What are the responsibilities and job description for the Infection Control Preventionist for Hospital Services position at Cherokee Nation?
Job Summary:
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Qualifications:
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
COMPUTER SKILLS
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Responsible for the coordination and management of the Infection Control (IC) program within the facility. Provides leadership in the application of IC practice to patient care, organizational process, and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program or service level and will be knowledgeable regarding patient management, and patient safety.
Job Duties:
Routine duties shall include providing health care services to individuals eligible for services in accordance with the self-governance compact and funding agreement between the Cherokee Nation and United States executed under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Monitors Infection Prevention activities throughout the hospital and campus of the Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital. Monitors patient infection cases at the hospital (and campus); reports data to the Quality. Management System. Completes surveillance and corrective action reports and submits findings to the Quality Management System. Works closely with the Outpatient Infection Preventionist and Infection Control Practitioner. Maintains accurate records. Maintains up-to-date knowledge regarding Infection Prevention reporting requirements to appropriate agencies. Utilizes evidence based Infection Prevention decision making to enhance patient care. Utilizes professional standards of practice, relevant statutes, and regulations to evaluate patient care practices, programs and/or service activities related to infection prevention and take action to improve performance when necessary. Identifies and monitors persons who are at risk for acquiring infections. Maintains knowledge of current trends, techniques and professional issues to meet changing program needs and provide appropriate staff development. Maintains knowledge of basic epidemiologic principles and statistical methods relevant to infection prevention and development of a surveillance system based on sound epidemiologic principles. Maintains knowledge of basic principles of general microbiology including their classification of organisms and knowledge of laboratory tests, and their significance. Maintains knowledge of the cause and control of diseases, including pathogenesis of infectious diseases and antimicrobial therapy and its relationship to infection prevention. Provides education and training to appropriate staff. Develops, revises and evaluates policies and procedures for Infection Prevention and their implications. Conducts and/or coordinates rounds with the Environment of Care, Hazardous Surveillance Teams, and etc to assess the environment for potential Infection Prevention problems. Provides agenda items to the Quality Management Program for the Infection Prevention Committee. Acts as a liaison between the Infection Prevention Committee and outpatient services as necessary. Provides and promotes a proactive approach for an effective Infection Prevention Program. Monitors culture reports and assures appropriate follow-up action plans are developed and implemented. Provides guidance and direction setting for Infection Prevention activities. Provides leadership when ensuring appropriate follow-up and adherence to time frames from the Abnormal Alerts Program. Utilizes data related to timeliness and appointments, outcomes, and etc to demonstrate changes in outcomes related to changes in the Abnormal Alert process. Provides reports to appropriate leadership, including the Quality Management Representative on a routine basis. Maintains a computerized (approved and utilized by Cherokee Nation Health Services) database to track the Infection Prevention and alert process. Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Minimal supervisory responsibility (i.e. Lead position)
Qualifications:
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT
Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing, Microbiology, Biology, or Public Health; no substitutions. Master’s degree in Nursing or Epidemiology (MSN or MPH) highly preferred.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
An additional two years experience in a medical technologist field.
COMPUTER SKILLS
An individual should have knowledge of Database software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Must possess a valid driver's license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating. Appropriate certification in Infection Control preferred. Active member of the Association of Professions in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC) preferred. Prefer Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certified.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Must meet and maintain pre-employment and periodic background investigation and adjudication for child care. Prefer knowledge or understanding of Epidemiology.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Employee must not and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG’s Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA’s List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
