Manager Infection Control, 40hrs, Days

UMass Memorial Health Care•Leominster, MA

54d

About The Position

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver - regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day. Provides leadership in the development of programs and policies to reduce nosocomial infections. Manages the day-to-day operations of the hospital control program, staff and financial affairs/budget of the department. Implements policies, evaluates clinical systems and equipment to detect, and prevent infection and spread of contagious disease. Collaborates with senior management, department chairs, nurse managers, department managers and others to promote and support an organizational emphasis on continuous improvement in infection control. Provides information and guidance to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements. This position works under the direction of the Hospital Epidemiologist.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing is preferred. Must have a valid RN license by the state of Massachusetts.
A minimum of five years experience working with an active infection control program required.
Certification in Infection Control (CIC) required.
Thorough working knowledge of hospital epidemiology and prevention and control of nonsocomial infections required.
Proficiency in use of a variety of computerized software products such as word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing and graphics is required.

Responsibilities

Develops an analytical framework for monitoring infections (both nosocomial and community acquired) within the Medical Center and uses this data to identify patterns and trends. Works with Hospital Epidemiologist to identify priorities and develops programs and policies to address infection control problems.
Prevents, investigates, and controls infections in conjunction with the Hospital Epidemiologist and staff Infection Control Practitioners by developing and implementing systems for identifying, reporting, and analyzing the incidence and source of all hospital acquired infections.
Directs the surveillance activities of the Infection Control Practitioners and performs surveillance activities as needed.
Reviews nonsocomial data for trends and unusual organisms, in conjunction with the Hospital Epidemiologist and the Infection Control Practitioners. Performs follow-up studies to assess the impact of recommendations.
Coordinates submission and presentation of periodic reports to various committees as assigned. Ensures reports are disseminated to all appropriate parties.
Provides information and guidance to insure the hospital's compliance with internal and external requirements. Collaborates with hospital departments to implement, evaluate, and document Infection Control policies and practices for quality improvement, DPH, OSHA and Joint Commission compliance. Acts as a liaison with state and local health departments to become appraised of area infectious outbreaks, and to ensure compliance with disclosure and regulatory requirements.
Acts as a consultant to the clinical services and divisions to implement procedures for control of infections, outbreaks, contagious diseases, isolation of patients and other infection control matters. Works with departments to develop, implement, evaluate and revise preventative surveillance and control policies and procedures relating to all phases of the hospital's activities.
Coordinates endemic and epidemic prevention and control programs by acting as liaison to the Medical/Surgical House-staff, Nursing, Employee Health Service, clinical laboratories and others. Acts as a liaison to Office of Quality and Patient Safety and to UMMHC. Coordinates liaisons with other external entities.
Oversees development and conduct of regular in-service training sessions on infection control issues, at orientation and based on need identified by staff and/or indicated by infection control/quality improvement data.
Conducts infection control rounds. Monitors infection related issues. Provides orientation in-service, reorientation education, and in-services for all departments as needed.
Develops and maintains hospital-wide infection control policies and procedures. Consults with other departments regarding the infection control implications of their policies and procedures.
Designs, develops and conducts education programs regarding infection risk and intervention, and topics related to Infection Control for individual, small and large group orientations. Serves as a resource to the community, staff and patients through in-service education, lectures, reports and newsletter.
Coordinates and participates in staff meetings and attends management meeting as assigned.
Directs and supervises assigned personnel including performance evaluations, scheduling, orientation, and training. Makes recommendations on employee hires, transfers, promotions, salary changes, discipline, terminations, and similar actions. Resolves grievances and other personnel problems within position responsibilities.
Develops and recommends the budgets for the areas managed. Manages activities to assure financial goals are met.
Coordinates the assignment of tasks and helps resolve technical and operational problems. Evaluates the impact of solutions to ensure goals are achieved.
Provides effective direction, guidance, and leadership over the staff for effective teamwork and motivation, and fosters the effective integration of efforts with system-wide initiatives.
Encourages and supports diverse views and approaches, creating an environment of professionalism, respect, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
Integrates diversity into departmental objectives, such as hiring, promotions, training, vendor selections, etc.
Participates in performance improvement initiatives and demonstrates the use of quality improvement in daily operations.
Ensures compliance with regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, DPH, etc. Develops and maintains procedures necessary to meet regulatory requirements.
Ensures that department complies with hospital established policies, quality assurance programs, safety, and infection control policies and procedures.
Ensures adequate equipment and supplies for department.
Develops and maintains established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
Ensures compliance to all health and safety regulations and requirements.
Performs similar or related duties as required or directed.