Request an MDH ICAR Visit

Please note if you would like ICAR assistance for an outbreak, please contact MDH ICAR staff at health.icar@state.mn.us.

• ICAR Assessment Tool for General IPC Across Settings
  Secure online assessment tool for acute care, long-term care, and outpatient care.
  • ICAR Assessment Tool for General Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Across Settings (PDF)
    Printable version of general IPC assessment tool.
• ICAR Hemodialysis Assessment Tool
  Secure online assessment tool for hemodialysis facilities.
  • CDC Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool for Hemodialysis Facilities (PDF)
    Printable version of hemodialysis assessment tool.
• ICAR Assessment Tool for Ambulance Services
  Secure online assessment tool.
  • Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool for Ambulance Services (PDF)
    Printable version of assessment tool, including guidelines and other resources.

• Invite facility staff members to join in the discussion, especially those that are involved in making infection prevention and control decisions (e.g., leadership, nursing, environmental services).
• Identify a meeting room at facility to hold the visit.

• Be prepared to discuss your infection prevention and control program as submitted ICAR tool will be reviewed.
• Be prepared to share any questions/concerns you may have related to infection prevention and control. 
• We will conclude with a facility tour.

• MDH ICAR will write up and send an action plan with resources for you after the visit.

• Facilities receive a certificate of MDH ICAR participation after follow-up survey is completed.

• Contact MDH ICAR staff: health.icar@state.mn.us

Minnesota health care facilities including acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, outpatient clinics, hemodialysis facilities, and other.

The site visit is complimentary and non-regulatory with the intent to establish a relationship for continued partnership. During the visit, MDH ICAR staff will help to identify facility priorities and challenges to tailor references for each facility. An MDH ICAR team member summarizes the assessment results and conversation in a report that includes resources and infection prevention and control tools to address identified focus areas.

No, an MDH ICAR visit is not an inspection or survey.

The MDH ICAR nurse specialist will attend and be the primary contact as well as the MDH ICAR epidemiologist and other subject matter experts (SMEs).

To request a visit, please refer to Step 1: Facility completes assessment.

During the visit, MDH ICAR staff will assess your infection prevention and control program and conduct a facility tour to identify top priorities or areas for improvement.

Post visit, the facility will receive a customized report/action plan with resources and recommendations to strengthen your infection prevention and control program.

Please contact the MDH ICAR staff at health.icar@state.mn.us with any questions or concerns.

The following definitions have been developed to assist with the implementation of elements of the CDC ICAR assessment tools related to infection prevention and control competency, training, auditing and feedback.

• Competency-based assessment: The verification of IP competency through the use of knowledge-based testing and direct observation. If direct observation is not included as part of a competency assessment, an alternative method to ensure that health care personnel possess essential knowledge, skills, and abilities should be used.
• Audit: Direct observation or monitoring of health care personnel adherence to job-specific IP measures.
• Feedback: A summary of audit findings that is used to target performance improvement.