The Infection Prevention Specialist reports to the Director of Nursing and partners with the Medical Director, Medical Director for Antimicrobial Stewardship, the Quality Officer, and other stakeholders to develop a system of care that promotes sound and scientific infection prevention principles and practices. This individual is accountable for decreasing the incidence and transmission of infectious diseases between patients, staff, visitors and the community. Through strategic planning, leadership and consultation, you will lead and direct a robust team in the identification and implementation of infection prevention goals and objectives throughout the facility.

Position Responsibilities and Qualifications

In this key position, essential job duties and responsibilities include:

• Partners with the Medical Director for Epidemiology/Infectious Disease to develop, implement and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and action plan
• Partners with facility leaders, physicians, local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention
• Oversees the operations of the infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship programs
• Accountable for surveillance of healthcare acquired and community acquired infections
• Manages goal setting process for system, unit and physician goals related to healthcare acquired infections and conditions
• Manages facility immunization programs
• Leads facility wide interdepartmental infection control program to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, mitigate and control workplace conditions
• Participates in the national collaboratives and external reporting to CDC NHSN system, and other post-acute care specific quality organizations
• Authority and responsibility for ensuring appropriate intervention and education occurs with staff, volunteers and medical staff when healthcare infection trends, outbreaks or non-compliance to infection control/OSHA are identified.
• Ensures that education and counseling on infection prevention is available and ongoing for all staff, volunteers, patients and patient representatives.
• Completes regular and ongoing infection control rounds, audits and surveillance throughout the facility in all departments
• Must be a member of the facility’s quality assessment and assurance committee and report to the committee on the IPCP on a regular basis
• Participates in on call rotations as required by facility including assisting as a floor nurse if needed
• Maintains current knowledge of federal, state and local regulations and ensures that the facility leaders are informed of appropriate issues. Understands and complies with infection control, safety and OSHA procedures and regulations.

Position Qualifications and Credentials:

• Have primary professional training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other related field
• Be qualified by education, training, experience or certification;
• Work at least part-time at the facility;
• Have completed IDPH approved specialized training in infection prevention and control