Infection Preventionist

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for the development, assessment, implementation, monitoring and management of the infection prevention program for MI Nursing Restorative Center. The IP will work to identify, investigate, monitor, and report healthcare associated infections and communicable diseases. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to create, educate, and sustain infection prevention strategies, as well as provide feedback. The IP conducts ongoing staff training and quality assurance performance improvement monitoring to insure adherence with the organizational standards, professional guidelines, state, and federal regulations. The IP works collaboratively with the leadership team in the development and oversight of the facility Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP).

The Infection Preventionist reports to the Director of Nursing

Candidate must have the following minimum qualifications:

• RN or LPN license in Massachusetts
• Is qualified by education, training, experience, or certification.
• Has completed specialized training in infection prevention preferred - willing to train the right person

Essential Skills:

• Collaboration, leadership, and conflict resolution
• Communication skills oral and written
• Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines
• Knowledge in and ability to conduct data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation

Job Duties:

• Program Management:
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program to include policies and procedures for surveillance, pandemic preparedness, hand hygiene, standard precautions, employee and resident infection control education, employee health, outbreak management, transmission-based precautions and Antibiotic Stewardship.
• Establish routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance date to identify infections, infection risks, communicable disease outbreaks and to maintain or improve resident health status.
• Utilize nationally recognized surveillance criteria such as but not limited to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) or the McGeer criteria to track trends and identify opportunities for improvement based on data analysis.
• Ensure the ASP program meets all regulatory and reporting requirements.
• Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
• Coordinates the facility's annual infection control risk assessment and reports into QAPI committee.
• Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan and infection prevention policies and procedures no less than annually and as needed.
• Conduct surveillance following current and approved definitions of infection and standard methodologies for case identification, data collection, and reporting.
• Participates in national collaboratives and external reporting to National Healthcare Network (NHSN) as required.

• Design and Deliver Education
• Provide infection prevention education at time of hire, no less than annually and when lapses in adherence occur.
• Acts as subject matter expert and resource within the healthcare center to residents/families, partners, providers, visitors, community, and public health regarding infection prevention and control measures, including identification of infectious disease processes.
• Create a process for demonstrating competencies following each training activity

• Regulatory Requirements
• Comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state and federal levels.
• Maintain current knowledge with CMS, state and federal regulatory agencies and public health guidelines as it relates to infection prevention.

• Performance Improvement (PI)
• Participate in interdisciplinary performance and quality improvement process.
• Serve as a member of the quality assessment and performance improvement committee (QAPI) and reports to the committee on the infection prevention control program on a regular basis

• Occupational Health
• Participate in the development/review of occupational health policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control.
• 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.
• Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. i.e. needle stick injuries
• Develop (or assist with) immunization and screening programs i.e. Influenza and TB
• Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.
• Monitor resident care practices and develop/maintain resident health program.
• Participates in the antibiotic stewardship program that includes antibiotic use protocols and a system to monitor antibiotic use.
• Facility Management Environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, plumbing/ventilation, food preparation/storage, laundry collection/cleaning, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning.

Covenant Health Mission Statement

We are a Catholic health ministry, providing healing and care for the whole person, in service to all in our communities.

Our Core Values:

Compassion

We show respect, caring and sensitivity towards all, honoring the dignity of each person, especially the poor, vulnerable and suffering.

Integrity

We promote justice and ethical behavior, and responsibly steward our human, financial and environmental resources.

Collaboration

We work in partnership, dialogue and shared purpose to create healthy communities.

Excellence

We deliver all services with the highest level of quality, while seeking creative innovation.

We are an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability status, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, protected veteran status, national origin, genetic information or any other legally protected status.

Resumes may be sent to careers@mihcs.com

Employment application: www.mihcs.org/join-our-team

Job Type: Full-time

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Infection control: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Massachusetts RN or LPN license (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Lawrence, MA 01841 (Required)

Work Location: In person