Infection Preventionist

ABOUT NCH

NCH is an independent, locally governed non-profit delivering premier comprehensive care. Our healthcare system is comprised of two hospitals, an alliance of 700+ physicians, and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida that offer nationally recognized, quality health care.

NCH is transforming into an Advanced Community Healthcare System(TM) and we’re proud to: Provide higher acuity care and Centers of Excellence; Offer Graduate Medical Education and fellowships; Have endowed chairs; Conduct research and participate in national clinical trials; and partner with other health market leaders, like Hospital for Special Surgery, Encompass, and ProScan.

Join our mission to help everyone live a longer, happier, healthier life. We are committed to care and believe there's always more at NCH - for you and every person we serve together. Visit nchjobs.org to learn more.

JOB SUMMARY

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for the prevention of disease transmission to patients, families, providers and staff. The Infection Preventionist acts as a liaison and resource to the organization. Infection Preventionist is educated in the principles of hospital epidemiology and is responsible for the surveillance, analysis, and reporting of hospital acquired infections. Infection Preventionist’s facilitate practice changes based on outcome data, educate employees about infection prevention and control; and develop health system policies and procedures that reflect current practice, recent scientific evidence and high standards of care. The Infection Preventionist ensures rigorous infection prevention and control standards that meet Joint Commission, OSHA, CMS, Public Health Department, Center for Disease Control and other regulatory agencies through monitoring patient outcomes, recommending practice changes, facilitating change and observing practices for compliance and opportunities for improvement. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned.

· Applies epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target population, analyze trends and risk factors, and facilitate the design and evaluation of infection prevention and control strategies.

· Conduct concurrent, ongoing surveillance using CDC/HIPAC/NHSN infection criteria, documentation, and investigation of hospital acquired infections through review of admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, patient records, autopsy findings, post-discharge surveillance and all other methodologies appropriate to case finding and cluster identification.

· Participated in continuing educational activities at the department, state, and national levels to promote personal growth and maintain a current knowledge base of current infection and prevention and control information through peer networking, internet, published literature and professional meetings.

· Utilizes appropriate communication and data systems, participating in system upgrades and redesigns as appropriate to support all infection prevention activities.

· Demonstrates effective conflict resolution skills while interacting with customers, including staff, physicians, patients and their families, to effectively handle conflicts which result in positive outcomes.

· Develops positive and effective relationships throughout the organization to promote teamwork, compliance, and support of Infection Prevention goals and initiatives.

· Understands the continual nature of change, acts as a change agent to promote infection prevention strategies and maintains flexibility within the workflow in order to meet the needs of the organization.

· Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by actively assisting and supporting departmental activities to ensure that expenses are reduced and/or meet the annual budget.

· Utilizes strong leadership skills to communicate, defend, and support Infection Prevention initiatives. Demonstrates the ability to manage conflict and negotiate change in positive ways that meets the department’s needs and organizational goals while maintaining a safe patient environment.

· Understands and utilizes the principles and concepts of Performance Improvement while facilitating process improvement activities. Looks for opportunities for process improvement based on surveillance activities and facilitates the process in partnership with the appropriate departments and the Quality Department.

· Assess environmental control through daily and scheduled surveillance and inspection of water supply systems, ventilation, construction sites, potential blood borne pathogen exposures and isolation practices that require monitoring for high-risk environmental disease transmission.

· Creates Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRAs) as needed to support the organization’s construction goals while keeping all inhabitants occupying the affected space safe from potentially hazardous exposure to infectious diseases. Participates in construction meetings to monitor new projects and provide infection prevention interventions during project planning and implementation phases.

· Conducts annual risk assessment to determine the need for surveillance related to devices, MDROs, SSIs, CLABSIs, UTIs and any other condition epidemiologic importance to the organization. The annual Infection Prevention plan incorporates the risk assessment and surveillance activities which are designed and conducted throughout the year based on the plan. Outcomes generated from surveillance activities are communicated to the Infection Control Committee and appropriate departments through the organization to include data analysis and recommendations for process improvement activities.

· Identifies and facilitates the investigations of infection outbreaks utilizing the microbiology laboratory, designated hospital infectious disease physician, consultation with Infection Control Committee, Chief Medical Officer and other appropriate organizational leadership, county/state public health departments, and when necessary, in consultation with CDC. Reports epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate departments, leaderships and outside health agencies. Develops and facilitates action plans to stop or prevent future outbreaks. Communicates findings verbally and in writing to summarize events. Provide analysis, recommendations, and action plans implemented as well as final outcomes and future directions as needs to the Infection Control Committee, affected areas/departments and Committees as directed by the Quality Department and Medical Staff Bylaws.

· Collaborates with ED, Admitting, bed board, and nursing units to ensure appropriate patient placement to decrease the risk of disease transmission and increase patient satisfaction.

· Identifies, designs, and develops education and informational materials at the appropriate level of understanding and need for all customers served including patients, families, nursing, ancillary, and medical staff. Serves as a resource on infection prevention and control practices and policies to all customers throughout the organization.

· Provides consultation to Occupational Health for Infection Prevention issues and to identify opportunities for improvement related to employee exposure and possible disease transmission.

· Facilitates the review of existing policies and procedures with the appropriate departments, throughout the organization to define the high standard of care that providers must comply with and be knowledgeable about in order to prevent exposure and transmission of infectious diseases. Develops new policies in partnership with appropriate departments to reflect new procedures, technologies, and practices.

· Provides consultative service to the organization with 24-hours coverage, 7 days a week for IP concerns.

· Maintains current infection prevention and infectious disease information through electronic media, written sources and other resource material deemed necessary to maintain current knowledge and practice recommendations as required by all regulatory agencies.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

·A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related field is required. 

·RN or Medical Technologist candidates must have current licensure for State of Florida.

·Certification in Infection Control (CBIC) required within 3 years of date of hire

·Minimum of two years’ experience strongly preferred in infection prevention practice.

·Basic computer knowledge: ability to operate a PC, create/save/print documents, input data.