Infection Preventionist

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center•Methuen, MA

About The Position

Established in 1980, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) is a multi-site mission-driven non-profit organization employing over 700 staff whose primary focus is providing the highest quality patient care to residents throughout the Merrimack Valley. Nationally recognized as a leader in community medicine (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, and geriatrics), GLFHC has clinical sites throughout the service area and is the sponsoring organization for the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program. GLFHC is currently seeking an Infection Preventionist to join our team. The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the infection control program. In this role, the IP will focus on the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by monitoring data, identifying risks, investigating outbreaks, and educating staff on evidence-based practices, including but not limited to hand hygiene, isolation, and cleaning protocols. The IP collaborates the Accreditation Leader, Operations, Clinical and Facilities Management teams to ensure compliance with regulations and to minimize disease spread. In this role the (IP) act as a consultant to the healthcare team and in driving quality improvement in infection control within healthcare settings. The IP provides specific oversight of infection prevention practices related to high-priority communicable diseases prevalent in community health settings, including HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted infections, and emerging infectious diseases. The IP promote a culture of safety and impact the health of patients, workers, staff, and community members.

Requirements

Working knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations and accreditation standards.
Ability to educate and evaluate infection prevention practice
Skilled collaborator with ability to work cross departmentally and influence practice related to infection prevention
Ability to lead quality assessment and improvement initiatives
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines.
Strong working knowledge of and ability to conduct data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation.
Bachelor’s Degree in an applied clinical science (Nursing, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Public Health)
Five years of relevant clinical experience for non-nurse applicants
Current professional licensure in the State of Massachusetts if appropriate to the primary discipline.
Certification in Infection Control (CIC) required.
Membership in either APIC (Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) or SHEA (Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America).

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in teaching, curriculum development, and instructions is desired.
Master’s Degree in nursing, epidemiology, public health, or related field is helpful

Responsibilities

Program Management: Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program to include policies and procedures for surveillance, pandemic preparedness, hand hygiene, standard precautions employee infection control education, employee health, outbreak management, and transmission-based precautions.
Develops, implements, and monitors disease-specific infection control plans, including TB Infection Control Plans, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plans, and respiratory protection programs.
Ensures appropriate infection prevention practices are implemented in non-traditional care settings, including mobile health units, outreach events, and shelters.
Completes an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) at least annually and revises as needed.
Develops a risk management plan as informed by the ICRA.
Collaborates with stakeholders to ensure outcomes outlined in the risk management plan are met.
Establish a routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data to identify infections, infection risks, and communicable disease outbreaks and to maintain or improve patient and staff outcomes.
Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
Contributes to surveillance activities.
Organizes data and evaluates trends, including identifying opportunities for improvement.
Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan and infection prevention policies and procedures no less than annually and as needed.
Monitors cleaning, disinfection, sterilization processes and equipment safety.
Identifies risks associated with water management, air quality, waste handling and biosafety practices.
Prepares the agenda for the Infection Control Committee and actively participates in or facilitates committee work related to risk management, safety, and quality improvement.
Works in partnership with Facilities Management team to ensure risks associated with construction is minimized.
Collaborates with the Quality and Accreditation Manager and Compliance Officer to ensure alignment in risk management and compliance strategies.
Design and Deliver Education Supports the orientation and on boarding all new staff in safe infection prevention practice based on evidence based protocols, policies, procedures and regulatory guidance.
Updates educational content as informed by evidence, regulatory guidance and internal needs of the organization.
Acts as a GLFHC subject matter expert and resource for staff, leadership and clinician community as it relates to infection prevention and control measures, including the identification of infectious disease processes.
Create a process for demonstrating and ensuring ongoing competency in infection prevention practices.
Regulatory Requirements Comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels.
Maintain current knowledge of CMS, state and federal regulatory agencies, Joint Commission, and public health guidelines as it relates to infection prevention.
Revises infection control plans, policies and procedures as regulation changes and communicates to all stakeholders.
Performance Improvement (PI): Utilizes a data driven performance management approach to identify and mitigate risk.
Consults with site medical directors, operations managers nurse managers/supervisors, and providers as needed to improve care.
Participate in ongoing quality improvement activities related to individual, team, and organizational performance improvement related to infection control.
Supporting GLFHC Employees: Participate in the development/review of occupational health policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control.
Reviews the risk of blood-borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practices for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposure to infectious diseases.
Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. i.e. needle stick injuries.
Develop (or assist with) immunization and screening programs i.e. Influenza and TB.
Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.
Initiates follow-up on employee/patient exposures to communicable diseases.
Facility Management: Participates and guides in the monthly Site Safety environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, plumbing/ventilation, food preparation/storage, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning.