Infection Control

PACS•New York, NY

About The Position

The Infection Control role plans, develops, organizes, implements, evaluates, coordinates, and directs the facility’s infection control program in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines for nursing care facilities. The position ensures compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local infection control requirements, including standard and universal precautions, and maintains and updates infection control precautions and aseptic techniques to address identified problem areas. The role monitors infection control practices throughout the facility, conducts rounds and visits to isolated residents, reviews environmental sanitation and isolation practices, and supports laboratory services and infection-related care planning. It oversees sterilization, decontamination, and disposal procedures; tracks infections and investigations; and prepares reports and recommendations for facility leadership. The position also works with nursing, laundry, environmental services, and discharge planning staff to develop and implement infection control procedures and plans. It participates in government surveys, supports facility TB management, reports reportable diseases to health departments, and performs related administrative documentation.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct the facility’s infection control program in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.
Ensure compliance with current CDC, OSHA, and local infection control requirements, including standard and universal precautions.
Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control precautions and aseptic techniques to correct problem areas.
Interpret infection control policies and procedures as needed.
Maintain a reference library of written infection control materials to support the day-to-day needs of isolated residents.
Prepare written and oral reports and recommendations for the Administrator concerning the infection control program.
Help departments evaluate and classify routine and job-related functions to identify tasks involving exposure to blood or body fluids.
Monitor infection control practices to ensure personnel follow procedures for tasks involving exposure to blood or body fluids.
Conduct rounds on nursing units for case finding, environmental sanitation review, and supervision of isolation precautions and practices.
Visit isolated residents as necessary to ensure established isolation precautions and aseptic techniques are followed.
Ensure laboratory support is available, including microbiological and serological services.
Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services on care plans and aseptic techniques.
Help develop and implement guidelines for facility decontamination and sterilization activities.
Periodically test prepared sterile packs, bundles, supplies, and sterilization equipment.
Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility and arrange for reprocessing as necessary.
Ensure personnel follow procedures for disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials.
Prepare monthly summaries of resident and personnel infections, corrective actions, and results, and submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services.
Prepare summaries of special investigations into nosocomial and community-acquired infections.
Provide the Director of Nursing Services with findings and recommendations concerning nosocomial infection.
Maintain written records of residents and employees with nosocomial infections.
Participate in surveys for possible carriers among residents and personnel and trace possible infection sources within the facility.
Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for clean and soiled laundry and linen, and equipment cleaning.
Assist the Director of Environmental Services in developing infection control procedures for routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas and for equipment cleaning.
Participate in surveys or inspections by authorized government agencies as necessary or directed.
Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing and implementing discharge plans for residents in isolation or under infection control precautions.
Assist with development and implementation of a facility-wide TB management control program.
Report reportable diseases to county and state health departments.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, and charting.