Sr Director Infection Prevention Dallas Market

Why Children’s Health?

At Children's Health, our mission is to Make Life Better for Children, and we recognize that their health plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. Through our cutting-edge treatments and affiliation with UT Southwestern, we strive to deliver an extraordinary patient and family experience, ensuring that every moment, big or small, contributes to their overall well-being. Our dedication to promoting children's health extends beyond our organization and encompasses the broader community. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of children and contribute to a brighter and healthier future for all.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Infection Prevention (IP) for the Dallas Market, in collaboration with the Medical Director of Infection Prevention, is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the Infection Prevention program for all Children's Health System of Texas (CHST) hospitals and other sites under the Dallas hospital license. This individual sets the vision for the market's Infection Prevention program through a strategic and operational plan that is reviewed and revised annually; monitors and analyzes infection prevention data and recommends action plans for improvement; and ensures accurate data is reported to external agencies. Working with the Vice President of Accreditation, ensures compliance with the Joint Commission Infection Control Chapters and maintains a continual state of readiness. Acts as the Market lead and key advisor for all local matters related to Infection Prevention and works collaboratively with clinical and operational leaders to advance infection prevention efforts.

Highlighted Responsibilities

• Provides administrative leadership for the market-wide Infection Prevention Program for all facilities that fall under the Dallas hospital license. Exhibits a comprehensive understanding of infection prevention and epidemiology theory and practice and is responsible for ensuring that the Infection Prevention programs are implemented uniformly in all facilities.
• Leads and is accountable for the systematic collection, analysis and feedback of targeted surveillance of infectious outcomes in patients, healthcare workers and visitors and in the implementation of interventions and performance improvement activities to decrease the risk of healthcare associated infections.
• Provides oversight and direction and serves as the local subject matter expert working with CHST system IP leaders for all initiatives with infection prevention implications and content.
• Designs, manages and coordinates workflows for all external reporting including communication and training of surveillance efforts, optimization of IT workflows and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Ensures timely and accurate regulatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections and notifiable conditions to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Serves as the primary content owner for the Dallas Market for annual required infection prevention education.
• In collaboration with the IP Medical Director and Quality department, leads or facilitates market-wide work groups to ensure high reliability care related to Hand Hygiene, Surgical Site Infections, Central line associated blood stream infections and Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections both internally and among outside collaboratives.
• Ensures all construction and renovation projects in the Dallas Market are performed in a manner that protects patients, visitors and staff from healthcare-associated infection.
• Collaborates with Occupational Health and Wellness to minimize exposure of employees and staff to infectious diseases. Assists in coordination of responses to employee and staff exposures to infectious diseases.
• Facilitates compliance with federal, state and local regulatory standards and guidelines from authoritative agencies such as The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Responsible for reviewing and ensuring compliance with all system-wide Infection Prevention policies and procedures; provides input as needed to ensure they are up to date with the most recent evidence-based literature and guidelines.
• Works closely with the Emergency Management Team to lead and facilitate the Dallas Market's preparation and response to epidemic, pandemic and other emergent infectious diseases. Leads efforts among Dallas facilities in the investigation of clusters and outbreaks of epidemiologically significant organisms. Along with the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and the ID pharmacist supports ongoing efforts related to antimicrobial stewardship.
• Maintains a national Infection Prevention presence by being actively involved in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Children's Hospital Association Infection Prevention Directors forum and Solutions for Patient Safety infection prevention initiatives.
  
  

Experience, Education, License And Certifications

• A minimum of 7 years related experience as an Infection Preventionist is required
• Four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required; graduate or advanced degree; or equivalent experience is strongly preferred
• Certification in Infection Control is required
• Participation at the national level with APIC, CHA or related associations is a plus
  
  

A Place Where You Belong

We put our people first. We welcome, value, and respect the beliefs, identities and experiences of our patients and colleagues. We are committed to delivering culturally effective care, creating meaningful partnerships in the communities we serve, and equipping and developing our team members to make Children’s Health a place where everyone can contribute.