Infection Control Preventionist

The Infection Preventionist supervises and manages the Infection Control Program and is responsible for the facility infection prevention & control which is designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Responsible for the effective direction, management and operation of the infection prevention and control/epidemiology department, including education of hospital personnel and consultation with the organization, CDC, and state health departments.

• Reviews and investigates trends, clusters, outbreaks and unusual events as evidenced by customer feedback.
• Identify and track nosocomial infections as evidenced by quarterly reporting.
• Identifies infectious disease processes.
• Coordinates policies and procedures to reduce or eliminate infectious disease.
• Participates as an integral team member, collaborating with various departments and colleagues, including the Safety Officer, Human Resources, Quality Officer, and others as needed to advocate for employee health and safety.
• Responsible for policies and procedures within the organization related to infection control.

3. Management and Communication of infection control and prevention information.

• Able to manage and communicate the infection control and prevention program and processes to staff, physicians, Infection Control Team and others.
• Supervises the infection control and prevention program and processes.
• Communicates infection control and prevention program and processes at the Infection Control Committee meeting quarterly and when necessary.
• Coordinates with the Infection Prevention and Control Committee to determine the direction of surveillance activities and actively evaluate effectiveness of the infection Prevention and Control Plan annually.

4. Helps prevent Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) by isolating sources of infection and limiting their spread.

• Communicates infection data to their staff.
• Implements evidence-based processes specific to preventing and controlling infections.
• Coordinates the infection control and prevention program,
• Perform reporting to State Health Department of any reportable disease, adhering to state procedures.

5. Performs surveillance and epidemiologic investigation to aid in the reduction of infections.

• Collect, analyze, and communicate infection control data.
• Detect infectious pathogens and their pattern.
• Conduct risk assessments annually and as needed with consideration of served populations, regional vulnerabilities, relevant statistical data, and new and emerging infectious diseases.
• Performs public reporting as mandated by federal and state-based requirements.

6. Environment of care

• Acts as a consultant in construction and renovation projects; equipment and environmental service needs; utility maintenance and use; emergency management; and others.
• Perform environment of care safety tracers along with other disciplines and report findings to appropriate disciplines and to the Infection Control Team.
• Performs Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRA) on all constructions and renovations and reassessments until project is complete; communicates information to the proper disciplines.

7. Assists with TJC and regulatory compliance.

• Provides effective education and training as evidenced by customer satisfaction.
• Provides effective survey preparation and coordination as evidenced by survey outcomes.
• Ensures Infection Control and Prevention program is in compliance with state and federal requirements, accreditation bodies, policies and clinical responsibilities.

8. Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection, and asepsis

• Collaborates or consults with the central sterile department on reprocessing of instruments.
• Evaluates the disinfection and sterilization processes.
• Comply with organizational and regulatory policies and standards regarding cleaning, sterilization, disinfection, and aspepsis.

9. Educate and research

• Uses epidemiological principle and statistical methods to design, implement, and evaluate infection prevention and control strategies.
• Participates in infection prevention and control education of all employees during orientation and annually thereafter; includes infection prevention and control practices.
• Participates in annual educational competencies on infection control and prevention.
• Actively participate in local, state, and national programs offering educational programs on infection control processes, programs and practices.

10. Oversees the antibiotic stewardship program and monitors patient antibiotic use.

11. Collaborates with facility leadership, Chief of Staff and Infection Disease physician to develop, implement, and evaluated the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Nursing required.

License/Certification: Louisiana State Nursing license. Infection Prevention Control certification preferred.

Experience: 5 years clinical nursing and/or infection control experience required.

Additional Experience Preferred

The infection preventionist should be able to identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the infection disease process. This position requires knowledge to differentiate between colonization and infection, prophylactic, and empiric and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials. Working effectively with all levels of the organization, organization and independent work along with meeting deadlines is also required. Specialty training in Infection Prevention and Control through accredited continued education at a minimum of annually.