Full-time Infection Preventionist, Quality Improvement Program

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Improvement Program at UI Health Care is seeking a full-time Infection Preventionist 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. Responsibilities include investigating outbreaks, monitoring and reporting communicable diseases, and ensuring notification of relevant staff. The position conducts concurrent infection control surveillance, uses data to develop interventions, helps implement guidelines, and evaluates practice for consistent application. It also involves teaching and evaluating isolation techniques, interpreting epidemiology data, making rounds on patient care areas, and responding to consultation needs for emergency or recurrent problems. The Infection Preventionist develops and conducts educational programs for hospital staff, participates in training for staff, fellows, and students in epidemiology surveillance methodologies, and supports the Iowa Statewide Epidemiology Education and Consultation Outreach Program. Additionally, the role provides administrative assistance to leadership, serves as an advisory resource for infection control inquiries, assists in developing policies and procedures, maintains the UI Health Care Infection Prevention SharePoint site, and helps with communication between UI Health Care and regulatory agencies. The position also provides consultation for regulatory compliance, construction issues, emergency planning, and patient safety strategies, and is mutually responsible for providing on-call coverage.

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

Develop, coordinate and supervise activities for the Program of Hospital Epidemiology (PHE) and other assigned concurrent quality management activities in the Quality Improvement Program
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