RIPS program grant funding ends in May

The federal grant that funds the Regional Infection Prevention Support (RIPS) program ends in May. As a result, the RIPS program will have to transition to a smaller, state-managed program.  

RIPS was established in August 2020 to provide on-site infection prevention and control assistance, training, and consultation to all types of long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, adult and family care homes, and behavioral health facilities. Under the guidance of the Division of Public Health, the RIPS teams use evidence-based infection control procedures consistent with applicable CDC, CMS, and HHS guidance to bolster infection prevention knowledge and practices, mitigating and preventing health threats like COVID and all other infectious diseases, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.   

RIPS plans to hire four regional infection prevention consultants who will continue to serve all 100 counties grouped into four regions throughout the state after the funding ends in May. The program is currently based out of local health departments and serves all 100 North Carolina counties, grouped into 10 regions throughout the state. To date, the RIPS teams have reached out to all long-term care facilities in our state and have conducted over 8,200 facility visits.  

In the meantime, facilities can continue to take advantage of all that RIPS currently has to offer:  

• In-person staff training/education/CEUs on infection prevention policies and practices 
• Support for COVID-19 and other communicable conditions 
• Site assessments/consultation 
• Outbreak management and response   

Contact Caroline Colburn, MS, OTR/L, RIPS Team Coordinator, at caroline.colburn@dhhs.nc.gov with any questions or to obtain additional information about RIPS.