Infection Preventionist

003113

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Infection Preventionist to join our team, focusing on outpatient physician-based practice conversions and rounding activities. This role will play a critical part in ensuring compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) and Department of Health (DOH) regulations, maintaining the highest standards of infection prevention and control across our hospital based outpatient settings. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying risks, implementing best practices, and collaborating closely with healthcare teams to safeguard patient and staff well-being. This position reports directly to the Health System Vice President of Infection Prevention and offers an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our organizationrsquo;s infection prevention efforts.

Essential Functions

• Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.

• Collaboratively develops and implements an effective infection prevention and control program with the healthcare team. Performs ongoing surveillance utilizing the electronic medical record in order to identify hospital-associated infections following NHSN criteria, management of clusters and/or outbreaks within the facility or in the community, monitoring and oversight of sterilization and disinfection activities including all ambulatory care sites, communicable diseases (if applicable), and conduct ongoing data trend analysis

• Consults with hospital staff to provide infection control recommendations for specific patients based on their disease process and mode of transmission in order to ensure the use of appropriate precautions. Communicates changes in infection control or related practices to appropriate staff to facilitate consistent practice.

• Interprets hospital infection control policy, official recommendations and related regulations to facilitate conformance with current infection control regulatory standards.

• Provides relevant infection control resources to new and current employees in order to protect hospital staff, patients, and visitors from transmission of infection.

• Serve on selected hospital committees to act as a resource for infection control-related information to facilitate communication and make recommendations and provide updates to the Infection Control Committee.

• Identifies and reports hospital-associated infections to ensure compliance with national and state requirements (such as PA Act 52). Monitors and implements measures to maintain compliance with all regulatory agencies (CMS, TJC, PA DOH).

• Collaborates with local and state Department of Health (DOH) on public health initiatives and issues affecting our surrounding communities.

• Provides additional knowledge, support and input to identify environmental issues to reduce the risk of infections related to the environment

• Other duties as assigned

Education:

Baccalaureate degree in nursing (Active nursing license required), public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, or related field required, Masters preferred.

AND

Experience:

Previous Infection Control experience required.

Minimum Certifications, Registration or License Requirements:

Completion of the APIC training course on fundamental aspects of surveillance, prevention and control of infections within one year from date of hire or transfer (if not already a CIC). . Certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) required within 24 months from date of hire or transfer.

About Jefferson

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow#39;s professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educashy;tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.