Infection Preventionist

Saint Francis Health System

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Contributes to the development and performs activities that support the system-wide Infection Control Plan. Conducts activities that coordinate with organizational quality improvement efforts and contribute to provision of a safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. Insures compliance with local, state and federal regulations regarding infection control activities and reporting of communicable diseases.

Requirements

Has completed the basic professional curricula of a school of nursing as approved and verified by a state board of nursing, and holds or is entitled to hold a diploma or degree therefrom; or Bachelor of Science in Biology, Microbiology, and/or Medical Technology, Master of Public Health, Epidemiology, and/or Environmental Science.
RN preferred. If RN, valid multi-state or State of Oklahoma Registered Nurse License is required.
1 - 2 years related experience.
Basic understanding of microbiology and infectious diseases.
Fundamental knowledge of epidemiology and statistics.
Familiar with quality improvement strategies and tools.
Working knowledge of computer operation and basic software applications.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, make judgments and decisions, be detail oriented and able to meet deadlines.
Effective interpersonal skills, good written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

Contributes to the development of a comprehensive, system wide, infection control plan that coordinates with organizational quality improvement efforts.
Performs surveillance activities that monitor patient outcomes and facilitate meeting defined plan goals.
Analyzes data gathered to identify patterns and trends.
Prepares and presents periodic reports of analyzed data; identifies variance from baseline surveillance data and recognizes statistical significance of such variance.
Contributes to the development and facilitates implementation of corrective actions; monitors intervention outcomes for effectiveness as indicated.
Recognizes sentinel events and marker organisms and initiates immediate review and investigations when identified; determines the prevalence of specific infections, reportable diseases, organisms; conducts outbreak investigations using epidemiological principles; identifies and implements corrective actions; monitors, evaluates and reports outcomes of such actions as necessary.
Performs prevalence rounds to assess compliance with infection control practices, CDC guidelines and OSHA Standards.
Reports problems identified, and initiates corrective actions as appropriate.
Assists with department and healthcare providers' preparation for TJC and other regulatory agency surveys as indicated.
Identifies patients with communicable diseases; assures appropriate protective measures and/or isolation are initiated and practiced; facilitates follow-up of discharged patients exposed to such communicable diseases; reports communicable disease occurrence to the health department as required by law.
Contributes to the improved knowledge of infection control and infectious disease issues through provision of reference materials and/or preparing, presenting or coordinating educational workshops, lectures or one-on-one instruction for physicians, all healthcare team members, patients and/or families, and the general public.
Participates in the system's orientation and annual re-education programs.
Facilitates follow-up of reported exposures to communicable diseases by emergency response healthcare providers.
Collaborates with Employee Health Services to implement work restrictions for healthcare providers identified with or exposed to communicable diseases.
Assists with identification, analysis, and trending of occupational exposures; develops, implements, and monitors effectiveness of corrective actions as indicated.
Contributes to the development/review of system-wide infection control policies and procedures.
Serves on committees to review, analyze, and apply information relative to specific infection control problems, products or rates of infections as assigned.
Conducts surveillance activities for detection of hospital associated events, provides collected/analyzed data to appropriate departments, and/or committees to support system quality improvement activities.