What are the responsibilities and job description for the Infection Preventionist position at Canton Christian Home, Inc?
Job Title: Infection Control Preventionist and Educational Coordinator
Department: Administration
Supervisor: Administrator
JOB SUMMARY:
The infection preventionist is responsible for the facility infection prevention and control program (IPCP), which is designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. In this role the ICP will also have responsibility to formulate and facilitate educational opportunities and sessions related to infection prevention, care and services and other issues impacting CCH.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as any required licenses or certifications.
Education:
- Professionally trained nurse must have earned a certificate/diploma or degree in nursing.
- Professionally trained medical technologist- earned at least an associate degree in medical terminology or clinical laboratory science.
- Professionally trained microbiologist must have a bachelor's degree in microbiology.
- Professionally trained epidemiologist must have a bachelor's degree in epidemiology.
- Other related field would include, physician, pharmacist or physician assistant.
Experience: Be qualified by education, training, experience, or certification in infection control is preferred. An example of certification is the Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC®) which is conducted by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC®) and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). If the certification is not completed be willing and able to complete program within 90 days of hire.
ESSIENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The essential functions listed below (from the State Operations Manual, Appendix PP) are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
- Oversight of the IPCP, which includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
- A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement based upon the facility assessment... and following accepted national standards.
- Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to:
- A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can spread to other people in the facility.
- When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported.
- Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent the spread of infections.
- When and how isolation should be used for a resident; including but not limited to:
- The type and duration of the isolation, depending upon the infectious agent or organism involved, and
- A requirement that the isolation should be the least restrictive possible for the residents under the circumstances.
- The circumstances under which the facility must prohibit employees with a communicable disease or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents or their food, if direct contact will transmit the disease; and
- The hand hygiene procedures to be followed by staff involved in direct resident contact.
- A system for recording incidents identified under the facility’s IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility.
- Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens to prevent the spread of infection.
- The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary. (§483.80[a]–[f])
Must perform the following duties and responsibilities:
- Conduct the annual risk assessment with the collaboration of leadership and medical director.
- Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan
- Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to prevention
- Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread
- Conduct outbreak investigations
- Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies as required
- Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents’ antibiotic use
- Assess the need for, develop, and present IPCP in-service education for individual departments, general orientation, and annual review as needed; education includes but is not limited to:
- Hand hygiene
- Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
- Specific direct and indirect care settings
- Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices
- Use of isolation/barrier precautions when indicated
- Resident placement, transfer, and discharge
- Environmental hazards
- Use of patient care products and medical equipment
- Resident immunization programs
- Assess the need for, develop, and implement written policies and procedures for infection control, including those for standard precautions and for transmission-based precautions, including when these should be used, the duration of use, and the type of precautions needed for a particular infection or organism
- Enforce policies prohibiting staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents and their food, and enforce hand hygiene policies consistent with accepted standards of practices
- Conduct routine monthly environmental rounds throughout the building and report findings to administration and to department heads of areas where findings are located.
- Serve as a member of the quality assessment and assurance committee
- Be accountable for surveillance of healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections for residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors
- Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and ensure that the facility leaders are informed of appropriate issues; understand and comply with infection control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY
These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to successfully perform the essential functions of the job; they are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or licensure/certification.
The infection preventionist should be able to:
- Conduct analysis and formulate conclusions
- Identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the infectious disease process
- Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Differentiate between colonization and infection
- Differentiate between prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials
- Foster effective working relationships and build consensus
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
- Plan, organize, prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines
- Use judgment and make sound decisions
- Work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization
- Speak, read, write, and understand English effectively at a level appropriate for the safe and effective performance of the job
- Utilize spreadsheets and pivot tables
- Use clinical record and data driven computer programs
