Infection Control Nurse/Safety Program Coordinator

Job Details
Job Location
Valley Wide Administrative Services - La Junta North - La Junta, CO
Salary Range
$73,840.00 - $103,220.00 Salary/year
Summary
Job Title:Infection Control Nurse/Safety Coordinator
Department: Compliance
Reports to: Compliance Manager
Location: La Junta
Position Type: Full-Time
Pay Range: Hourly - Min $73,840 - Max: $103,220/annually (based on qualifications and experience)
Benefits:
Health, Dental, Vision Insurance, HRA, FSA, DCA, Retirement Plan
Aflac - Group Accident, Group Critical Illness, Hospital
MASA - Employer paid Air Ambulance Coverage
Employer paid Basic Life, LTD, STD
Paid Leave: Vacation - 10 days accrued/year, Sick - 12 days accrued/year, Holidays - 8 days/year
(Benefits after one year of employment.) Retirement Match,
Job Summary: Responsible for participating in the implementation of the organizations infectious prevention and safety program policies. Position assists with maintaining systems within the organization to detect, monitor, prevent, measure, investigate, report and manage patient and employee adverse events, including workers comp and employee health. Foster a culture of patient and family centered care, service, quality and safety excellence, while improving patient experience, employee experience and community relations.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in the implementation organization infectious prevention & control polices to ensure practices meet CDC and OSHA regulations, standards and guidelines.
• Conducts Infection Control practice audits including quality standards for Hand Hygiene, HAI's, cleanliness and sterilization utilizing evidence-based practices and best practice standards.
• Participates in the infectious prevention & control safety committee to develop and maintain current infectious control, safety policies and procedures, emergency management policies and maintains all meeting minutes.
• Work with Regional Directors of Operations to implement infectioun prevention & control policies and procedures throughout the Valley-Wide system.
• Cooperates with the county and state department of health regarding infectious and
  communicable disease reporting.
• Monitors infection rates and identifying potential issues with consideration of served populations, regional vulnerabilities and infectious diseases.
• Assists the INC/Safety Officer in meeting employee vaccination requirements including monitoring and tracking of employee's health records.
• Reports, investigates and monitors employee workers compensation injuries to the ICN/Safety Officer.
• Review serious occurrences requiring root-cause analysis and near misses, disseminate lessons
  learned and process improvement plans.
• Under the guidance of the ICN/Safety Officer will work with the supervisors to develop and implement modified duty appropriately.
• Works with the Director of Compliance to implement Emergency Preparedness.
• Works with the ICN/Safety Officer and Safety Coordinator to Coordinate organizational response to internal and external emergencies to comply with state and federal regulations.
• Assists in the development and implementation of plans, procedures and protocol to maintain institutional awareness regarding emergency preparedness, reviews incident action plans, goals and objectives.
• Works with Health Care Coalitions as Valley-Wide representative for Emergency Management.
• Participates in the implementation and monitoring of an effective safety program by conducting periodic safety inspections and drill exercises at all sites to include fire drills, clinic inspections, emergency code drills providing education and recommendations for improvement as necessary
• Conduct immediate/appropriate response to any serious occurrence/complaint brought forth by
  potential patient, visitor or employee injury.
• Participates in the safety training program to comply with OSHA regulations, including appropriate introductory training for new employees and managers.
• Provides ongoing Infection Control, environment of care safety training and patient safety tracers.
• Works with the Director of Compliance to develop and revise the annual training plan.
• In conjunction with Facilities Director completes Life Safety Requirements.
• Participates the safety management reporting process to coordinate and evaluate reporting results to identify trending.
• Identifies potential areas of safety and risk vulnerability, develops and implements action plans for resolution of problematic issues or near misses and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future.
• Keep up to date with new and revised state and federal regulations, ensures compliance with state
  and federal environmental laws and oversees environmental control activities.
• Participated as a key member in the organization of regulatory agency preparedness monitoring teams in the specific area including Environment of Care and Infection Control/Prevention, staff training and safety.
• Assists the Director of Compliance in the preparation of the Operational Site Visit, HRSA, AAAHC and other regulatory agencies or accreditations

Job Qualifications
Knowledge, skills and ability:
Education or Formal Training: Licensed RN, BSN Preferred
Experience: Previous administrative responsibilities and experience in infectious control, employee
health, and direct patient care.
Qualities and Characteristics:
•Maintains the highest level of professional ethics and confidentiality
•Displays a professional and positive attitude
•Enthusiasm toward the work and the mission of the organization
•Must be able to interact with patients courteously and calmly
Working Conditions and Physical Environment:
Work is performed in an office environment within medical clinic.
Blood/Fluid Exposure Risk:
X Category I: Tasks routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact exposure to
blood, fluids or tissue. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), when appropriate, is required.
Applications must be submitted by: Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.
Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)