Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance

A COMMUNICATION TOOLKIT FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Webinar: HAIs and Antibiotic Resistance Communication Tools

Dec 16, 2016

2-3 p.m. ET | Presented by ASTHO and CDC
AIM Leadership in Action Conference

Feb 7-9, 2017

Charleston, SC
AMCHP Annual Conference

Mar 4-7, 2017

Kansas City, MO

View All Events »

Enhancing Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Prevention and Outbreak Response

ASTHO and CDC, with support from Porter Novelli, developed this toolkit to help public health departments enhance communication and coordination around healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention and stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance. Health departments can use these tools to reach and engage various public health and healthcare audiences, including hospitals, patient care providers, facility support staff, the media, and many others who are critical to raising awareness and taking action to contain and prevent HAIs. Download these tools, personalize them by adding your organization’s logo, and adapt the content to meet the needs of your state and local audiences. Download the toolkit »

Register today for a Dec. 16 launch webinar, where speakers will orient health departments
and key partners on how to use these tools to reach target audiences.

What’s Included in the Toolkit?

Key Messages and Talking Points: When communicating with public health professionals, policymakers, consumers, the media and others, the key messages and talking points included in this guide can help clearly and consistently articulate the serious impact of HAIs in the United States, the value of public health in addressing this important issue, and key HAI prevention and control strategies.

Tips for Working with the Media: The tips included in this guide can help build a compelling story angle and prepare for a successful interview or conversation about HAIs and antibiotic resistance.

How to Sustain the Conversation around HAIs: It’s important to sustain the conversation around HAIs all year long, not just around major outbreaks. Use the tips in this guide to identify relevant opportunities to engage with the media, share messages on social media, and plan activities within your organization throughout the year.

Social Media Guide and Sample Content: Many public health agencies and organizations successfully use Twitter and Facebook to engage the public health and healthcare communities and patients around HAI prevention. This guide includes tips for using social media, users to follow, and sample posts to raise awareness of HAI prevention and stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance on social media.

Calendar of HAI Related Events: The events in this guide provide a great opportunity to discuss HAI prevention and stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance with your audiences as part of your communication efforts.

Supporting Resources

The additional resources included below can help bolster social media content, talking points, and more. The following resources can be used and shared with public health professionals and healthcare providers as well as patient audiences.

Infographic: Public Health–Your Partner in Preventing HAIs
This tool includes facts and stats on HAIs and how public health plays a major role in preventing infections and antibiotic resistance. The infographic can be printed, distributed online or shared via social media.

Infocard series: Everyone Has a Role in Preventing HAIs–
Know Yours
This tool includes six infocards, each highlighting the different roles of hospital and healthcare staff in preventing HAIs and stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance. These infocards can be shared on social media or distributed in print.

Animated video: Enhancing Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention and Outbreak Response
While we’ve made a great deal of progress in preventing HAIs, there’s still more work to be done. This video highlights how public health and healthcare can work together to further address this issue–to keep all patients safe and healthy.