Position Summary

 

The Infection Preventionist (IP) assumes responsibility and accountability for the surveillance, investigation, monitoring, prevention, and reporting of transmission of infectious diseases in patients and healthcare workers.  Collaborates with teams and individuals to create strategies, provide feedback, and sustain strategies to assure a safe environment.   Provides cost effective services by appropriate utilization of resources.  Using sound epidemiological principles and evidence-based practices, collects and analyzes data and identifies risk factors associated with disease transmission.   Manages and analyzes an accurate data base of hospital associated infections as described by state

 and federal regulations with a financial impact on reimbursement based on quality outcomes.  Excellent oral and written communication skills and analytical abilities are essential.   Creates or facilitates process improvements to reduce infection risk.  Collaborates to create and revise policy, effect culture change and promote innovation in use of informatics and provision of care.  Integrates the prevention of infection into all facets of the hospital environment.

 

Minimum Requirements

 

Education         

Bachelor’s degree required (or in process with established completion date)

Experience        

2 years in healthcare or public health

License/Registration/Certifications        

RN, RT, or MT

 

Preferred Requirements

 

Preferred Education     

N/A

 

Preferred Experience    

N/A

 

Preferred License/Registration/Certifications    

Certification in Infection Prevention by CBIC

 

Core Job Responsibilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program implementation:

Based on the Infection Prevention Plan, collaborates with leadership to create and implement a facility specific Infection Prevention Program aimed at reduction of infection risks.  Program implementation includes aspects of surveillance and data analysis, providing evidence-based and expert guideline foundations for education and policy development and compliance, dissemination of appropriate feedback to customers, collaboration with stakeholders, leading or facilitating process improvements or culture changes, seeking and promoting new and innovative use of informatics and remaining cognizant of the fiscal impact of outcomes and of the program components. Completes applicable Infection Prevention Risk Assessments as assigned and as indicated Develops improvement goals that align with healthcare system strategic goals and Infection Prevention department goals, using risk assessments and benchmarks as a basis.   Measures, analyzes, and provides continuous feedback on progress toward goals. Serves in various roles as assigned, as participates, evaluators, leaders, or subject matter experts for emergency responses by the facility or the healthcare system.   Examples include but are not limited to catastrophic disruptions of environmental safety (water, power, HVAC), outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics, or response to epidemiologically significant infectious diseases.

Surveillance: Demonstrates expertise in data collection and analysis, report summaries and data presentation. Collaborates with leadership to develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data. Evaluates and modifies the surveillance plan as necessary Utilizes epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations. Uses a variety of methods for case findings, i.e. data mining, automated alerts, and triggers, rounding, staff and clinician communication. Conducts detailed investigations when surveillance data indicates and/or when requested by customers.  Leads multidisciplinary reviews to determine root causes, defects, or trends, and incorporates findings into actions. Maintains timely feedback of healthcare infections data into internal quality dashboards. Fluent in National Healthcare Safety Network. Investigates, analyzes, and reports targeted surveillance outcomes, internally and externally. Maintains current knowledge of mandatory reporting requirements for state and federal entities.

Education: Assesses and addresses learning needs of those served. Creates educational goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and educational tools and technology. Evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes. Educates personnel through orientation, inservice, impromptu training and formal presentation. Bases education content on evidence-based guidelines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulatory:

Proactively assesses regulatory and accreditation standards for changes.  Complies with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels. Facilitates compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. Collaborates with regulatory managers in the survey process to include interviews, audits, action plan development and follow up as directed by regulatory managers. Develops, interprets, and assists with implementation of infection prevention policies and protocols. Reviews, revises, or provides input on new policies for other disciplines with an impact to infection prevention. Collaborates with Facilities and Safety to maintain current policies and associated documentation on construction, renovation, and maintenance projects. Delivers guidance on certain construction projects and rounds routinely on certain projects to ensure compliance with infection prevention measures.

Performance Improvement (PI): Facilitates and/or participates in performance initiatives. Trains in process improvement strategies such as Six Sigma as a means of enacting change. Utilizes appropriate PI tools to aid in efficiency, reliability, effectiveness and ensure sustainability of the initiative. Considers customer needs in the development of and continuous improvement of processes, products, and services. Monitors and analyzes process and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability. Serves as subject matter expert using evidence-based guidelines, standards, and scientific literature to guide patient care policies and practices across the continuum of care. Leads or facilitates work groups and committees to develop action plans based on data or case investigations. Demonstrates problem solving skills overcome barriers, resolve conflicts, and meet customer needs.

Communication: Communicates infection prevention information and data to committees and workers across the organization. Serves as the liaison between the healthcare system and other facilities and the Department of Health and Environmental Control for infectious disease reporting, health alerts and emerging disease threats. Provides on-call services to internal and external customers in a 24/7 revolving schedule. Provides expert input on new or applicable products related to prevention of infection. Rounds regularly and frequently in areas of responsibility, providing immediate intervention and summarizes findings as feedback to leadership. Employs multidisciplinary teams to ensure changes are vetted by all stakeholder groups.

Employee Health Collaboration: Serves as a resource and subject matter expert on healthcare worker infectious disease exposures. Active in the system’s sharps safety program, promotes Safe Injection Practices, assists with Ryan White notifications and safety device selection.  Manages non-associate exposures should they occur.
 

 

 

 

Professional Growth:

Maintains current knowledge base by training courses, educational opportunities, literature review and research, workshops, seminars, and conferences. Actively participates in an infection prevention professional organization (committees, attends regional meetings). Demonstrates growth by leadership in professional organizations. Maintains certification and licensure requirements. Establishes at least 1 professional goal per year.

Leadership: Utilizes principles of influence and change management. Works collaboratively with others, providing direction when necessary. Readily shares knowledge and expertise. Mentors less experienced colleagues. Prepares and delivers infection prevention presentations to external groups.

Research and Implementation Science: Evaluates research and evidence-based practices and incorporates findings into routine practice. Integrates evidence-based practices into policies, guidelines, protocols, and educational strategies. Identifies barriers for implementation and develops strategies to minimize or remove barriers. Implements strategies to sustain efforts such as audit tools and meaningful feedback.

Informatics: Expert in Epic infection Prevention software, communicates needs, maintains current knowledge of functionality and validity of data within that system. Competent in routine business/office software such as Microsoft products. Collaborates with informatics/IT to create meaningful electronic reports to enhance infection prevention initiatives.

Fiscal Responsibility: Constantly seeks to reduce financial impact of healthcare associated infections due to penalties and reimbursement reductions by prevention measures and accurate identification of infections acquired during hospital care.  Considers cost, benefits, and efficacy as well as safety implications and clinical outcomes in recommendations, evaluation of technology and products, and development of policies and procedures. Incorporates cost avoidance by infection reduction into surveillance reports.