Infection Preventionist

UPMC•Pittsburgh, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC Mercy is hiring a full-time Infection Preventionist. The role performs surveillance to detect and prevent infections throughout the healthcare system through investigation, consultation, and education of healthcare personnel. It applies epidemiologic methods to prevent infections across the hospital through problem solving, interventions, and education. The Infection Preventionist implements the Infection Control Program based on standards established by the Infection Control Committee Administration, the applicable state Department of Health, and other regulatory bodies. The position works Monday through Friday during daylight hours and has rotating on-call requirements. It supports infection prevention and control across hospital departments, conducts surveillance and investigations, analyzes and reports infection data, and collaborates with hospital personnel, interdisciplinary teams, health departments, and regulatory agencies. It also contributes to staff, patient, and family education and to quality improvement and cost-containment initiatives.

Requirements

Two years of infection control or related relevant experience, or completion of an Infection Prevention Fellowship in lieu of the experience.
Basic computer skills.
Registered Nurses must maintain current RN licensure.
Current licensure in the state where the facility is located, or a multistate license issued by a participating Nursing Licensure Compact state when applicable. Employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who change residency to the facility's state must apply for that state's licensure within 60 days.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Epidemiology, or a related field.
Experience in data management and analysis.
Current Certified in Infection Control (CIC) certification.

Responsibilities

Facilitate implementation of infection prevention and control policies and guidelines across hospital departments in accordance with current practice standards and CDC, OSHA, TJC, and Department of Health guidelines.
Provide leadership to interdisciplinary teams addressing specific disease entities and supporting quality initiatives.
Identify infection trends through surveillance data review and interpretation; develop risk-reduction strategies and process-improvement initiatives; analyze and report surveillance findings.
Conduct construction and renovation inspections and rounds to assess compliance with applicable Department of Health requirements and identify infection-control or safety issues.
Serve on the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and represent Hospital Epidemiology on committees requiring infection prevention and control input.
Maintain professional knowledge through publications, educational programs, and professional organization activities.
Investigate infection clusters and outbreaks, identify potential sources, educate healthcare personnel on control measures, and help evaluate their effectiveness.
Carry out required infection prevention reporting, including identifying infections, reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), notifying physicians about the reporting process, and responding to questions from patients whose infections are reported.
Conduct environmental rounds as appropriate to assess compliance with applicable Department of Health, Life Safety, and TJC requirements.
Work with hospital management to identify opportunities to improve performance in preventing healthcare-associated infections and protecting employees, patients, and visitors from infectious or communicable conditions.
Liaise with local and state health departments and other healthcare facilities by reporting notifiable diseases and investigating communicable conditions.
Plan, develop, conduct, and document infection-control education for hospital personnel, patients, and families, using venues appropriate to age and education level.
Support quality services, system improvement, and cost containment by contributing to implementation of recommended initiatives.
Conduct hospital-unit surveillance for healthcare-acquired infections through electronic patient-record review, microbiological, radiological, and other laboratory data, treatment plans, and communication with hospital personnel.
Communicate and collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals, administrators, health system personnel, and local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
Document infection data in an electronic surveillance system as required by applicable state regulation.
Perform related duties as required.