Infection Prevention Specialist

About the role

The purpose of the Infection Prevention Specialist is to support the implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Primary responsibilities include surveillance, collaboration with front-line clinicians to provide education, consultation, and coaching for the facilitation of quality improvement work.

Responsibilities

• Surveillance and collaboration with front-line clinicians for education, consultation, and coaching.
• Collaborate with Employee Health for infection risks among colleagues.
• Keep accurate record of healthcare-associated infections.
• Analyze and interpret surveillance data to determine prevalence of pathogens and trends in infections per unit, standards/thresholds met, and causes of patterns.
• Facilitate corrective action strategies for infection prevention.
• Prepare and present infection control data and reports to the Infection Control Committee and other stakeholders.
• Identify and promptly report epidemiological variations in levels of disease to the Infection Prevention Coordinator and chairperson of the Infection Control Committee, and implement recommendations for prevention and control.
• Maintain communication with department directors/managers/supervisors to verify information relevant to infection prevention and control.
• Conduct investigations of significant clusters of infections above expected levels.
• Supports/leads and/or participates in root cause analyses related to infection prevention and control.
• Participates in environmental services in insect management (i.e. bed bugs).
• Participates in antimicrobial stewardship meetings.

Requirements

• Requires a minimum of three (3) years of experience in healthcare setting.
• General Requirements: Bachelor’s degree, or higher in nursing or healthcare related field required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge, understanding, and incorporation of MercyOne (Trinity Health) Mission, Vision, Core Values, Actions and Promise in behaviors, practices, and decisions.
• Ability to influence change through input on products pertaining to infection prevention and control, safety concerns, and conducting education programs.
• Effective communication skills to serve as information resource and advise on infection prevention and control issues.
• Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with medical staff and hospital associates.
• Ability to serve as liaison to Health Department(s) and submit reports to appropriate agencies concerning healthcare associated and community acquired infections and reportable diseases.
• Ability to serve as resource/liaison/consultant to other health care facilities, community agencies and businesses upon request and at the direction of the coordinator.
• Ability to recommend placement of patients in isolation precautions (according to established policy) and provide advice concerning bed placement.
• Ability to collect infection control information delineating the frequency and nature of infections occurring in the hospital.
• Ability to participate in nursing meetings as appropriate.
• Ability to participate in Medical Staff meetings as appropriate.
• Ability to participate/lead regional infection prevention workgroup.
• Ability to collaborate with quality and safety excellence nurses and risk management in improvements in areas of quality and safety applicable to infection control.
• Ability to input data into regulatory and applicable databases (i.e., NHSN, NDNQI, etc.) as appropriate.
• Ability to attend nursing governance councils as appropriate.
• Ability to support/lead and/or participate in root cause analyses related to infection prevention and control.
• Ability to participate in risk mitigation for construction projects with re-inspections.
• Ability to participate in environment of care rounds and follow up with education.
• Ability to own/review applicable policies and procedures related to infection control and in compliance with regulations and standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively with quality and safety excellence nurses and risk management in improvements in areas of quality and safety applicable to infection control.

Skills

• Knowledge of infection prevention and control practices.
• Ability to analyze and interpret surveillance data.
• Communication and collaboration skills.
• Leadership and influencing skills.
• Problem-solving and investigative skills.
• Documentation and reporting skills.
• Education and training skills.
• Environmental management skills.
• Antimicrobial stewardship skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee assistance program.
• Health and wellness programs.

Pay

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

• Day shift.