What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Infection Preventionist position at UPMC?
The Senior Infection Preventionist, reports to the Director of Infection Prevention and is responsible for performing infection surveillance activities across multiple facilities. This role focuses on the detection, validation, analysis, and trending of healthcare‑associated infections using expert knowledge of epidemiology and surveillance definitions to ensure accurate reporting in accordance with NHSN, state, and regulatory requirements. This position is surveillance‑focused and does not include routine education, construction review, or committee leadership responsibilities.
This remote opportunity will work during standard business hours within the eastern time zone. If you have a certification in infection control along with experience in infection prevention, this could be the job opportunity for you. Apply today!
Responsibilities:
- Acts as liaison with local and state health departments and other healthcare facilities by reporting notifiable diseases and investigating communicable conditions.
- Effectively communicates and collaborates with interdisciplinary health care professionals, administrators, health system personnel, patients/family members, and local, state and federal regulatory agencies.
- Maintains advanced knowledge of National Health Safety Network (NHSN) and Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) surveillance definitions.
- Demonstrates ongoing continuing education by reviewing professional publications and participating in educational programs and professional organization activities.
- Performs environmental rounding in all areas of the healthcare facility. Reviews regulatory standards (The Joint Commission (TJC), Pennsylvania Department of the Health (PA DOH) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)) related to cleanliness and infection prevention with healthcare workers including, but not limited to, compliance with hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions and environmental service practices.
- Independently performs surveillance activities using NHSN and PA-PSRS infection definitions for the detection of healthcare acquired infections in the acute and/or long-term care settings.
- Advanced knowledge of epidemiology and study design to investigate clusters and outbreaks for sources of infection; educate healthcare personnel regarding short and long term control measures and evaluates/monitors the effectiveness of such controls.
- Serves on the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and represents Hospital Epidemiology on hospital committees requiring Infection Prevention and Control input.
- Uses a variety of skills and techniques to plan, develop, conduct and document educational programs for hospital personnel and patients/families using age and education level appropriate venues to maintain or enhance knowledge of infection control.
- Provides infection prevention control input during all phases of construction/renovation activities. Conducts construction/renovation inspections and rounds routinely to ensure compliance with PA DOH requirements and assess for any infection control/safety issues.
- Oversees Legionella surveillance and coordinates remediation when indicated.