Infection Preventionist, Acute-Ne

Organization:

ABSMC-Ashby Campus

Position Overview:

Provides expert consultation and support to patient care delivery and department operations with professional responsibility in the following functions: surveillance, infectious disease exposure response, data collection, data analysis, interpretation and reporting, inspection, control measures, education, evaluation, recommendations, performance improvement and evaluating compliance for practices that are associated with prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. Coordinates hospital-wide infection control program including performance improvement to identify and prevent heathcare associated infections. Plans and coordinates the education of all hospital personnel regarding infection control and prevention practices. Serves as a consultant, educator, role model, and proponent of change to provide quality healthcare.

Job Description:

PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the Infection Control Program and activities to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal rules, recommendations, and regulations.
• Develops, reviews, revises and implements the Infection Control Plan designed to decrease the risk of transmission of infections to patients, visitors, and staff, including bloodborne pathogens and TB exposure control plans.
• Develops, reviews, evaluates, and revises, as necessary, policies and procedures as needed in accordance with changes in infection control practices
• Establishes and maintains rapport with medical staff, department heads, housekeeping, Sterile Processing, and dietary personnel, as well as others concerned with patient care (directly or indirectly).
• Plans agenda and reports and research agenda items for presentation to the Infection Control & Prevention Committee. Distributes findings and recommendations of the committee to hospital personnel and various hospital committees as directed by the Committee.
• Coordinates and monitors implementation of Infection Control & Prevention Committee recommendations and tracks results.
• Develops and manages the Infection Control Performance Improvement Program.
• Manages processes related to anticipated or suspected biological outbreaks.
• Acts as a liaison with public health authorities for the purpose of preventing or controlling the transmission of infections.
• Supervises employees in the performance of infection control related procedures as needed.
• Experience in performing Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRAs) for healthcare construction-related activities or willingness to learn. Familiarity with dust control measures to reduce risk of aspergillosis in the healthcare setting. Knowledge of regulations pertaining to water quality management and reduction of risk of legionellosis in the healthcare setting

CONSULTATION

• Serves on Safety and Construction Committees, and others as appropriate, providing expertise and consultation relating to design or construction to enhance Infection Control.
• Provides guidance on the principles of sterilization, disinfection, sanitation in the healthcare facility, including oversight of Sterile Processing of reusable equipment.
• Collaborates with the Employee Health Program and the Employee Health Nurse in infection control and employee health activities, and in exposure investigations. Provides consultation to Employee Health Services policies and processes.
• Collaborates with system level IPs to develop competency guidelines to evaluate personnel on infection control practices.
• Evaluates new products, equipment, and supplies to improve patient care and employee safety.
• Makes recommendations to hospital teams, committees, or departments for strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of infection between staff, visitors, and patients.

MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE:

• Conducts Heathcare associated infection surveillance on a concurrent and/or retroactive basis for the purpose of identifying Heathcare associated infections. Aids in the development of plans for preventing Heathcare associated infections.
• Prepares an annual summary of infection control activities and surveillance data.
• Designs a surveillance plan.
• Coordinates and conducts environmental and other surveillance in the manner directed by the Infection Control & Prevention Committee to evaluate patient care environments for infection control practices and hazards.
• Makes rounds for the purpose of case finding, environmental sanitation monitoring, and supervision of infection control practices to support compliance with recommended practices and performance improvement activities.
• Reviews laboratory reports to identify potential Heathcare associated infections and reportable bacterial pathogens. Differentiates among colonization, infection, and contamination.
• Recognizes sentinel events and marker organisms for immediate investigation.
• Reviews patient charts, interprets results of diagnostic testing, assesses patient status, and differentiates between community acquired and Heathcare associated infections.
• Analyses surveillance data for trends, patterns, or clusters and reports such to Infection Control & Prevention Committee with action taken.
• Prepares Heathcare associated infection reports for the Infection Control and Medical Executive Committees, Hospital Leadership Team and Performance Improvement Committees.
• Coordinates reporting of communicable diseases to Public Health.
• Conducts special studies as identified.
• Prepares annual report and evaluates the Infection Control Program for effectiveness.

EDUCATION

• Uses the principles of adult learning and change management in developing educational strategies.
• Develops goals, objectives, lesson plans, and competency assessment learning plans for infection
• control educational offerings.
• Contributes in hospital-wide in-services as needed and participates in building presentations for
• orientation at New Employee and Nursing Orientation.
• Assesses the educational needs of the hospital and medical staff pertaining to infection control.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of educational presentation
• Provides consultation and one-on-one instructions on a formal and informal basis with all hospital
• departments.
• Consults with system-wide and community infection control practitioners and specialists as needed.
• Disseminates evidence-based and pertinent information relating to infection control
• Develops and conducts community education programs relating to the control of infection, infectious
• diseases, and disease prevention. Participates in community education projects as needed.
• Assesses the educational needs of patients/family and provides infection reduction teaching/material.
• Assists in creating/revising system wide education as needed.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Works interdependently and cooperatively with team members to actualize the function and goals of the department.
• Must be able to maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals
• Performs other duties as necessary for the smooth operation of the hospital.
• Performs other monitoring related to performance improvement in conjunction with department and organizational quality initiatives.
• Seeks and responds to regular performance feedback.
• Contributes ideas and actions toward continuous improvement of processes and workflows.
• Recognizes and communicates potential issues to appropriate leader.
• Personal growth
• Demonstrates professional growth within the Infection Prevention specialty
• Participates in the Sutter Infection Control Council.

EDUCATION:

• Equivalent experience will be accepted in lieu of the required degree or diploma.
• Bachelor's: management, public health, nursing, business administration, organizational leadership or related field

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURES:

• CIC-Certification in Infection Control within 1 year

TYPICAL EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years recent relevant experience

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge of microbiology, epidemiology, statistical analysis, standards and technology of patient care, infectious disease, sterilization, sanitation and disinfection practices and/or adult education principles.
• Knowledge of pertinent regulatory, accrediting, and advisory body requirements.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of healthcare personnel in this and other healthcare facilities; public health services at the local, state, and national levels; and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including knowledge of adult education principles as they relate to educating and responding to hospital and external agency personnel.
• Computer literate, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, word processing, and statistical software. Includes knowledge and ability to use online services.
• Basic understanding of performance improvement monitoring and development of performance improvement indicators.
• Must have ability to creatively and effectively solve complex problems and manage crises.
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts (e.g., fractions, percentages, proportions and statistics) for analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to create and translate clinical data into reports and presentations for appropriate audience.
• Ability to define issues, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills with a keen attention to details.
• Demonstrates a proactive approach in identifying and addressing issues and concerns.
• Ability to influence others by persuasion and problem solving to achieve desired outcome.
• Collaboration skills to facilitate open sharing of information and cooperation with various stakeholders
• Displays a customer service focus in all decisions and actions.
• Ability to communicate through verbal and written means, and to present information to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to interact and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• Demonstrates respect for cultural and linguistic differences and promotes an inclusive work environment.
• Demonstrates initiative in providing feedback/input to improve workflow/processes.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with changing business priorities.
• Ability to maintain and work discreetly with confidential information.
• Displays a customer service focus in all decisions and actions.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS:
See required physical demands, mental components, visual activities & working conditions at the following link: Job Requirements

Job Shift:

Days

Schedule:

Part Time

Shift Hours:

6

Days of the Week:

Variable

Weekend Requirements:

As Needed, Occasionally

Benefits:

Yes

Unions:

No

Position Status:

Non-Exempt

Weekly Hours:

28

Employee Status:

Regular

Number of Openings:

1

Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.

Pay Range is $66.12 to $87.27 / hour