80% Infection Preventionist, Quality Improvement Program

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Improvement Program at UI Health Care is seeking an 80% Infection Preventionist (typically working 32 hours/week) to develop, coordinate and supervise activities for the Program of Hospital Epidemiology (PHE) and other assigned concurrent quality management activities in the Quality Improvement Program. This role provides leadership in epidemiology and infection control for patients, staff, visitors, and students throughout the hospital. The position involves investigating outbreaks, communicable disease exposures, and potential transmissions, as well as monitoring and reporting communicable diseases to public health departments. The Infection Preventionist will ensure relevant staff are notified of investigations, outbreaks, and exposures, and will conduct concurrent infection control surveillance to develop appropriate interventions. They will also help implement and evaluate guidelines, teach and evaluate isolation techniques and Standard Precautions, and translate epidemiology data. The role includes making rounds on patient care areas and clinics, identifying and responding to consultation needs, and developing and conducting educational programs for hospital staff on infection prevention, control, safety, and employee health. Participation in advanced training programs and support for the Iowa Statewide Epidemiology Education and Consultation Outreach Program is expected. The position provides administrative assistance to leadership and serves in an advisory capacity for infection control inquiries. Consultation and direction are provided for patient care practices, environmental cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. The role involves participating in the review and update of the UI Health Care Infection Prevention SharePoint site and related policies, and assisting with communication with regulatory agencies like the Joint Commission. Consultation is also provided for regulatory compliance, construction issues, emergency and surge planning, and maintenance of infection prevention and patient safety strategies. The position shares responsibility for on-call coverage for the Program of Hospital Epidemiology, including evenings and weekends. Special assignments may be delegated by leadership. The role also participates in hiring, training, and providing functional supervision of professional and support staff.

Requirements

A master’s degree in a healthcare related field with 1-3 years’ experience in infection prevention or a related field (including clinical care), OR a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare related field with 3-5 years’ experience in infection prevention or a related field (including clinical care), OR an equivalent amount of education and experience is required.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Power Point and Excel
Demonstrated excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree in Nursing
A current Iowa RN license

Responsibilities

Provides leadership in epidemiology and infection control for patients, staff, visitors, and students throughout the hospital.
Investigates outbreaks, communicable disease exposures, and potential transmissions.
Monitors and reports communicable diseases to the Iowa Department of Public Health and Johnson County Health Department.
Ensures that chiefs, administrative nursing staff, and support service staff are notified of investigations, outbreaks, and exposures.
Conducts concurrent infection control surveillance and uses surveillance data to develop appropriate interventions.
Helps implement guidelines and evaluates practice to ensure that guidelines are applied consistently.
Teaches and evaluates isolation techniques and Standard Precautions.
Translates and interprets epidemiology data and assists with program's evaluation of consistent application of guidelines.
Makes rounds on patient care areas and clinics at the request of a service.
Identifies and/or responds to needs for consultation about emergency or recurrent problems that need to be resolved.
Develops and conducts educational programs for hospital staff including in-service training programs about infection prevention, control, safety, and employee health for patients and staff.
Participates in education and training of staff, fellows, and students in epidemiology surveillance methodologies.
Participates in the annual Iowa Infection Control Seminar, and other advanced programs.
Provides support to the Iowa Statewide Epidemiology Education and Consultation Outreach Program.
Provides administrative assistance to the Lead Infection Preventionist, the Director of the Quality Improvement Program, the Hospital Epidemiologist, the Associate Hospital Epidemiologist, and the Infection Control Work Group on matters relating to infection control.
Serves in an advisory, resource capacity to inquiries related to infection control and the program's activities and maintains current resource files.
Provides consultation, direction and resources to assist in the development of the policies and procedures for patient care practices, environmental cleaning and sanitation, disinfection and sterilization.
Participates in review, update, and maintenance functions for the UI Health Care Infection Prevention SharePoint site and related policies.
Participates and assists with communication between the UI Health Care and selected regulatory agencies, e.g., the Joint Commission, as they relate to PHE programs.
Provides consultation and direction for patient care areas and clinics at the request of a service for regulatory compliance, construction issues, emergency and surge planning, maintenance of infection prevention and patient safety strategies, and during emergent or existing and ongoing issues.
Mutually responsible for providing on-call coverage for the Program of Hospital Epidemiology as assigned.
Assumes special assignments as delegated by the Lead Infection Preventionist, the Director of the Quality Improvement Program, the Hospital Epidemiologist, or the Chief Quality Officer.
Participates in hiring of professional and support staff.
Trains and provides functional supervision of professional and support staff in processes necessary to conduct departmental activities.