Contributed by Evelyn Bates, Senior Relationship Manager, APIC Consulting
Over the past several years, onsite infection prevention and control (IPC) consulting has evolved significantly. While remote support expanded rapidly during the height of pandemic response efforts, we are now seeing a clear shift: healthcare facilities are once again seeking boots-on-the-ground support by subject matter experts. In-person IPC consulting is once again in high demand, driven by the need to strengthen infection prevention practices to ensure patient safety.
Why Facilities Are Seeking In-Person Support
Healthcare facilities today operate under intensified survey pressure and heightened regulatory scrutiny. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), among other accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV), have maintained a clear focus on IPC programs, reprocessing processes, Instructions for Use (IFUs), and sustained performance improvement. These areas in IPC continue to rank among the most frequently cited areas during accreditation surveys. While virtual guidance can be valuable for certain needs, healthcare facilities preparing for surveys or responding to findings often want an experienced IPC consultant physically onsite to observe practices in real time, assess workflows, and partner directly with frontline staff to drive facility-level change.
At the same time, turnover in infection preventionist (IP) teams remains a significant challenge. Many facilities are onboarding new IPs with limited experience, or navigating the challenge of supporting multiple areas with stretched IPC teams. Onsite interim support provides immediate stability, hands-on leadership, and essential mentorship during these transitions.
Additionally, there are areas that an IP team may need further support to promote continuous process improvement such as in sterile processing, endoscope reprocessing, or with operating room workflows, which benefit from onsite direct observation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Being onsite allows consultants to actively engage and communicate with clinical leaders, environmental services, sterile processing, and executive teams in ways that drive measurable, sustainable change.
Why Onsite Consulting Can Be Career-Advancing
For IPC consultants, in-person placement at a facility offers optimal learning and professional development opportunities to propel change in practice. Working onsite can facilitate collaboration with C-suite executives, department directors, and quality teams. Consultants have the ability to expand both their experience and expertise by participating in regulatory preparation meetings, performance improvement committees, and interdisciplinary rounding at the facility-level.
Onsite assignments also produce stronger, quantifiable outcomes to add to a resume or CV. Whether leading a facility through a successful survey, implementing a new surveillance strategy, reducing healthcare-associated infections, or aligning high-risk departments with the appropriate standards of practice, interim engagements can translate into meaningful professional accomplishments.
Looking Ahead
The consulting landscape is evolving, but one thing is clear: healthcare organizations are prioritizing tangible, in-person support to strengthen their IPC programs. For facilities, onsite interim IPs offer programmatic assistance with fresh eyes and measurable improvement. For consultants, it presents an opportunity to expand their professional experience and be recognized for their IPC expertise.