Infection Prevention Specialist I

Health Research, Inc. • Central Islip, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Infection Prevention Specialist I will be assigned to the Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control (HEIC) to perform a broad range of epidemiological and surveillance activities necessary to identify and control healthcare-associated infections in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. The incumbent will provide epidemiology and infection control guidance in the reporting, investigation, diagnosis, prevention, and control of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) to healthcare professionals, including infection control staff, physicians, nurses, and other state and local health department representatives. The incumbent will also be responsible for monitoring overall infection control capability in, and providing enhanced guidance to Article-28 healthcare facilities; providing technical guidance related to developing and implementing Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) quality improvement and performance management activities; developing internal and external guidance, and serving as a key liaison and point of contact with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate efforts to investigate, control, and evaluate outbreaks and other reportable HAIs. The incumbent may be required to supervise other staff members.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Nursing, Biostatistics, Biology, Epidemiology or a related field and four years of experience in healthcare epidemiology and/or infection control, and/or healthcare associated infection surveillance and/or communicable disease epidemiology
• OR a Master's degree in a related field and three years of such experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a related field and one year of such experience.
• Valid and unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S. is required.
• Must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the official work location specified in the job posting and must also be located in or willing to relocate to one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, or Massachusetts, prior to hire.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree in public health or nursing.
• At least three years of work experience in healthcare-associated infection surveillance and/or as a healthcare facility infection preventionist.
• Experience with infection control in nursing homes, conducting research or quality improvement projects to reduce healthcare-associated infections, providing technical assistance and training to healthcare providers, and presenting to professional/scientific audiences
• Current certification in infection control (CIC)
• Strong organizational and analytic skills
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills delivering presentations to various audiences.
• Experience interpreting data and/or conducting data analysis using epidemiological principles and methodologies.
• Experience in utilizing health-related data sets or disease registries and working with confidential data.
• Experience using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
• Experience with information technology and systems used for electronic public health reporting.
• Supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform a broad range of epidemiological and surveillance activities necessary to identify and control healthcare-associated infections in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.
• Provide epidemiology and infection control guidance in the reporting, investigation, diagnosis, prevention, and control of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) to healthcare professionals, including infection control staff, physicians, nurses, and other state and local health department representatives.
• Monitor overall infection control capability in, and provide enhanced guidance to Article-28 healthcare facilities.
• Provide technical guidance related to developing and implementing Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) quality improvement and performance management activities.
• Develop internal and external guidance.
• Serve as a key liaison and point of contact with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate efforts to investigate, control, and evaluate outbreaks and other reportable HAIs.
• Supervise other staff members.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Flexible benefit accounts - Medical, dependent care, adoption assistance, parking and transit
• Generous paid time off - Paid federal and state holidays, paid sick, vacation and personal leave
• Tuition support
• Retirement Benefits - HRI is a participating employer in the New York State and Local Retirement System and offers optional enrollment in the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Postretirement Health Benefits Plan for qualified retirees to use towards health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses
• Employee Assistance Program - Provides educational and wellness programs, training, and 24/7 confidential services to assist employees, both personally and professionally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level