Infection Preventionist II

UChicago Medicine•Chicago, IL

8d•$111,780 - $130,410•Onsite

About The Position

UChicago Medicine is seeking an Infection Preventionist II for its Infection Control department. This is an on-site position with opportunities for remote work; the employee must be based in the greater Chicagoland area. The Infection Preventionist works with the hospital epidemiologist, infection prevention and control program members, hospital administration, providers, and staff to develop and implement the hospital-wide infection prevention and control program. The role investigates infection problems and outbreaks; develops infection prevention policies and procedures; performs unit- and laboratory-based surveillance; identifies and follows up on significant pathogens, including performing pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; manages projects and process improvements; and educates hospital personnel. The position also contributes to program evaluation and improvement, professional development, and dissemination of relevant infection-control information. The job is full time (1.0 FTE), on the day shift, at the Hyde Park location on a rotational basis. When on call, the employee must be able to respond to a page or telephone call and report to the hospitals within one hour if needed.

Requirements

Current Illinois RN licensure; or MLS (ASCP) certification as a medical laboratory scientist or equivalent with at least three years of microbiology experience; or a master's degree in public health.
At least three years of work experience in an acute care setting or health-related field, such as direct patient care, clinical or laboratory research, epidemiology, or infectious disease.
Ability to identify common bacterial and fungal pathogens, perform basic laboratory procedures accurately, and critically evaluate laboratory and clinical methods, procedures, and results.
Ability to work independently to collect and critically evaluate information to characterize and manage infection problems.
Ability to identify appropriate approaches to problems and questions and determine when to seek outside or more senior advice.
Ability to work under pressure and remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to identify and evaluate situations that place patients or staff at immediate infection risk and formulate and implement timely interventions to reduce that risk.
Strong oral and written interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work with senior management, directors, medical staff, employees at all organizational levels, and external parties.
Excellent computer skills, including advanced use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Understanding of basic epidemiologic methods and statistics.
Within the first 12 months, develop working knowledge of patient care practices; asepsis, disinfection, and sterilization; adult education principles; epidemiology and disease transmission; surveillance techniques; statistical methods used in infection prevention and control; occupational health issues related to infection prevention and control; performance measurement; and improvement principles.

Responsibilities

Conduct routine surveillance to detect hospital-associated infections and outbreaks.
Collect and analyze clinical and laboratory data to detect and characterize infections as community-associated or hospital-associated.
Collaborate with peers and clinical laboratory staff to identify, investigate, and resolve hospital-acquired infections.
Analyze data and prepare reports, including charts, tables, and graphs, about hospital-related outbreaks.
Present educational programs on hospital infection control to hospital personnel using adult learning principles.
Provide timely written and verbal reports of surveillance findings, investigations, and inquiries; ensure recommendations are implemented and problems are resolved.
Oversee planning, design, implementation, and completion of small- to medium-sized projects with supervisor support.
Execute project plans and provide daily support to advance large strategic initiatives with leadership support.
Maintain competency and continued education in infection prevention and control by reviewing current literature and seeking new standards and regulations.
Attend relevant local and national workshops, conferences, and seminars, and disseminate relevant information to staff.
Prepare and present scientific findings at local or national meetings.
Evaluate the Infection Prevention and Control Program and propose modifications to its procedures and goals when necessary.
After two full years working as an Infection Preventionist II at UCM, strive to obtain certification in Infection Control from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Respond to on-call pages or telephone calls and, if needed, report to the hospitals within one hour; complete investigations or resolve on-call concerns in a time-sensitive manner.