#7 Kelley Boston on quantifying the invisible

On the podcast is Kelley Boston. Kelley is a Senior Associate with Infection Prevention & Management Associates.  She brings a background in public health and epidemiology to her infection prevention practice.  She holds a Masters of Public Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health, and did her undergraduate work at The University of Texas at Austin.  She holds certifications in infection prevention and control (CIC), healthcare quality (CPHQ) and is recognized as a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC).   

Ms. Boston’s primary experience is in acute care, and has held leadership roles in multi-facility systems that have included both community hospitals and major academic teaching centers, and  specialized practice areas including pediatrics, transplant, and trauma.  She was honored as an APIC Hero of Infection Prevention in 2016 for her work in program integration and development within a large multi-facility healthcare system, leading to significant sustained improvement in infection outcomes. 

Ms. Boston is an active member of both the Society for Healthcare Epidemiologists of America (SHEA) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), where she has served as president and board member in multiple local chapters, and at the national level on the Communications Committee and APIC Text Editorial Panel.  She is currently the Editor of the APIC Text Online: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology.

A few key takeaways: 
On resource alignment

You got to look at the cost-benefit trade. If I do this audit, what do I have to take time away from? Nobody has enough time or enough staff. It is all about the resources. 

On working in Infection Prevention

You will never reach the end of your IP knowledge. And if you think you have, they will throw something like Coronavirus at you. Do not harm. Hospitals can be dangerous places. By the end of the day, someone is safer for the work you have done.

On workplace culture

How do we build a culture where we can help each other and create high performing teams? The importance of prevention (before the damage happens) – and the talk about why it is difficult to document successful prevention results. 

On our role as healthcare workers

At the end of the day, someone is safer for the work that you have done.Hospitals should be safe places where people come to get the medical care that they need and go home better. You will never be finished with the job. 

On data

Generally, in the field about 40% looking at what happened, and 60% looking at what is happening and then all of the other daily tasks.Ask yourself, what are we collecting and how are we going to take action on it? 

 Connect with us on Twitter: 

Dr. Marco Bo Hansen @marcobohansenKelley Boston@epikelley