Infection Preventionist

UVA Health • Charlottesville, VA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Infection Preventionist (IP) works closely and collaboratively with the Director of Infection Prevention & Control, the Hospital Epidemiologist, members of the Infection Prevention team and staff and leaders throughout UVA Health. The IP is responsible for the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical practices that focus on infection prevention and enhance the infection control program for UVA Health. This includes: implementation of healthcare-associated infection reduction strategies for patients and personnel, LIPs, APPs, and students through assessment and risk identification; researching current literature and practice; study development and publication; development, implementation, monitoring and reporting prevention strategies; routine and focused surveillance; policy and procedure development; training and education program development; and collaboration with personnel in all job categories in the Health System. This is a training position based on the APIC Competency Model to become more proficient with infection prevention.

Requirements

• 2 years of Infection Prevention experience
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program, Bachelor's of Sciences in Nursing preferred, Medical tech program (MT - ASCP); OR Masters in Public Health (MPH).
• Clinical experience in critical care, emergency or perioperative fields
• Completion of a hospital infection control course, e.g., APIC or SHEA fundamentals course
• Competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint (create, edit and present PowerPoint slideshows), enter, manipulate and extract database information, and basic descriptive statistics e.g., Chi square, frequency analysis
• RN: Licensed to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia, MT (ASCP), MPH or healthcare related Bachelor’s degree: None required.
• BLS certification (if working with patients).
• Must successfully obtain Certification in Infection Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology within two years of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Preferably knowledgeable about multi-modal communications strategies (e.g., applications use, voicemail, text, social media).
• Prior experience with electronic health records systems; prefer experience with EPIC and the TheraDoc Infection Prevention module.
• National and local APIC membership

Responsibilities

• Implementation of healthcare-associated infection reduction strategies for patients and personnel, LIPs, APPs, and students through assessment and risk identification.
• Researching current literature and practice.
• Study development and publication.
• Development, implementation, monitoring and reporting prevention strategies.
• Routine and focused surveillance.
• Policy and procedure development.
• Training and education program development.
• Collaboration with personnel in all job categories in the Health System.
• Performs rounds on patients at risk for device-related infections, educates bedside RN and reports findings to unit leadership.
• Participates in epidemiological and communicable disease investigations and exposures and reports communicable diseases, and other reportable events to appropriate agencies.
• Investigates sentinel events, or unsafe medical devices and reports findings to local, state and federal agencies.
• Assumes responsibility for assigned units.
• Provides environmental assessment and monitoring for Medical Center construction projects.
• Participates in environmental rounding of Medical Center departments/clinics and evaluates patient care environments.
• Participates in the development, completion and reporting of annual departmental goals and surveillance plan and ensures that timelines are met.
• Is available for rotation assignments for on-call support duties and available while on call for emergencies that require on-site assessment i.e. outbreak (per Director or Hospital Epidemiologist) or issues that affect the ability to provide patient care.
• Assists ICP III & IV in developing new policies based on accreditation standards, regulatory and legislative requirements, patient safety goals and medical literature.
• Monitors microbiology reports for clustering of organisms, unusual pathogens, epidemiologic significant pathogens or infections that require isolation precautions, exposure workups or notification to public health and documents per SOP.
• Other duties as directed by the Director.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Long-term and Short-term Disability
• Retirement Savings
• Health Saving Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Certification and education support
• Generous Paid Time Off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level