Infection Preventionist - Occassional

Mohawk Valley Health System • City of Utica, NY

122d • $34 - $59

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist I is responsible for the prevention, identification, investigation, reporting, and control of health care associated infections (HAI) and of the day-to-day infection prevention activities for any designated healthcare facility, clinic and healthcare service throughout the continuum of care for Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). Works under the direction of the Director of Infection Prevention.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in a health related field or equivalent experience.
• 3 years of experience in health care in either Nursing, Microbiology, Public Health, or Medical Technology.
• Able to apply critical thinking skills.
• Able to collaborate effectively to promote positive working relationships.
• Effective communication skills; ability to interact with diverse groups, fostering collaboration and collegiality.
• Comfortable presenting educational programs to a diverse audience.
• Articulates comfort in the provision of guidance, advice and assistance in problem resolution to render safe patient outcomes.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Incorporate infection prevention activities that are specific to the practice setting and the population served.
• Conduct surveillance for healthcare associated infections using standardized, reproducible criteria aimed at improving safety and quality of care.
• Apply epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance through basic case finding methods and application of standardized criteria for the identification and classification of events, indicators, or outcomes.
• Utilize basic information technology and systems applications necessary to perform responsibilities.
• Interpret diagnostic and laboratory reports, identifies appropriate practices for specimen collection, and differentiates between colonization, infection, and contamination.
• Apply basic statistical techniques to describe data and benchmark against acceptable standards.
• Report epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Report communicable diseases and HAIs per federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate and monitor environmental cleaning and disinfection practices.
• Assist with outbreak investigations.
• Use data to identify the need for change and implement basic intervention/improvement projects.
• Integrate pertinent regulatory requirements into practice.
• Assist in designing and presenting educational programs to enhance infection prevention/patient safety.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree