PSQH: The Podcast Episode 135 – How to Speed Up Healthcare Innovation
On episode 135 of PSQH: The Podcast, Paul Alper, President, founder and CEO of Next Level Strategies LLC, and Dr. Ericka Kalp, founder and CEO of IPC Launch LLC, talk about must-do actions for growth in healthcare innovation.
A passionate researcher, innovator, and patient safety strategist for over 35 years, Paul Alper has played a meaningful role in advancing infection prevention and patient safety. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor to The Leapfrog Group through an exclusive arrangement with his independent consulting practice, Next Level Strategies, LLC (NLS). NLS specializes in helping healthcare innovators accelerate growth and impact.
Earlier in his career, Paul led the introduction of PURELL® Hand Sanitizer into the North American healthcare and consumer markets during his tenure at GOJO Industries. This effort helped establish alcohol-based hand sanitizers as a new standard of care.
While at DebMed (now part of SC Johnson Professional), Paul spent a decade as a leading researcher and inventor in the electronic monitoring of hand hygiene. He holds four U.S. patents and has authored or co-authored over 100 publications, abstracts, and conference presentations on the topic.
His work has appeared in leading journals, including The American Journal of Infection Control, Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, The Journal of Pediatric Nursing, and Healthcare Hygiene Magazine, among others.
Ericka Kalp has 20 years of experience in epidemiology, infection prevention and control in acute care, long-term care, ambulatory care, and specialty clinic settings, as well as at local and state health departments.
Dr. Kalp is the Founder and CEO of IPC Launch, LLC. IPC Launch is a strategic consulting and partnership support firm that specializes in evidence-based solutions for infection prevention and control (IPC). IPC Launch partners with and supports healthcare facilities, industry partners, and commercial clients in the successful launch of infection prevention and control initiatives, outbreak investigations, proactive and responsive assessments, staff/community education, and IPC products, services, and solutions. Additionally, Dr. Kalp is an Associate Clinical Professor and Co-Director of Infection Prevention and Control Academic Programs at the Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH) at Drexel University.
She has been board-certified in Infection Prevention and Control and Epidemiology (CIC) by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) since 2007. Additionally, she is a Fellow of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Dr. Kalp has been certified as a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma (LSSGB) since 2021.
Dr. Kalp has presented at local, state, and national conferences and has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and abstracts. She also served on both the APIC Research Committee and the APIC Professional Development Committee for a three-year term. She has held numerous board-level and officer positions in the East Central Pennsylvania (ECP) APIC Chapter.
Listen to the episode below: