Infection Preventionist

Job Summary: The Infection Preventionist (SIP) is an expert infection prevention and control (IPC) resource who provides mentorship, information, education, guidance, and support to Insight using evidenced based information and expert opinion to promote patient safety and reduce costs associated with hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The SIP is responsible for the timely and accurate review and submission of HAI data and cost-effective prevention and management of IPC associated risks within the organization.

Duties:

*All duties listed below are essential unless noted otherwise*

• Maintains current knowledge on IPC evidence-based practice (EBP) for HAI and IPC-associated topics and regulatory requirements (e.g., NHSN reporting criteria; standard- and transmission-based precautions/appropriate use of PPE; environmental and medical device (reprocessing) cleaning, disinfection, and sterile processing; injection and medication safety; aseptic technique and hand hygiene; risk assessment; exposure potential mitigation; HAI reduction; occupational health concerns like vaccination; bloodborne pathogen transmission prevention; etc.)
• IPC program management including, but not limited to creation, implementation, and evaluation of annual plan; focused and population-based surveillance; epidemiological investigations; creation and maintenance of policies, procedures, guidelines, education, and related forms to assure compliance with annual plan; and communication of essential plan elements and data with stakeholder staff.
• Serve as a liaison with local, regional, and state health departments as necessary to meet regulatory data reporting (e.g., NHSN submissions), mandated reporting (e.g., outbreak) and investigation requirements.
• Performs environmental surveillance to monitor appropriate processes, storage, utilization of disinfectants and high-level disinfection or sterilization. Routine visits to department to include following as appropriate: direct observation of processes and practices with high infection risk, use of isolation, hand hygiene practice. Semi-routine visits to construction areas to assure compliance with ICRA-approved projects.
• Creates and reviews staff and patient education, policies and procedures, guidelines, etc., on topics such as recommended infection control techniques, infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, use of isolation, and new developments in infection control.
• Oversees and guides risk assessments and reviews, such as infection control risk assessments, capacity to follow instructions for use on cleaning/disinfection/sterilization of new medical devices, etc.
• Collaborates with employee health, environmental services, quality, and other outside teams to address concerning infections, exposures, and health of employees, patients, and affiliates.
• Investigates unusual organisms or clusters of infection above expected levels.
• Participates in quality teams, national initiatives/collaboratives related to infection prevention.
• On-call duties required.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or related field.

Skills: Requires excellent critical thinking and analytical skills. Must be able to enter and retrieve date from a computer, have expertise in data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation. Must be able to communicate well with all levels of employees and to organize and implement educational and process improvement activities. Must be able to understand directions, communicate and respond to inquiries in a fast-paced environment. Requires effective interpersonal skills. Must be knowledgeable in IPC principles and actively engaged in continual learning on principles (e.g., epidemiological principles, sterile processing, high-level disinfection, precautions, safe injection practices, etc.)

Years of Experience: 2 years nursing or related healthcare experience

License: RN State of Michigan, if a nurse

Certification: Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (e.g., CIC©) or attainment within 2 years after employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education: MSN or Master’s Degree in Public Health Preferred

Skills: Team oriented, process improvement experience.

Years of Experience: 4 years nursing or related field

License: RN State of Michigan if RN

Certification: Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (e.g., CIC©).

Personal Protective Equipment: N/A

Physical Demands: Must be able to move about hospital and between workstations; and prolonged periods of standing. Must be able to frequently move, life or carry materials.

The above list of accountabilities is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the positions; it should not be considered exhaustive. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, citizenship, familial or marital status, genetics, or other status protected by applicable law.

Insight is an Equal Opportunity Employer