Staff reports

Artesia General Hospital (AGH) announced the renewal of its Certification in Infection Prevention (CIP) from DNV Healthcare USA Inc., a nationally recognized accrediting body. This three-year re-certification is valid through March 12, 2028.

The CIP designation demonstrates that Artesia General Hospital has met or exceeded national benchmarks in infection control, emergency preparedness, risk mitigation, and related policies and procedures. The program includes standards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.

“This certification reflects the incredible work of our team and our dedication to keeping patients safe,” said Dr. Marshall Baca, Jr., chair of the Infection Control Committee. “Infection prevention is one of the most vital aspects of high-quality care, and this renewal is a powerful testament to the systems and culture we’ve built at Artesia General Hospital.”

Brandi Ford, BSN, RN, CIC, a board-certified infection control nurse leads the hospital’s infection prevention and control program. She coordinates efforts across departments to ensure that protocols are consistently implemented, monitored and improved.

“This certification validates the daily commitment our team brings to protecting not just our patients, but also their families, our staff, and the broader community,” Ford said. “Infection prevention is more than a set of policies—it’s a mindset. It takes every department working together, every day, to reduce risk and provide the safest environment possible.”

Ford said she worked to train hospital staff, improve hand hygiene compliance, update sterilization practices, manage outbreak protocols and ensuring readiness for unexpected events like pandemics or emerging threats.

The hospital’s Environmental Services department also helps maintain the cleanliness level at the hospital. EVS staff are responsible for room turnover and maintaining standards for disinfection throughout the facility.

DNV’s Certification in Infection Prevention requires hospitals to maintain continuous compliance with best practices through annual assessments. The most recent DNV recertification survey, conducted on March 11–12, 2025, included detailed on-site evaluations of AGH’s clinical and operational practices.

The CIP program evaluates the hospital’s entire infection prevention system, including:

• Standard and transmission-based precautions

• Surveillance and data tracking of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

• Employee education and training

• Environmental cleaning and disinfection

• Surgical and procedural safety

• Emergency preparedness planning

• Cross-departmental communication and accountability

“Our goal is to bring world-class care to our rural region,” Salgado said. “Through certifications like this, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and ensure that every person who walks through our doors receives care that is both compassionate and safe.”

For more information about Artesia General Hospital’s quality initiatives and infection prevention program, visit www.artesiageneral.com.