Pender Community Hospital District’s Infection Control Nurse Achieves Specialized CHIPP-B Certification
Pender, NE (April 1) – Pender County Hospital District (PCHD) is proud to announce that Brandi Anderson, Infection Control Nurse, recently achieved the Certified Healthcare Infection Prevention Professional-Basic (CHIPP-B) certification. This certification, which helps to standardize infection-prevention practices, underlines PCHD’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in infection control and quality healthcare.
“Everyone at PCHD has the same goal – keep our patients and staff safe. We’re all one big team here,” explained Anderson. “The CHIPP-B certification is part of that. The exam is extremely difficult and is the standardized measure of the knowledge, skills and abilities of experienced professionals working in infection prevention and control.”
The CHIPP-B is overseen by DNV, an international accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Høvik, Norway. To pass the CHIPP-B, someone must attend the relevant classes and pass the exam with a score of 80% or more.
In her role, Anderson educates staff, patients and visitors about ways to prevent infection and the spread of germs, as well as ensure proper isolation, hand washing, PPE and masking. She also plays a critical role in the data analysis, monitoring and reporting of healthcare-acquired infections, consistently staying informed of the most up-to-date guidance and recommendations.
“Our hospital is surveyed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS], and the CHIPP-B certification meets the CMS requirements for basic courses in infection prevention, providing a better understanding of how to prevent infections in healthcare.”
In addition to this CHIPP-B certification, Anderson was awarded the 2024 Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) Health Care Career Scholarship, which recognizes her commitment to excellence and supports her attendance at the national Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in June. Funded by the Hospital Quality Improvement Contractor (HQIC) program, scholarship empowers Anderson to bring back valuable knowledge, learn additional best practices and take advantage of networking opportunities to further enhance PCHD’s infection control program.
To learn more about PCHD, visit pchne.org or call 402-385-3083.
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About Pender Community Hospital District
Pender Community Hospital (PCH) has been providing quality healthcare in northeast Nebraska since 1913. The 21-bed critical access hospital (CAH) was recognized by the Chartis Center for Rural Health as a Top-100 CAH for three consecutive years, from 2019-2021. PCH comprises not only the hospital but also several clinics and pharmacies, as well as Prairie Breeze Assisted Living and Little Sprouts Child Development Center. For more information, visit pchne.org.