Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Strategy Toolkit

At a glance

  • The TAP Strategy is a framework for healthcare and public health professionals to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
  • TAP Strategy tools are free and available for download.
  • CDC provides free support to healthcare facilities, health departments, hospital associations and other partners wanting to use the TAP Strategy.
  • Email HAIprevention@cdc.gov for questions and assistance.

About this toolkit

The TAP Strategy consists of three components:

  • Target. Identify healthcare facilities and units with the greatest room for reducing their rate of HAIs. TAP primarily focuses on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI).
  • Assess. Assess a facility's infection prevention policies, practices and areas for improvement using the TAP Facility Assessments.
  • Prevent. Tailor interventions to address gaps and prevent HAIs.

TAP user testimonials‎

"TAP allows teams to focus on where the issues are. It provides a complete model for assessing individual units or hospitals and provides evidence-based practices that have a direct impact on patient care." -Health Services Advisory Group, Florida
TAP Partner Testimonials

Target

  1. Use data to determine facilities and units with the greatest room for reducing HAI rates. One way to target locations for assessment is to generate TAP Reports using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Watch this video to learn how to generate and interpret these reports.
  2. Reference TAP Strategy "How To" Guides for facility users and group users to assist partners through:
    1. Understanding reports.
    2. Communicating results to engage partners.
    3. Deploying the TAP Facility Assessments.
  3. Use materials like the TAP Strategy infographic, example recruitment letter and Video 1 of the TAP Strategy Learning Series to engage and encourage partner support in the TAP Strategy.

Get hands-on support‎

CDC is available to guide partners through each of the steps below and provide tailored support for TAP implementation.
TAP Strategy assistance

Assess

  1. Prepare to deploy TAP Facility Assessments in targeted locations to find areas for improvement. Facilities can complete the TAP Facility Assessment Deployment Packet, which guides partners in deploying assessments.
  2. Review Video 2 of the TAP Strategy Learning Series for a summary of the TAP Facility Assessments and instructions for collecting assessments.
  3. Collect assessments among frontline personnel to find gaps, encourage real-time teaching moments and prompt action among staff and leadership.

TAP Facility Assessments

TAP Facility Deep Dives

TAP Deep Dives are additional assessment tools completed once per facility by the infection preventionist or lead of HAI prevention. TAP Deep Dives allow you to further assess areas for improvement:

Additional TAP tools‎

All TAP Facility Assessment Tools are also available in SurveyMonkey and REDCap templates. To compile and summarize Assessment responses, CDC has developed TAP Excel Spreadsheets to create accompanying TAP Feedback Reports.
Request additional TAP tools

When requesting assistance, facilities should be aware that health department partners may be notified in an effort to align statewide support. Notification shall be limited to a description of assistance provided and will not include facility-level information without consent from the participating facility.

Prevent

  1. Prioritize infection prevention gaps using the TAP Strategy Gap Prioritization Worksheet and Prevention Prioritization Toolkit.
  2. Watch Video 3 of the TAP Strategy Learning Series, which guides partners in reviewing and understanding results from the TAP Facility Assessments. Watch Video 4, which explores detailed examples to help partners understand and prioritize gaps.
  3. Optional: Complete worksheet and share with CDC for tailored feedback including example tools, strategies, and resources to help address priority areas.
  4. Develop and implement tailored interventions to address gaps. Explore TAP Implementation Guides for resources while completing this step.

TAP Implementation Guides

Additional Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)