Decision-Making, Ethics, Risk Prioritization, and Escalation

Make timely, transparent IPAC decisions when risks compete and information is incomplete. Learn to weigh evidence, ethics, resident quality of life, operational constraints, and the need for escalation.

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

Course Description

IPAC Leads regularly face several concerns at once, each with different consequences, uncertainties, and demands on resources. Deciding what needs immediate action requires a structured approach that can be explained to staff, leadership, residents, and families.

This course helps you compare risks, evaluate options, and make proportionate recommendations. You will explore ethical reasoning, precautionary action, decision-making biases, risk–benefit analysis, and consensus building. Practical scenarios show how to document your rationale, reassess decisions as evidence changes, and escalate concerns through appropriate accountability pathways.

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

3 IPU
3.0 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:

  • Analyze IPAC concerns using a structured process to identify risks, prioritize competing issues, and select appropriate actions.

  • Evaluate ethical and operational factors while balancing resident safety, quality of life, equity, and regulatory requirements.

  • Apply precautionary principles, risk prioritization methods, and action thresholds when information is incomplete.

  • Compare interventions using risk–benefit analysis, feasibility assessment, SWOT analysis, and stakeholder input.

  • Compare interventions using risk–benefit analysis, feasibility assessment, SWOT analysis, and stakeholder input.

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. The IPC Lead as a Decision-Maker

Distinguish urgency from risk, recognize decision-making biases, and use a structured approach to defensible decisions.

2. Ethical Decision-Making in IPAC Programs

Consider fairness, equity, resident quality of life, competing harms, and transparent ethical reasoning.

3. Applying the Precautionary Principle

Choose proportionate action under uncertainty and reassess decisions as evidence develops.

4. Risk Prioritization and Action Thresholds

Compare likelihood, consequences, and vulnerability to identify priorities and action thresholds.

5. Evaluating Options: Risk Benefit Analysis and SWOT

Review benefits, harms, feasibility, resources, and operational impact before recommending an intervention.

6. Consensus Decision-Making and Managing Disagreement

Engage interdisciplinary partners, work through competing priorities, and respond when consensus cannot be reached.

7. Escalation and Accountability

Recognize escalation triggers and communicate concerns through organizational and relevant external pathways.

  Apply the learning

Explore risk matrices, action thresholds, ethical rationale, risk–benefit review, action SWOT, and consensus tools through competing-priority scenarios.

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.