Infection Preventionist (Infection Control)

Roosevelt Care Centers•Old Bridge, NJ

18h

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist collaborates with Infection Prevention leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate the organization’s infection prevention program. The role conducts surveillance of long-term care-acquired infections using CDC National Healthcare Safety Network definitions; records and reports communicable diseases; and helps develop annual surveillance plans and risk assessments based on the populations served, services provided, and surveillance data. The Infection Preventionist applies epidemiologic principles to investigate outbreaks and implement control measures, contributes to infection prevention policies and procedures, communicates infection prevention information across the organization, and monitors compliance with sterilization, disinfection, and other infection prevention practices. The role supports infection prevention planning for construction, renovation, and maintenance projects; rounds on units to observe compliance and provide coaching; and participates in environment-of-care rounds and relevant committees. It develops and delivers education, supports regulatory and accreditation compliance, and uses performance-improvement methods to evaluate and sustain improvements in patient safety and infection prevention. Additional areas of work include occupational exposure risk assessment, collaboration with Occupational Health and public health organizations, evidence-based practice implementation, infection prevention informatics, and professional development. Weekend or second-shift work or on-call availability may be required based on department needs.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program in collaboration with Infection Prevention leadership.
Conduct surveillance of long-term care-acquired infections according to CDC NHSN definitions.
Record and report communicable diseases as required by federal, state, and local authorities.
Develop annual surveillance plans and risk assessments based on populations served, services provided, and surveillance data.
Use epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigate outbreaks and implement control measures.
Participate in developing, interpreting, and implementing infection prevention policies and procedures.
Communicate infection prevention information and data to committees, leadership, departments, and healthcare workers.
Review sterilization and disinfection policies and procedures, identify needed changes, and monitor compliance.
Assist with Infection Prevention and Control Construction Risk Assessments for construction, renovation, and maintenance projects, and monitor compliance with infection prevention recommendations.
Round on units and departments to observe compliance and provide just-in-time coaching on practices such as disinfection, hand hygiene, and PPE.
Participate in environment-of-care rounds and network or hospital-based committees as assigned.
Develop and conduct formal and informal infection prevention education; assess learning needs, set educational goals and strategies, and evaluate learner outcomes.
Facilitate compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements and stay current on applicable standards.
Use performance-improvement methods and tools to improve efficiency, reliability, effectiveness, and sustainability; monitor process and outcome measures and conduct root cause or apparent cause analyses of healthcare-associated infections.
Assess occupational infectious disease exposure risks, develop mitigation strategies, and collaborate with Occupational Health on exposure investigations and guidance for exposed team members.
Collaborate across organizational departments and with public health officials and community health organizations; involve multidisciplinary stakeholders in change efforts.
Contribute to network meetings and projects, provide direction and mentorship, share expertise, and prepare and deliver presentations to external groups.
Evaluate research and evidence-based practices, incorporate appropriate findings into practice, and develop strategies to address implementation barriers and sustain improvements.
Use infection prevention software and technology, and collaborate with IT and Data Science to create useful electronic reports.
Pursue professional development, maintain required certification and licensure if applicable, establish at least one professional goal annually, advocate for safety, and participate in a professional infection prevention organization or association.