Supporting Alabama’s Long-Term Care Community Through Partnership and Preparedness
Strong infection prevention and control (IPCO) programs remain essential to protecting residents, staff, and visitors in Alabama’s long-term care communities. Through an ongoing partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA) continues to play a key role in supporting facilities with education, coordination, and real-time guidance.
A Partnership Built to Meet Critical Needs
The partnership between ANHA and ADPH was strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when ADPH received supplemental funding through its Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Core grant. The funding was designed to expand Healthcare-Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) program capacity across Alabama’s healthcare system.
Through this initiative, ANHA welcomed its Director of Infection Prevention and Control Leigh Ann Hixon in October 2022 to help facilities identify opportunities for improvement in HAI prevention and to provide targeted education, outreach, and prevention support statewide.
How ANHA and ADPH Work Together
Operationally, ANHA works closely with ADPH through monthly coordination calls, participation in outbreak investigations, ICAR training for district nurses, submission of updated infection preventionist contact lists, and joint participation in ICAR assessments as scheduled.
Direct Support for ANHA Member Facilities
ANHA’s Infection Prevention and Control Office (IPCO) provides hands-on support to member facilities by responding to calls, coordinating infection preventionist webinars and in-person training opportunities, and supports its members by sharing new regulations, timely CDC and CMS guidance, and infection-control priorities through multiple channels. This direct line of support helps facilities stay informed and prepared in an ever-changing regulatory and clinical environment.
Supporting Facilities During Outbreaks
Facilities are responsible for reporting Notifiable Diseases in Alabama and any cases of public health importance directly to ADPH through the REPORT Card online system. During outbreaks or urgent infection-control situations, ANHA’s IPCO serves as a resource to facilitate communication between facilities and ADPH district staff, participate in outbreak calls, and provide subject-matter expertise to investigation teams.
Seasonal Trends and What to Watch
Facilities should remain especially vigilant during the current flu, RSV, and norovirus season. Influenza activity is increasing nationwide, and norovirus—after peaking earlier this year—continues to trend upward. In Alabama, overall respiratory illness activity is currently classified as moderate and includes the common cold, influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
Looking Ahead
With recent changes at the federal level within the Department of Health and Human Services, additional updates and shifts in infection prevention priorities are expected in 2026 and beyond. ANHA will continue to monitor developments closely and keep members informed as changes emerge.
A Message for Facility Leadership
One key message for administrators and directors of nursing is the importance of leadership engagement in infection prevention. Administrators are encouraged to join their infection preventionist during the ICAR process—including staff interviews and facility observations. Leadership participation promotes shared awareness and helps foster collaborative improvements when gaps are identified within an IPCO program.
