Infection Preventionist

South Shore Health•Weymouth, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist (IP) identifies, investigates, monitors, and reports health-care infections. The IP works with teams and individuals to develop infection prevention strategies, provide feedback, and sustain those strategies. The role supports the organizational infection prevention program through surveillance, policy implementation, education, regulatory compliance, performance improvement, employee health support, collaboration, leadership, research implementation, informatics, and fiscal evaluation. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; start and end times may vary depending on department needs. The role has an on-call requirement.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, or a related science.
Completion of a basic infection prevention and control training program, which may include on-the-job training.
Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) within 2.5 years after employment.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Collaboration skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines.
Conflict-resolution skills.
Program and project management skills.
Expertise in data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation.
Leadership skills.
Demonstrated proficiency with pertinent computer software.

Nice To Haves

Registered Nurse (RN) license preferred.
BSN or MSN preferred.
Five years of clinical experience preferred.
EPIC proficiency preferred.

Responsibilities

Work with the IP team to develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program.
Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the populations served, services provided, and surveillance data; conduct surveillance and investigations using epidemiologic principles; and evaluate and modify the plan as needed.
Assist with implementing infection prevention and control policies and protocols and communicate them across the organization.
Communicate infection prevention and control information and data to assigned committees and healthcare workers.
Assess learning needs; set educational goals, objectives, and strategies; develop education plans with the CPDS team; deliver education; and evaluate program effectiveness and learner outcomes.
Comply with local, state, and federal regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements and assist with audits for regulatory and accreditation compliance.
Stay current on infection prevention and control regulatory and accreditation standards.
Use quality management methodology to enact change; monitor, audit, and analyze process and outcome measures; and participate in quality management committees, teams, and initiatives as indicated.
Review Employee Health policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control, assess occupational infectious-disease exposure risks, and understand work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or exposures.
Pursue professional growth, maintain certification and licensure requirements, establish at least one professional goal each year, advocate for patient and healthcare worker safety, and participate in an infection prevention and control professional organization or association such as APIC.
Consult and collaborate with public health officials and community health organizations, and involve multidisciplinary teams in reviewing proposed changes.
Apply influence, leadership, and change-management principles; share expertise; provide direction when necessary; mentor less-experienced healthcare providers; and prepare and deliver infection prevention presentations.
Critically evaluate research and evidence-based practices, incorporate appropriate findings into practice and policies, identify implementation barriers, and develop strategies to overcome barriers and sustain improvements.
Use infection prevention software and other technology and collaborate with IT to create useful electronic reports.
Consider financial, safety, and clinical implications when evaluating recommendations, technology, products, policies, and procedures; systematically assess costs, benefits, and efficacy; and include fiscal assessments in program evaluations or reports.