Infection Control Preventionist

Full Time Days, on call every 5th weekend

** Salary starts at $95,000**

United Methodist Communities is currently seeking an Infection Control Preventionist for Bristol Glen Senior Care Community located in Newton, NJ. Bristol Glen, Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), is a thoughtfully designed and meticulously maintained 75-acre campus providing exceptional options for senior care living.

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for the surveillance and reporting of nosocomial infections, investigation of infection or clusters of infections as warranted, microbiological monitoring of the healthcare environment. Provide education to associates aimed at heightening the awareness of nosocomial infections, advise on isolation techniques, and how to minimize infections among residents and minimize the spread of infections within the community.

Requirements for an Infection Control Preventionist:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, B.S. preferred.
• Hold a current and unencumbered NJ license from the NJ State Board of Nursing.
• C.I.C. Certification

Responsibilities for an Infection Control Preventionist:

• Maintains current knowledge of federal, state and local regulations and ensures that the community leaders are informed of appropriate issues. Understands and complies with infection control, safety and OSHA procedures. Interacts with the necessary public health authorities as needed and required.
• Maintain annual flu prevention campaign and ongoing infection prevention initiatives such as Pneumonia vaccine, TB testing of residents prior to admission.
• Detects, records, and monitors nosocomial infections/communicable diseases and reports to the Director of Resident Living.Performs surveillance and monitors adherence to infection prevention and control practices.
• Participates in the national collaboratives and external reporting to CDC NHSN system, and other post-acute-care specific quality organization.
• Provides Infection Control surveillance for the assisted living and healthcare and accountable for surveillance of healthcare acquired and community acquired infections.
• Conducts surveillance of infection for areas outlined in the annual Infection Risk Assessment. Develop, implement and evaluate annual infection prevention goals and action plan. Investigates clusters/outbreaks; designs, implements, and coordinates strategies to control clusters/outbreaks in collaboration with the medical director, executive director, DON, and local DOH.
• Ensures that education and counseling on infection prevention is available for staff, volunteers, residents. Support and participate in interdisciplinary quality assurance and performance improvement.
• Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.
• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention.
• Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread and conduct outbreak investigations.
• To meet UMC objectives of caring excellence and high standards of quality care and State and Federal guideline requirements. To maintain compliance with State and Federal regulations and OSHA guidelines.
• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies as required.
• Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents' antibiotic use.
• Assess the need for, develop, and present IPCP in-service education for individual departments, general orientation, and annual review as needed.
• Develops and coordinates the infection prevention and control program throughout the facility. Performs an annual assessment and develops action plans from the prior year activities.
• Utilize nationally recognized surveillance criteria such as but not limited to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) or Revised McGeer criteria to track trends and identify opportunities for improvement based on data analysis.
• Participate in interdisciplinary performance and quality improvement process. Serve as a member of the quality assurance and improvement committee (QAPI) and report to the committee on the infection prevention control program on a regular basis.
• Environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, water management/ventilation, laundry collection/cleaning, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning.
• Reviews the risk of blood borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practice for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposures to infectious diseases.
• Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.

About UMC:

• Our Mission is: Compassionately serving in community so that all are free to choose abundant life
• Certified A Great Place to Work for the last 6 years, we continue to grow and innovate to meet the needs of our residents while building upon our rich history of over 115-years of dedication to the communities we serve
• We offer 4 Full-Service Communities, 5 Affordable Housing Communities and HomeWorks throughout the State of NJ, offering a variety of options from Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long Term Care, Short Term Rehab, home care and more!
• Our company culture at UMC is built on our values of Compassion, Respect, Stewardship and Service.

Our Associates perform every caring act in support of our United Methodist Communities' values of Compassion, Respect, Stewardship, and Service.

Benefits offered by UMC for our Associates/Team Members:

• Employer-subsidized Medical and Dental Coverage (eligible at 30-hours per week)
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Program with Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance, Professional Development and E-Learning
• Employee Discount Program
• Homeowner/Renter/Automobile Insurance (NJ Manufacturers)
• Generous Paid Time Off Program
• Group Life Insurance (No Cost to YOU!)
• 9 Paid Holidays/Premium Pay when working holidays
• Free uniform items & additional uniform allowances
• Additional great benefits like Vision coverage, Health Savings Account, Voluntary Life Insurance & so much more!

UMC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by laws and regulations.