevention Medical Advisor

Hillary Spencer, MD, MPH

Resources

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