Infection Preventionist

Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center is a 384-bed not-for-profit Level 2 Trauma Center located in Carmichael California. We have served north Sacramento County as well as south Placer County for over 50 years. Our facility is one of the area's largest medical centers and also one of the most comprehensive. Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to community well-being; providing excellent patient care to all. Mercy San Juan Medical Center is a Comprehensive Stroke Center as well as a Spine Center of Excellence. We are proud recipients of the Perinatal Care Certificate of Excellence and a Certificate of Excellence for Hip and Knee Replacements.

One Community. One Mission. One California

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).

• 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.
• 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.
• Identifies and implements updates to the Infection Prevention Program when new regulations and/or professional guidelines are published.

Education and Experience:

• 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.

Licensure:

• 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