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History of APIC-San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
American Journal of
44A
APIC'80
HISTORY OF APIC-SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER
In 1972 when APIC became a national organization, a small group of infection control practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area had been meeting regularly for 2 years. Unorganized, without direction, its members clung together as a means of self-survival and selfeducation. Today, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter is a well-organized group. Its major interest and purpose is education in infection control. That purpose now extends beyond the local group to include the community, state, and national levels. It all began in 1969 following a Communicable Disease Center course in Atlanta when a few Santa Clara County practitioners, each newly hired, without a peer in their own hospital, began to share their problems. Stanford University Hospital had hired its first infection control nurse in 1966 and its second in 1968. Infectious disease physicians knew little about the infection control practitioner role. So, alone, the practitioner attended lectures, read the current infectious disease journals, and occasionally visited Stanford's Infection Control Program. Initial records were not kept, but a few scribbled messages found on old appointment calendars indicate organizational plans were being discussed. As awareness of these meetings reached other near communities, the group increased in size. The first recorded agenda was dated February 23, 1972, but not until January 1974 were by-laws approved and officers nominated. Then, as now, each member's educational needs vary. Some are young in experience and some have 8 to 10 years' experience. Some have well-established programs and are freer to participate outside their job schedules. All need the group's educational and emotional support.
Infection Control
In September 1975, after months of discussion and debate, the group decided to accept the national by-laws of APIC and seek chapter membership in the national organization. The degree of professional development and group growth was apparent in 1977 when five Bay Area members were chosen to serve as the faculty for a physician workshop at the annual California Medical Association meetings, and again on the faculty at Asilomar for the first West Coast Workshop for Beginning Practitioners. In May 1977 the application to become an APIC chapter member was accepted and BAIC became number 06-CA03-5-20-77-24C. Membership had reached 73. Growth has continued internally and externally. Members have volunteered and been selected for regional and national APIC offices. Classes are conducted in infection control within their hospitals. Several are guest lecturing in special workshops and junior college extension classes. Well-attended workshops are offered and give continued education credits. In addition to quality programs, active hospitality and membership committees encourage attendance. Recruitment reaches out to all local hospitals and nursing homes. An active Board of Directors guides the organization. Programs are under the supervision of the vice-president, assisted by three committee members. By-laws have been revised to better serve the group. Effective working committees keep abreast of responsibilities. Membership has passed 100. The BAIC chapter is eager and prepared to host a successful 1980 APIC Conference in San Francisco. Bay Area Infection Control (BAIC)
44A
APIC'80
HISTORY OF APIC-SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER
In 1972 when APIC became a national organization, a small group of infection control practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area had been meeting regularly for 2 years. Unorganized, without direction, its members clung together as a means of self-survival and selfeducation. Today, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter is a well-organized group. Its major interest and purpose is education in infection control. That purpose now extends beyond the local group to include the community, state, and national levels. It all began in 1969 following a Communicable Disease Center course in Atlanta when a few Santa Clara County practitioners, each newly hired, without a peer in their own hospital, began to share their problems. Stanford University Hospital had hired its first infection control nurse in 1966 and its second in 1968. Infectious disease physicians knew little about the infection control practitioner role. So, alone, the practitioner attended lectures, read the current infectious disease journals, and occasionally visited Stanford's Infection Control Program. Initial records were not kept, but a few scribbled messages found on old appointment calendars indicate organizational plans were being discussed. As awareness of these meetings reached other near communities, the group increased in size. The first recorded agenda was dated February 23, 1972, but not until January 1974 were by-laws approved and officers nominated. Then, as now, each member's educational needs vary. Some are young in experience and some have 8 to 10 years' experience. Some have well-established programs and are freer to participate outside their job schedules. All need the group's educational and emotional support.
Infection Control
In September 1975, after months of discussion and debate, the group decided to accept the national by-laws of APIC and seek chapter membership in the national organization. The degree of professional development and group growth was apparent in 1977 when five Bay Area members were chosen to serve as the faculty for a physician workshop at the annual California Medical Association meetings, and again on the faculty at Asilomar for the first West Coast Workshop for Beginning Practitioners. In May 1977 the application to become an APIC chapter member was accepted and BAIC became number 06-CA03-5-20-77-24C. Membership had reached 73. Growth has continued internally and externally. Members have volunteered and been selected for regional and national APIC offices. Classes are conducted in infection control within their hospitals. Several are guest lecturing in special workshops and junior college extension classes. Well-attended workshops are offered and give continued education credits. In addition to quality programs, active hospitality and membership committees encourage attendance. Recruitment reaches out to all local hospitals and nursing homes. An active Board of Directors guides the organization. Programs are under the supervision of the vice-president, assisted by three committee members. By-laws have been revised to better serve the group. Effective working committees keep abreast of responsibilities. Membership has passed 100. The BAIC chapter is eager and prepared to host a successful 1980 APIC Conference in San Francisco. Bay Area Infection Control (BAIC)