​Medline is a partner offering infection control support to care providers. The company recently launched a consultative program aimed at helping skilled nursing providers assess infection control needs and create a customized program around hand hygiene, personal protective equipment use, and environmental cleaning and disinfecting. 

The Medline Post-Acute Infection Prevention Program starts with a brief eight-question discovery assessment to obtain insights into the infection challenges impacting the care provider. From there, Medline will work with the customer to create a customized program consisting of best practice guidance, educational resources, and high-quality products to improve operational and clinical outcomes. 

Brad Mariam, senior vice president, Medline Post-Acute Care division, says time and dedication are what it takes to help providers with a tailored approach. 

“By taking the time to listen to our customers and understand their greatest areas for change, we can deliver a tailored approach that helps them implement essential elements needed to drive consistent practice and sustainable change,” he says.

As more forward-thinking facilities are exploring how to fight new and emerging threats with UV light, Medline offers a portfolio of UV disinfection devices, says Mariam. “This includes Scientific Air, which combines HEPA filtration and UV-C light disinfection. The device can be used in multiple care settings.”

Recently an East coast-based care provider partnered with Medline to utilize UV disinfection devices and bring back indoor family visits during COVID, which were stalled at the start of COVID, in March 2020. The provider was able to pivot to outdoor visits during the warm summer months, but they knew that wasn’t a year-round solution. “That’s when we helped them to update and expand their cleaning protocols in preparation for indoor, in-person visitation,” says Mariam.

For certain, more regulations will come in long term care, and Medline will continue to step up to the plate to help support care providers to navigate the changes, says Mariam. “We expect specific infections to be monitored as we’ve seen in the hospital setting,” he says. “There is a lot of talk on respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections specifically.” 

Medline remains focused on the challenges for providers, says Mariam. “The last 18 months have really accelerated the need for good programs and processes, and with staff shortages, keeping staff motivated and educated has been and will continue to be a challenge.”​