How Infection Prevention Has Infiltrated My Personal Life

As an Infection Preventionist (IP)—or, as I like to call myself, a Disease Detective—my professional world revolves around preventing the spread of diseases in healthcare settings. My daily tasks include everything from implementing safety protocols to conducting surveillance on potential health threats. But something unexpected happened along the way: the meticulous practices and principles that I apply to my work started sneaking into my personal life. Before I knew it, I was using my work methods to enhance my routines, self-improvement efforts, and even relationships. In some ways, Infection Prevention has stealthily enriched my personal life. Who knew?

For those unfamiliar, the role of an Infection Preventionist my job involves ensuring the safety of patients and healthcare workers by preventing infections. Whether it's enforcing hand hygiene protocols or managing an outbreak response, I’m always monitoring for risks, developing plans to address them, and working with teams to implement effective prevention strategies. Think: constant vigilance, lots of data tracking, and a healthy dose of over-analysis, which, as you’ll see, has seeped into my personal life.

In this piece, I’ll explore how key elements of my professional role have seamlessly integrated into my everyday life. Along the way, you might even start to ask yourself: Am I an Infection Preventionist at heart too?

Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) for Personal Growth

At work, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) is one of the foundational elements of infection prevention. It’s all about setting clear goals, rigorously tracking progress, and making continuous adjustments to improve outcomes. In my professional life, it ensures that patient safety practices are always improving, but one day it hit me—why not apply this to my personal life?

I began using QAPI principles to fuel my self-improvement efforts. I started setting measurable goals for personal growth, whether it was learning Spanish or committing to a fitness routine. I used trackers, notes, and logs to measure progress and make adjustments. One instance that stands out was my decision to improve my core strength. I set a clear goal: join a local pilates studio and attend classes regularly. I tracked every session and kept a close eye on my progress. Over the course of a year, not only did my back pain decrease, but my stability improved significantly. This simple, goal-oriented approach turned into a long-lasting habit.

Thanks to QAPI, I’ve come to realize that setting clear goals and tracking progress applies just as much to my personal life as it does to my professional life.

Surveillance and Disease Tracking in Media Consumption

In my professional role, surveillance and disease tracking are key. They help me identify potential health threats and take preventive action. As intense as that sounds, it has strangely translated into my personal life—specifically, into how I track my own habits, especially media consumption.

I’ve created detailed Notion templates to track everything I watch and read. It might sound over the top, but keeping track of the books I’ve read, the TV shows I’m binge-watching, and the movies I’ve seen gives me a sense of accomplishment. Every checkbox ticked and every metric logged helps me stay organized, and the best part is I have a running list of recommendations to share with friends and family. This tracking isn’t just about being a completist—it’s also about ensuring I maintain a healthy balance in what I consume. By recording and reviewing my media habits, I’m able to reflect on how I’m spending my time and make sure I’m feeding my brain a balanced diet of educational content, feel-good movies, and yes, the occasional guilty-pleasure reality TV show.

By turning tracking into a personal tool, I’ve not only improved my productivity but found a new way to thrive—who knew that disease surveillance skills could help me slay my Netflix queue?

Prevention Bundles for Mental and Physical Health

Infection Prevention often relies on prevention bundles, which are sets of practices that are bundled together to optimize outcomes and prevent infection. I realized that this same concept could be applied to my daily routines—bundling activities to improve both my mental and physical health.

For instance, I’ve crafted a morning bundle that includes yoga, journaling, and a nutritious breakfast. Each activity is small on its own, but together, they form a powerful routine that sets a positive tone for my entire day. I also have an evening bundle for winding down, which includes a digital detox, reading, and a calming skincare routine. These simple, repeatable bundles have had a profound impact on my overall well-being. They help me stick to routines that nourish both my body and mind, without feeling overwhelming.

By bundling these activities, I’ve brought structure and ease into my self-care, which helps me feel balanced in ways I didn’t expect.

Environment of Care (EOC) Rounding in Relationships

One of my professional duties as an Infection Preventionist is Environment of Care (EOC) rounding. In healthcare, this involves regular checks to ensure the environment is safe and supportive. Interestingly, I’ve found myself applying this concept to my relationships—making sure to check in on the people who matter most to me.

Just as I’d schedule rounds to ensure safety in the workplace, I schedule regular check-ins with family and friends to ensure my relationships stay healthy. Whether it’s a monthly catch-up with a close friend or a yearly family trip, these check-ins keep my connections strong. One memorable experience was planning a semi-spontaneous trip with my brother and father to Ireland earlier this year. It brought us closer and created lasting memories, much like a successful EOC round in the workplace ensures a safer, more connected environment.

Using EOC rounding in my personal life has helped me prioritize relationships and build stronger connections, ensuring I dedicate time and effort to nurturing the people I care about.

Conclusion

Integrating the skills I’ve honed as an Infection Preventionist into my personal life has been a surprising and rewarding journey. Practices like QAPI, surveillance, prevention bundles, and EOC rounding have not only improved my work life but also enhanced my personal life in unexpected ways. Whether it’s achieving personal goals, staying organized, or nurturing relationships, these professional principles have transformed how I approach everyday living.

It’s funny how work can sometimes infiltrate our personal lives in the best possible ways. So, whether you’re an Infection Preventionist or not, ask yourself: How might your work skills be quietly improving your personal life too?

Perhaps, like me, you’re a Disease Detective at heart.