Infection Preventionist I

WellSpan Health•Lewisburg, PA

About The Position

Performs infection prevention and control activities across the System, including surveillance, data collection and analysis, and implementation of infection prevention interventions. Serves as a resource to patients, families, the Department of Health, and system healthcare providers, and implements and sustains infection prevention strategies. Collaborates with professionals to improve patient care and safety through evidence-based practices. Conducts healthcare-associated infection surveillance, analyzes and shares findings, identifies opportunities to improve patient and healthcare worker safety, and evaluates practices and products for efficacy and cost control. Develops and evaluates education for staff and students and educational resources for patients and families. Manages appropriate infection prevention projects and contributes to research and investigations using epidemiological principles. Reports data to regulatory agencies as required; develops, reviews, and revises evidence-based infection prevention policies; participates in safety education, risk reduction projects, and root cause analyses; and maintains required documentation and professional competency. Supports organizational compliance, privacy, quality, safety, environmental, and infection control standards, as well as professional growth and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field, such as nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, or medical technology.
At least 1 year of experience in nursing or another healthcare-related field.
Certification in Infection Prevention and Control within 4 years.

Nice To Haves

Registered Nurse license upon hire.

Responsibilities

Maintain competence in the area of expertise.
Collaborate with professionals to improve patient care and safety using evidence-based infection prevention and control practices.
Perform surveillance for healthcare-associated infections.
Compile and analyze healthcare-associated infection data and disseminate findings to improve patient safety across the continuum of care.
Identify opportunities to improve patient and healthcare worker safety based on surveillance activities.
Act as a resource and role model.
Evaluate practices and products for efficacy and control costs by eliminating practices proven ineffective.
Develop, implement, and evaluate education programs for staff and students, and educational resources for patients and families.
Manage infection prevention-related projects as appropriate.
Contribute knowledge to infection prevention by initiating or participating in research as appropriate.
Use epidemiological principles to conduct investigations.
Prepare and maintain written documentation required by the profession and department.
Provide outstanding customer service, foster teamwork, and practice fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.
Report data to regulatory agencies as required.
Develop, review, and revise infection prevention and control policies using evidence-based models, and advocate for continuous improvement and increased safety.
Participate in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
Use risk assessment concepts to participate in projects guiding infection prevention and control risk-reduction strategies.
Maintain competency in routine surveillance activities and outbreak investigations.
Ensure established procedures and internal workflows are used consistently.
Maintain established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
Pursue advanced or continuing education to maintain current knowledge, skills, and competencies.
Perform other related duties as identified.
Support WellSpan Health’s compliance program, organizational values, professionalism, integrity, ethics, and performance expectations.
Safeguard patient information and business and operational information in accordance with the privacy program.