ASC professionals with specialized knowledge and skills in infection prevention can now demonstrate their expertise through an infection prevention certification program introduced this year by the Board of Ambulatory Surgery Certification (BASC). The new Certified Ambulatory Infection Preventionist (CAIP) program also provides an opportunity for infection preventionists (IP) working in the ASC setting to distinguish themselves from IPs who work in other settings and to demonstrate their commitment to best practices in infection prevention and control.

BASC will offer the first exam for the certification program October 1–31, 2018, in testing centers around the country. Electronic applications for the October testing period will be accepted August 1–31, 2018.

During two full days of infection prevention programming, ASCA 2018— April 11–14 in Boston, Massachusetts—will provide attendees with the opportunity to earn 9.5 of the 10 continuing education (CE) credits they need to qualify for the exam. Sessions will focus on topics ranging from the ASC infection preventionist’s role and performing an infection prevention risk assessment to using Medicare’s ASC infection control worksheet to drive improvement and endoscope reprocessing.

Bill Prentice
Chief Executive Officer