Ho-Chunk Nation Health Department Employees Accepted into LTHD Infection Prevention Pilot Program

By Kaili Berg



     On January 4, two Ho-Chunk Nation Health Department Employees, Ronelle McKernan, and Alissa Ginkowski were accepted into the Local and Tribal Health Department (LTHD) Infection Prevention Pilot Program.

     This competitive pilot program allows LTHDs to apply for one staff member to work more closely with their Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Prevention Program Regional Infection Preventionist and participate in infection prevention and control (IPC) and HAI trainings, collaborate on outbreak response and on-site visits, and engage in other focused educational opportunities.

     The purpose of the pilot is to provide LTHD staff with IPC education and experiences that strengthen local capacity to respond to HAI, multidrug-resistant organism and infection prevention questions and concerns from health care facilities in their communities.

     The infection prevention pilot program is a six-month program and participants must be able to dedicate four to five hours a week to participating in program activities. 




Home