Senior Infection Prevention and Control Specialist

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Senior Infection Prevention and Control Specialist - Infection Control (1.0 FTE, Days)

At Stanford Children’s Health, we know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That's why we combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care. It's why we provide our caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. And it's why we need caring, committed people on our team - like you. Join us on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time.

Job Summary

This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.

The Senior Infection Prevention and Control Specialist (Sr IPCS), collaborates with the manager and director in the planning, development and evaluation of the goals, standards, policies and procedures of an integrated hospital-wide Infection Control Program to ensure rigorous and reliable infection control standards that meet Joint Commission, Cal OSHA, Department of Public Health (local and state) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and requirements; provides evidence-based analysis, reporting, and recommendations to leadership for the prevention and control of hospital acquired infections; provides leadership and facilitation of multidisciplinary teams in comprehensive response to significant IC outbreaks, exposure, product recalls or other emergency events under guidance of IC manager and director; leads and mentors others in apparent cause analysis to identify modifiable risk factors and other infection prevention opportunities; serves as a thought leader and subject matter expert for infection prevention and control.

Essential Functions

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital’s policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct.

Leads and participates in committees and task forces. Collaborates with the health department and public agencies in complying with any problems related to outbreaks, exposures, and the control of communicable diseases and to communicate new information to personnel in a timely manner.

Serves as a member of, helps prepare for, and presents at the Infection Prevention and Control Committee

Follows the departments standard operating procedures to ensure quality and interrater reliability of surveillance and environmental rounding assignments. Recommends improvements and enhancements to SOPs to improve effectiveness and efficiency of workflows to IPC leadership.

Develops and presents formal and informal education related to specific and complex principles of infection prevention and control

Demonstrates understanding of high reliability principles through use of tools, and behaviors that promote patient safety to perform a wide range of prevention and control functions

Conducts infection control rounds, collects and analyzes data to support IC practices and regulatory compliance of assigned patient care departments. Leads or participates in local HAI improvement initiatives, collaborates with quality advisors, and provide summary updates and recommendations to the local unit or department regularly.

Follows the departments standard operating procedures to ensure quality and interrater reliability of surveillance and environmental rounding assignments. Recommends improvements and enhancements to SOPs to improve effectiveness and efficiency of workflows to IPC leadership.

Assesses and approves construction infection control risk assessments (ICRA) for larger capital, and multi-phase projects; reviews and advises on design, construction planning, performance to risk mitigations and relationship with the construction and contractor. Seeks endorsement from IPC Manager/Director for key design or planning decisions. Collaborates with Infection Control Specialists to round and assess compliance for ICRAs, escalating issues or trends of concern. Interprets air sampling, works with medical director to approve results as appropriate.

Independently conducts, facilitates, develops and monitors activities and functions relating to clinical and environmental surveillance, investigation, analysis, interpretation, reporting, prevention and control of infections and communicable diseases. Responds to CDC or other regulatory requests as appropriate. Presents pertinent summary information and recommendations to IPC leadership, IPC medical directors, IPCC and other venues as requested.

Conducts formal IC risk assessments, including review, research and recommendations for leadership endorsement.

Responsible for facilitating and providing leadership to outbreak, recall, significant infection control events and near misses; conducts peer and literature reviews, uses evidence-based epidemiologic tools and approaches, and collaborates with the IPC team. Develops action plans in collaboration with operational areas, IPC leadership/med directors and local/state/CDC public health as appropriate. Documents timeline and evidence of steps and decisions made and seeks support and endorsement of major decisions from IPC leadership and medical directors. Provides regular updates on investigation and response to leadership. Completes formal summary report of investigation, findings and lessons learned.

Directly partners with and supports various focused elective and educational opportunities, such as with PharmD and MDs during their IPC elective and related project work execution.

In conjunction with IPC Manager, supports EPIC surveillance module optimization with clinical informaticist. Validates data, ensures reports are in alignment with regulatory requirements. Collaborates with Information Systems (IS), Clinical Informatics and Analytics and Clinical Effectiveness teams to identify strategies to maximize and improve infection prevention and control efforts through use of data from the EMR and other digital information systems.

Analyzes data at organizational level, makes recommendations and presents findings. Seeks endorsement and moves into improvement work as appropriate.

Supports onboarding and mentorship of other IPC staff, provides guidance, utilizes their support and coaches in more technically skilled IC work.

Keeps informed of new developments in infection control by regularly reviewing current literature and attending seminars, conferences, or workshops on topics pertinent to infection prevention. Involved in IC professional organizations at local, regional, national level. Develops and submits at least one abstract to a national conference each year. Pursues research and seeks to publish work.

May serve as back-up to IPC Director and Manager to the HICS Hospital Command Center Medical Technical Specialist- IPC Role during hospital incidents/ events as assigned

Assists with development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and revision of Infection Prevention and Control Program goals, standards, policies and procedures

Evaluates patient care environments and facility services for infection control practices and hazards as needed; conducts ongoing surveillance of nosocomial infection as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by reviewing microbiology laboratory results, medical records, and consultation with staff.

Instigates and leads Infection Prevention and Control research and participates as needed, in collaborative.

In conjunction with IPC Manager, leads development and review of Infection Prevention and Control Standards of Care Policy and Procedure manuals

Participates in 365/24/7 Pager On-call task assignment rotation with the Infection Prevention and Control Specialists, answering calls and pages during the days, nights, weekends and holidays assigned. During pager assignment, is available to return calls and pages quickly and is physically located within 1 hour travel distance of the hospital facility to respond emergently as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

Experience : Five (5) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience in the field of infection prevention or quality and patient safety.

Licensure/Certification : Certified in Infection Control (CIC)

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or licensure/certification. 

Knowledge of and expertise in microbiology, epidemiology, statistics, sterilization and disinfection, infectious diseases, antibiotic usage, and clinical practice.

Knowledge of current theories, principles, practices, standards, emerging technologies, techniques, and approaches in the health care system.

Ability to conduct analysis and formulate conclusions.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to make effective oral presentations and prepare concise written reports to a variety of audiences, including hospital leaders.

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, work independently and meet deadlines.

Ability to foster effective working relationships and build consensus.

Ability to use judgment and make sound decisions.

Ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. 

Pay Range

Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.

Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.

Minimum to Midpoint Range (1.0 FTE): $129,792.00 to $172,099.20

Equal Opportunity Employer

L ucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, LPCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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