Infection Preventionist

Summary

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for identifying, investigating, monitoring, and

reporting healthcare-associated infections. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to

create infection prevention strategies, provide feedback, and sustain infection prevention

strategies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports and promotes the mission and values of Covenant Health Ministry.
• Develops, implements and evaluates the organizational infection prevention program.
• Develops an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided and analysis of surveillance data.
• Conducts an annual risk assessment and develops goals and priorities from the prior year’s activities.
• Evaluates and modifies the surveillance plan as necessary
• Develops and implements organizational-wide infection surveillance, prevention and control policies and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines within required timeframes.
• Develops, interprets and assists with implementation of infection prevention and control policies and protocols.
• Considers the financial/safety implications and clinical outcomes when making recommendations, evaluating technology and products, and developing policies and procedures.
• Communicates infection prevention and control information and data to various committees and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned.
• Utilizes epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations.
• Utilizes PI methodology as a means of enacting change
• Applies NHSN criteria to determine hospital acquired infections.
• Performs audits to determine adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures by organization personnel.
• Communicates with providers, clinicians and others of patients exposed to infections/communicable diseases during hospitalization.
• Develops and implements organizational-wide infection surveillance, prevention and control policies and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines within required timeframes.
• Participates in the ICRA process regarding construction and renovation projects and assures compliance with national and/or professional standards.
• Participates in environmental rounds and assures compliance with national and/or professional standards.
• Collaborates with physicians and nurses to develop practice standards consistent with infection prevention through the application of knowledge of current health care trends.
• Collaborates with education to provide expertise in the development of competency-based training and education of hospital personnel and staff, including medical staff, and, as applicable, personnel providing contracted services, on the practical applications of infection prevention and control guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to ensure changes are vetted by all stakeholder groups.
• Communicates and collaborates with quality team members to ensure infection prevention and control issues are integrated within the organization’s quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program.
• Communicates and collaborates with the antibiotic stewardship program leader and team.
• Collaborates with the Safety Manager to ensure effective Environment of Care/DNV rounds.
• Serves as the organization’s expert for Infection Prevention and Control Chapter within the (NIAHO®) Accreditation Requirements.
• Plans, coordinates and facilitates the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.
• Enforces policies and procedures that ensures compliance with OSHA, CDC, CMS and other state, and federal regulatory agencies.
• Complies with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state and federal levels.
• Consults and collaborates, as needed, with local, state, and federal public health officials, and community health organizations.
• Other duties as consistent with this role.

Job Requirements

Job Knowledge and Skills

• Analytical
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines
• Conflict resolution
• Program and project management
• Expertise in data collection and analysis, report writing and data presentation
• Leadership
• Familiar with software technologies

Education and Experience

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science,

medical technology or related field preferred.

• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (i.e.: CIC© preferred) or, attainment two (2) years from date of hire required.