Infection Preventionist

About the role

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health, we help our patients live better, healthier lives and support one another to succeed. Our culture is built on connection and collaboration, where competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support each other and how we show up for our community.

Responsibilities

• Program Support: In collaboration with the Infection Prevention leadership, develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program.
• Conduct surveillance of hospital acquired infections in accordance with CDC's NHSN definitions.
• Record and report communicable diseases as defined by federal, state, and local levels.
• Develop and interpret annual surveillance plans and risk assessments based on population served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
• Utilize epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance plans as necessary, investigate and implement control measures for outbreaks.
• Participate in the development, interpretation, and implementation of infection prevention policies and procedures.
• Communicate infection prevention information and data to various committees, leadership, departments, and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned.
• Review sterilization and disinfection policies and procedures, identify necessary changes, and monitor compliance.
• Assist in the development of Infection Prevention and Control Construction Risk Assessments (ICRAs) for construction, renovation, and maintenance projects and monitor compliance with infection prevention recommendations to reduce risk of communicable disease exposures to patients and Team Members (TMs).
• Rounds on units/departments to observe compliance with infection prevention policies/procedures and provide just-in-time coaching.
• Participates on environment of care rounds as assigned.
• Participates in network or hospital-based committees providing infection prevention and control expertise as assigned by Infection Prevention leadership.
• May be required to work or be on call weekends and/or second shift based on department needs.
• Design and deliver education: Develops and conducts formal and informal educational programs regarding infection prevention and control practices, policies, and procedures.
• Assess and address learning needs of those served.
• Create education goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and available educational tools and technology.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes.
• Complies with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Facilitates compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., NHSN, Joint Commission, etc.).
• Stays current on infection prevention regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Utilize PI methodology as a means of enacting change.
• Select appropriate PI tools to aid in efficiency, reliability, effectiveness, and ensure sustainability of the initiative.
• Ensure that customer needs and expectations are considered in the development of and continuous improvement of processes, products, and services.
• Monitor and analyze process and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis/Apparent Cause Analysis on HAIs.
• Participate in PI committees, teams, and initiatives as indicated.
• Apply High Reliability principles to guide strategies to drive process improvement to improve outcomes.
• Assesses risk of occupational exposures to infectious disease and develops mitigation strategies to minimize exposure risk.
• Assists with rates/trends of occupational exposure if indicated.
• Collaborates with Occupational Health to identify and investigate potential communicable disease exposures, and provides guidance on evaluation, management of exposed TMs and any potential work restrictions.
• Collaborates with all departments within the organization as needed.
• Consults and collaborates, as needed, with local, state, and federal public health officials, and community health organizations.
• Involves multidisciplinary teams to ensure changes are vetted by all stakeholder groups.
• Contributes in Network meetings/projects.
• Utilizes principles of influence, leadership, and change management.
• Bridges enthusiasm, creativity, and innovation to practice.
• Works collaboratively with others, providing direction when necessary.
• Readily shares knowledge and expertise.
• Contributes to the development of less-experienced healthcare providers through education and mentorship.
• Prepares and delivers infection prevention presentations to external groups.
• Evaluates (critically) research and evidence-based practices and incorporates appropriate findings into routine practice.
• Integrates evidence-based practices into policies, guidelines, protocols, and educational strategies.
• Identifies barriers for implementation and develops strategies to minimize or remove barriers.
• Implements strategies to sustain efforts such as audit tools and meaningful feedback.
• Be familiar with infection prevention software and other technology (e.g., EPIC, NHSN, CDRSS).
• Collaborates with IT and Data Science to create meaningful electronic reports to enhance infection prevention initiatives.
• Pursues professional growth and development of required knowledge and skills.
• Maintains certification and licensure requirements if indicated.
• Establishes at least 1 professional goal per year.
• Advocates for patient safety, high reliability practices, team member safety, and safe practices.
• Participates in an infection prevention professional organization/association (e.g., APIC).

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in Nursing, Microbiology, Public Health, Medical Technology, Health Care Administration or related field.
• 2 years of experience in clinical/patient care services or relevant health care position.
• Familiar with software technologies (e.g., Excel, MS Word, NHSN, etc).
• Analytical
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines
• Conflict resolution
• Program and project management
• Expertise in data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation

Compensation

Minimum rate of $92,144.00 Annually