Infection Prevention Specialist II - Main Infection Prevention - Full Time - Days

Job Description

Infection Preventionists (IPs) are professionals who are responsible for preventing infections in the healthcare environment through early identification, investigation and monitoring of hospital activities. The IP collaborates with healthcare teams, hospital leadership and other professions to create and sustain infection prevention strategies, compile infection data, develop policies and procedures and coordinate with local, state and national public health agencies. IPs have an awareness of all regulations (CMS, TJC, OSHA, CDC, WHO, AORN, state and local health depts) relative to infection control and prevention, while maintaining current standards of infection prevention practices.

Responsibilities

Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology

An infection preventionist is responsible for monitoring and tracking infectious diseases within TCHHN.

• Develops a plan for infection surveillance, prevention, and control activities based on the facility risk assessment.
• Collects, manages, and analyzes surveillance data using standardized methodology & defined criteria for Hospital Associated Infections (HAI).
• Organizes and maintains surveillance data and records.
• Reports surveillance data, findings, and analyses to the appropriate committees, patient care units, personnel, and external agencies.
• Provides written and verbal reports to administration and relevant committees, departments, personnel and external agencies.
• Monitors patients for the occurrence of communicable diseases, HAIs, and resistant and epidemiologically important organisms.
• Monitors infectious diseases and epidemiologically significant organisms occurring in the community via laboratory reports and public health reports.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficacy of infection prevention and control strategies.
  
  

Infection Prevention and Control Activities

An infection preventionist is responsible for implementing and enforcing infection control protocols.

• Develops a plan for healthcare staff orientation programs, required annual education programs and ongoing education and competencies.
• Provides education on hand hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection procedures for patient care areas, equipment, and high-touch surfaces, aseptic technique, safe medication injection practices, specific infectious diseases including diseases of high consequences, outbreak management and other related healthcare issues.
• Monitors healthcare staff and environments to ensure proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, sterilization of equipment, environmental risks and adherence to isolation precautions. These measures are essential in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
• Understands and ensures implementation of manufacturer's "instructions for use" for equipment or products used for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficacy of infection prevention and control strategies.
• Provides Just-in-Time education and coaching to healthcare staff, as needed to ensure understanding of infection prevention protocols.
• Serves as a consultant to staff on Infection Prevention related concerns.
  
  

Outbreak Identification and Response

An Infection preventionist play a crucial role in coordinating the investigation and response in the event of an outbreak.

• Uses data to identify risks to the health care continuum from threats related to domestic and international travel.
• Provides confirmation of an outbreak through data review, literature review, establishing a case definition, using case finding methodology, preparing a line list and evaluating the environment and guiding sampling, if needed.
• Collaborates with public health officials, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to investigate the outbreak, implement control measures, and communicate updates to the relevant parties.
• Notifies appropriate stakeholders of ongoing issues or concerns.
• Leads efforts for mitigation of outbreaks and facility response.
  
  

Policy Development and Application

An Infection preventionist is involved in the development and revision of infection control and prevention policies and procedures.

• Uses resources to remain updated with regulatory standards and evidenced based guidelines.
• Ensure staff members are educated on infection prevention practices and that necessary precautions that are taken to maintain patient safety.
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to assist with policy and procedure development.
• Continuously evaluates the need for revision of infection control policies to ensure their effectiveness in preventing infections and maintaining a safe environment.
  
  

Conducting Infection Risk Assessments

An Infection Preventionist evaluates different healthcare areas to identify potential areas of concern, high-risk procedures, or vulnerable patient populations.

• Conducts annual risk assessments to capture current and potential future infection risks.
• Prioritizes likihood of occurrence and potential for harm.
• Uses the risk assessment process to plan effective mitigation strategies to eliminate or reduce the transmission of pathogens and address more advanced situations, such as managing outbreaks of novel pathogens, pathogens of consequence, staff safety, environmental considerations such as special locations, water management plans, construction-related concerns, food handling safety, and equipment management.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation measures and makes adjustments as needed, ensuring ongoing compliance with infection control protocols.
  
  

Professional Stewardhip

An Infection Preventionist collaborates to ensure effective management of resources and prevention of adverse outcomes.

• Participates in the antimicrobial stewardship program by identifying and detecting MDROs, reporting surveillance trends over time, using surveillance data (i.e., treating asymptomatic bacteriuria, collecting contaminated specimens), and analyzing antibiograms and antibiotic use.
• Collaborates with ID specialists to develop protocols for testing, including proper specimen collection techniques to optimize results and prevent over or under usage of resources.
• Collaborates with Team Health and Wellness to develop vaccination protocols for healthcare staff and/ or exposures.
• Collaborates with local, state and national public health agencies to prevent the spread of pathogens in the community.
• Acts as an advocate for patients, family members and caregivers by providing education on infection prevention protocols and safety measures.
• Acts a leader in infection prevention efforts intradepartmentally and in the community.
• Guides orientation for new infection preventionists according to acceptable standards of practice.
• Implements the use of technology to assist in infection prevention activities.
  
  

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Required: Baccalaureate degree in nursing public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory, medical technology
• Preferred: Master’s degree in nursing, public health, or related field
  
  

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

Minimum 2 Years Experience In Infection Prevention Required

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) awarded by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC).

LICENSES REGISTRATIONS &/or CERTIFICATIONS: Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, first list licenses, then registrations and then certifications in table below. List any certifications and licenses required to perform this position.

REQUIRED (e.g. RN In State Employed)

“X” if LIC. PREFERRED (e.g. Dietitian in state employed) “X” if LIC.

Active Registered Nurse License, if RN X

Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) X