University College Cork

The purpose of this course is to provide clinical staff, managers and other relevant professionals with systematic training in the sciences relevant to infection-prevention and control/health protection which will enable them to provide and take responsibility for a broad-based infection-prevention and control/health protection service. The course is An Bord Altranais Category 2 approved.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection (NFQ Level 9, Minor award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
-Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate management of infections caused by different pathogenic microorganisms
-Investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infections from sufficient knowledge of the characteristics and transmission of causative organisms
-Select appropriate methods for control of hospital and community acquired infectious disease
-Design, implement and evaluate co-ordinated control methods utilising tools such as reflective practice, audit and surveillance
-Assess constraints of health protection delivery services and provide possible solutions to barriers
-Describe the global impact of infectious diseases and strategies which are effective, partially effective and ineffective in management and prevention
-Discuss the wider aspects of Health Protection
-Discuss and identify effective methods to bring about practice change.

Why Choose This Course?
The Post Graduate Certificate in health protection is designed to meet the learning needs of all those who have an interest or who are directly responsible for preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) in primary, secondary or tertiary care. In addition it will introduce students to the wider aspects of health protection from a public health perspective.

Successful graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection qualify to proceed to a Master in Public Health with a specialisation in health protection.