Communication, Influence, and Executive Briefing Skills

Turn IPAC information into clear action. Strengthen how you communicate with staff, leaders, residents, families, and partner teams during everyday operations and high-risk events.

Included in the IPAC Lead Leadership Program for Long-Term Care.

Course Description

An audit result, outbreak update, or practice concern only supports improvement when people understand what it means and what they need to do. IPAC Leads must adapt their messages to different roles while keeping expectations consistent across departments and shifts.

This course develops practical communication skills for frontline coaching, operational huddles, executive briefings, and outbreak response. You will learn to translate surveillance and audit findings into concise recommendations, respond to pushback, and support clear handoffs. Scenarios address the communication challenges that arise when time is limited, information is changing, or conversations become emotionally charged.


Prerequisites / required prior knowledge

Current and emerging IPAC Leads and designated backups with program responsibilities in long-term care.

Recommended prior knowledge: No formal prerequisite is required. Familiarity with long-term care operations, Routine Practices, Additional Precautions, surveillance, outbreaks, audits, and program documentation is recommended. This course develops leadership skills and does not replace foundational IPAC education.


Delivery

Online
Self‑paced(Asynchronous)

Credit

2 IPU
2.0 continuing education hour (Self‑Instruction)

Certificate

Individual certificate of completion

Access

On demand for one year from program enrolment
Meet the instructor

Kamyab Ghatan

MD, AL-CIP™, CIC®, LTC-CIP®, DISIPC, CDICP
Dr. Kamyab Ghatan is a medical doctor and infection prevention leader who develops practical, standards-based training for diverse environments, including acute and long-term care, ambulatory and dental clinics, veterinary practices, and construction/renovation settings. His work spans infection prevention, surveillance, water management, sterile processing, and implementation science, with a focus on translating standards into workflows teams can actually use. Dr. Ghatan is the founder of the International College of Infection Control Professionals (ICICP).

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Describe communication principles that support effective IPAC leadership across departments, shifts, and operational situations.

  • Adapt messages for frontline staff, clinical and support teams, leadership, residents, and families.

  • Deliver concise, action-oriented messages in huddles, executive briefings, and outbreak situations.

  • Interpret audit, surveillance, and operational data to communicate risks, priorities, and recommended actions.

  • Develop communication strategies that maintain consistent messaging, accountability, and continuity across shifts and high-risk events.

Completion requirements:

To earn your individual course certificate:
  • View all required course content.
  • Pass the course posttest with a score of 80% or higher.
  • Complete the course evaluation.
After meeting these requirements, download your certificate of completion for Visible IPAC Leadership and the First 90 Days. Your certificate will identify this course and its 2 IPUs and 2 continuing education hours.
Provider: International College of Infection Control Professionals (ICICP)
Learner Support: support@icicp.com

Course curriculum

1. IPAC Communication as a Leadership System

Explore clear messaging, communication barriers, language needs, and practical ways to reinforce understanding.

2. Communicating Across Departments and Roles

Tailor communication for frontline and clinical teams, environmental services, dietary, leaders, residents, families, and public health.

3. Data-to-Action and Executive Briefings

Translate findings into recommendations using a three-minute executive briefing and the A3 problem-solving format.

4. Huddles, Handoff, Coaching and Accountability

Practise concise huddles, corrective feedback, responses to pushback, and communication that carries across shifts.

5. Communication During Outbreaks and High-Risk Events

Prioritize timely operational direction, maintain consistent updates, and manage difficult conversations as circumstances change.

  Apply the learning

Explore a three-minute executive brief, an A3 communication structure, unit huddle scripts, handoffs and read-backs, and coaching language. Case scenarios help you turn information into clear responsibilities and next steps.

Frequently asked questions

How do I access this course?

Access is included through enrolment in the IPAC Lead Leadership Program for Long-Term Care. Sign in to your learner account to open the course.

Do I need to finish the whole program before receiving this certificate?

No. You receive this course’s certificate after meeting its own completion requirements. Full-program completion has separate requirements.

Can I complete the courses in any order?

Yes. Each course can be completed independently. Courses 1 through 8 provide a recommended sequence that builds from visible leadership to annual planning.

How long will I have access?

Course access follows your program access period of one year from program enrolment.

Refund & cancellation policy: Non-Vocational Refund & Cancellation Policy

Disclosures and content independence

The instructor and planners report no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies related to this educational activity. This activity received no commercial support. Educational content is non-promotional and independent of commercial influence; any trade names are used for identification only.