Infection Preventionist Partner, Columbia, Ft, Days

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Job Summary

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is an integral member of the Clinical Care Experience department with the responsibility of operationalizing system strategy at the local level and across the continuum of care. The IP uses epidemiological principles and methods for identification and prevention of infectious diseases to patients and healthcare workers. These strategies include staff and physician in-services as well as educational tool development. The position manages, studies, and educates on all aspects of hospital functions related to surveillance, prevention of infections for all patient populations and helps to ensure the Pulse clinical operating system is implemented across the continuum of care. The position is responsible for supporting continuous Infection Prevention improvement and ensuring sustained adherence to established Pulse program elements, standard work practices, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards while partnering with Safety, Quality, Experience, Advocacy, Accreditation, Clinical Quality Data, and Risk.

The IP works collaboratively with data support specialist/analyst and the Senior Infection Preventionist to coordinate data collection and analysis and assists in the overall risk assessment of the inpatient and outpatient population. The position provides support in the implementation of guidelines, policies and initiatives. The IP is active in the identification, classification and reporting of all HAIs and when indicated, community acquired infections. The position will adhere to reporting standards as set forth by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other regulatory bodies and will enter this information accurately and timely into National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. The Infection Preventionist will work with the local and state health department to identify trends in reportable diseases.

Accountabilities

• The IP has the following responsibilities related to analysis: 1. Provides interpretation and preparation of infection prevention data for key stakeholders including clinical staff, infection prevention leadership, infection prevention committees and facility leaders. 2. Monitors data reliability and validity of the information used and submitted to third party reporting, reflecting the facility’s surveillance (i.e. NHSN) 3. Use tools and methods for improvement methodologies, including use of evidence-based tool kits and practices. 4. Participate in efforts for concurrent monitoring as needed for compliance and results based on new implementations or processes under review. 5. Collaborate with hospital epidemiologist and SME on a regular basis regarding trends in organisms and/or infections. - 5%
• Make rounds a key mechanism to conduct surveillance and communicate with team members regarding infection prevention measures, such as device necessity and maintenance. Recognize potential hazards and take appropriate actions to minimize or eliminate them. Participate in facility and department specific environment of care rounding (EOC, construction, HLD), regulatory tracers, project rounds and leader focused rounds. Conduct unit-based rounds to ensure key elements of infection prevention are consistently in place throughout the hospital. – 20%
• Follow the standards of practice that provide the IP framework and defines its specialty: surveillance, epidemiology, education, collaboration, consultation, program management, performance improvement, leadership, implementation science, research, technology, occupational health and fiscal responsibility. – 15%
• The IP has the following responsibilities related to Performance Improvement: 1. Coordinate infection prevention improvement efforts with leaders across facilities, care continuum and facility service lines of division. 2. Support all safety efforts. Role model expectations and techniques. 3. Collaborate with facility and department leaders to implement infection prevention best practices including the establishment of infection prevention related policy and procedures. 4. Facilitates and/or leads teams and performance improvement activities to enhance infection prevention efforts. 5. This role will require strong skills in team facilitation to help groups and cross functional teams collaborate to create a seamless experience across the continuum of care. 6. The Infection Prevention Partner will develop and implement trainings and participate in system level assignments as needed. All team members are always expected to be an example of Prisma Health values. – 10%
• Provides consultation on infection prevention risk assessment, prevention strategies (including activities related to occupational health, construction and emergency management). Provides consultation to patient care and other areas regarding isolation, PPE and cleaning and disinfection products and processes. The IP is charged with consultation related to clinical practice and procedures, infection prevention knowledge, surveillance and data analytics. – 10%
• Program Responsibilities: 1. Contribute to deploying the Pulse program to the organization and support evidenced based practices including High Reliability, Just Culture, and Culture of Safety concepts. Develop and participate in Infection Prevention orientation and educational endeavors, annual recurrent training, one-on-one consultations, and in-service training. 2. Implement/participate in a hospital-wide infection prevention program, surveillance reports and the maintenance of the organizations' infection prevention plan. 3. Facilitate and provide input in the annual infection prevention program risk assessment/evaluation and the establishment of goals. 4. Accept delegated authority to monitor and resolve issues related to infection prevention. 5. Facilitate Infection Prevention program compliance with the Joint Commission infection prevention standards, local, state and federal guidelines. 6. Participate in and promote antimicrobial stewardship. 7. Participate in development and maintenance of Pulse Operating System functions. 8. Support System IP team coverage as needed. - 10%
• Exposure Management: 1. Collaborate with the Employee Health Department to conduct healthcare worker exposure management. This includes exposure assessment, paperwork, counselling and facilitating proper treatment. If needed in emergency circumstances or special circumstances, an IP with an RN license has the capability of drawing blood and giving post-exposure medication. This includes exposure assessment, paperwork, counselling and facilitating proper treatment. 2. Serve as consultant to Employee Health related to infection prevention. – 5%
• The IP has the following responsibilities related to surveillance: 1. Under the direction of the Infection Prevention leadership or Senior Infection Preventionist, coordinate investigations of outbreaks, communicable disease exposures and potential transmission. 2. Identify the need for special epidemiologic studies, as well as setting standards, evaluating compliance and ensuring follow up. 3. Participate in department infection surveillance and prevention activities. 4. Carry out infection prevention standards and expectations, ongoing monitoring for timely reporting and meaningful results. 5. Reports all communicable diseases to public health officials. Obtains and reviews culture reports from laboratory. 6. Collects, organizes and analyses data. Prepares and submits reports to the Infection Prevention Committee and Team and other facility / affiliate / corporate entities as indicated. Prepares written documentation as required by the department. 7. Have general knowledge and ability to use the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) database. – 10%
• Collaborate with education, facility and department leaders to implement infection prevention best practices. Provide department based in-services based on request, new initiatives, and identified opportunities. Develop infection prevention related education programs or assist with the develop of programs that have infection prevention related elements. Serve as IP subject matter expert to facilities, engineering, safety, and contractors on indoor air quality, construction and new facility development. – 15%

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities

This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, manager, director or executive.

Minimum Requirements

• 3 years - Experience in a healthcare field. No experience in Infection Prevention required.
• Bachelor's Degree - Health-related field (e.g. medical lab technology, microbiology, etc.). Master's degree preferred. Master's in Public Health highly preferred.

Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses

• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology required within 3 years of hire

Knowledge, Skills or Abilities

• Knowledge of quality improvement measurement, analysis, and improvement strategies. - Preferred
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Highly effective oral and written communication skills to work with all levels of the organization and outside agencies. - Preferred
• Knowledge of Infection Prevention best practices. - Preferred
• Strong understanding of the infectious disease process. - Preferred

Required Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of office equipment (fax/copier)
• Basic computer skills including database and data entry
• Proficient computer skills (spreadsheets)

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

Location

5 Medical Park Rd Richland

Facility

7001 Corporate

Department

70016054 Infection Prevention

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