Infection Preventionist

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Collaborates with the department leader in all infection prevention related activities associated with surveillance,
performance improvement, and education which are intended to ensure that the facility’s patients, personnel, and
visitors will be protected from transmission of diseases and infection within the facility’s environment as identified in
the core competency model by the Association for Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

ESSENTIAL KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

-Responsible for assisting the department to ensure compliance with Hospital Accreditation Standards, State and CMS
regulations, and for the daily operations of the Infection Prevention Department. Identifies and implements updates to
the Infection Prevention Program when new regulations and/or professional guidelines are published. Serves as the
content expert in all infection prevention matters in support of clinical staff, performance improvement teams and
hospital committees.
-Performs assessments from an infection prevention perspective and recommends appropriate action within scope of
responsibility to ensure safe and quality patient care. Performs, coordinates and directs the process of surveillance to
identify healthcare acquired infections and other adverse outcomes to ensure safe patient care. Rounds in assigned
inpatient units, outpatient areas, perioperative areas, and ancillary departments regularly and on an as needed basis for
evaluating compliance with infection prevention practices, policies and regulatory agency requirements.
-Assists the department leader with ongoing assessment and development of programs, policies and procedures, and
forms to address the Infection Prevention needs of employees, volunteers, contract workers, independent contractors,
physicians, registry workers, and students in accordance with the guidelines established by the regulatory agencies.
-Oversees and monitors the clinical work of staff. Identifies competency and training needs. Coordinates and oversees
training. Utilizes senior area staff to assist with training and provides clinical expertise.
-Acquires and maintains current knowledge of infection prevention professional society guidelines, best practices and
regulatory requirements as demonstrated by attending infection prevention conferences and workshops, reviewing
current infection prevention literature, guidelines and national standard and networking with Health System and
external Infection Prevention Specialists.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree with a focus on epidemiology or an Associate degree in a healthcare-related field with three (3) years of healthcare-related
  experience.

Required Licensure and Certifications:

• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) to be obtained
  during the first two (2) years of hire.

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training:

- Demonstrates breadth and/or depth of professional/technical skills
and capabilities required for the position; shares knowledge; sets or
contributes to the Company’s direction within area of expertise.
 Knowledge of types, methods, tools and techniques used in infection
prevention and control; ability to impede the spread of infection and
disease. Able to lead RCAs for HAIs and implement action plans.
- Knowledge of federal, state and local healthcare related laws and
regulations; ability to comply with these in healthcare practices and
activities
- Knowledge of current professional society guidelines. Able to perform
literature reviews to support performance improvement and practice
changes.
- Ability to assess a situation from an infection prevention perspective
and recommends appropriate action within scope of responsibility to
ensure safe and quality patient care.
- Ability to recognize, develop and provide educational programs on
infection prevention for all levels of personnel to improve their
infection prevention knowledge base and practice.
- Knowledge of effective self-management practices and ability to
manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities,
making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
- Actively seeks professional growth, demonstrates professionalism, and
exhibits a good working rapport in all interpersonal interactions with
departmental staff, healthcare personnel, contract workers, patients
and visitors and community agencies.
- Strong professional, organizational and interpersonal skills for working
with teams, physicians, committees and senior management
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written), presentation style,
including the ability to concisely present data to leaders, clinicians and
staff at all levels of the organization