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NUMC’S PATRICIA ZINKIEWICZ, RNC, CIC, SELECTED TO BE A SPEAKER AT CDC SPONSORED PROGRAM FOR INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR TB STAFF

August 20, 2008

Contact:  Shelley Lotenberg
(516) 572-6055
shelley@numc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NUMC’S PATRICIA ZINKIEWICZ, RNC, CIC, SELECTED TO BE A SPEAKER AT CDC SPONSORED PROGRAM FOR INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR TB STAFF

Honor for Ms. Zinkiewicz to be the only one selected as speaker by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention from all infection control professionals in Nassau County

East Meadow, NY…. One of Nassau University Medical Center’s infection control professionals, Patricia Zinkiewicz, RNC, CIC, was selected as a speaker at a United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention sponsored conference, for infection control practices on tuberculosis for the northeast section of the United States. The New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute, International Center for Public Health, is planning a training course, Essential Infection Control Practices for TB Program Staff in New York City on September 18, 2008.  Ms. Zinkiewicz will be a presenter on “Strategy for Collaborating with Infection Control Programs” at this CDC sponsored program.  She will speak on the roles and responsibilities of the TB infection control program vs. the TB program/local health department, the timely reporting of TB suspects or cases to local health departments and the importance of discharge planning to ensure follow up with TB program/local health department.

Ms. Zinkiewicz progressed from staff nurse in 1984, to nurse manager and ten years ago, became board certified in infection control.

Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, congratulated Ms. Zinkiewicz on her selection as conference speaker and said:  “You are to be commended for being selected from all Nassau County infection control professionals to represent NUMC and work with the local health department and TB control team on this project.  Your selection was, in large measure, due to your proven knowledge of and commitment to utilization of the CDC controls since the infection control division of NUMC plays an important role in ensuring that CDC guidelines for prevention and control are carried out by staff.”

Infection control has many facets, all of which are directed toward patient and employee safety.  Among them are the early identification and control of TB.  As a community hospital with a public mission, NUMC sees between 200-300 suspect TB cases per year.  The CDC is endeavoring to provide current information and control strategies to northeastern US hospitals and has partnered with the Nassau County Health Department for this project.