Infection Preventionist RN

JOB PURPOSE\:

The Healthcare Center Infection Preventionist is responsible for the development, direction, implementation, management and operation of the infection prevention in the healthcare center. The healthcare center Infection Preventionist conducts ongoing staff development, training and

quality assurance performance improvement monitoring to insure adherence with the organizational standards, CDC, and the county and state health departments. The responsibilities encompass

compliance with Joint Commission (JC) standards, CMS, OSHA, and state regulations, outbreak

investigation, and overall direction of the infection prevention and control program.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES\:

Infection Prevention\:

a. Acts as subject matter expert and resource within the healthcare center to residents/families, partners, providers, visitors, community, and public health regarding infection prevention

and control measures, including identification of infectious disease processes.

b. Provides consultation and expertise to partners and residents in infection prevention and control practices as it relates to the transmission of infectious disease, management of isolation of patients, PPE usage, safe infection practices, disinfection, environmental cleaning, facilities management (maintenance, renovation and construction), water management, and evaluation of new products.

c. Reviews the immunization status of residents and partners, administers vaccines, and educates residents and partners about immunizations.

d. Completes necessary physical assessment (RN’s only) and health history of resident and

partners according to TB program guidelines.

e. Provides counseling and education about laboratory testing, follow-up x-rays, physical examination and therapy for TB prevention and disease.

f. Refers residents and partners for follow-up to outside agencies for continuity in care for any suspected or confirmed infectious disease process.

g. Maintains current knowledge with CMS, state and federal regulatory agencies and public

health guidelines as it relates to infection prevention.

h. Reviews the risk of blood borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practice for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of

exposures to infectious diseases.

i. Reviews the infection prevention and control policies and procedures annually and conducts formal partner training on updates and new regulations.

j. Develops, implements and evaluates infection prevention and control goals, measurable

objectives and action plans for the healthcare center infection prevention and control program.

k. Provides expert knowledge, guidance, and perform routine risk assessments in infection prevention and control in consultation and collaboration with infection control committee teams as appropriate.

l. Participates and supports infection prevention initiatives on center, region and division levels to insure our infection prevention program and processes are utilizing best practice

approaches.

m. Maintains records and reports in accordance to organization standards, including documentation in electronic health records, reports, etc.

n. Provides ongoing infection prevention and control findings, recommendations, annual reports, policy and procedure updates to the QAPI committee.

Antibiotic Stewardship Program\:

a. Develops and evaluates goals, measurable objectives and action plans for the HCC

antibiotic stewardship program.

b. Improves the therapeutic use of antimicrobials through education of clinicians and prescribers, guidelines and data reporting,

c. Collaborates with pharmacy services to identify and facilitate plans of correction using

evidence-based practice interventions for improvements in the antibiotic stewardship program.

d. Provides ongoing reports to the QAPI committee of compliance updates.

Surveillance and Compliance\:

a. Conducts ongoing healthcare wide surveillance of healthcare associated infections through collection, review, analysis and interpretation of data from various sources, (i.e., hand hygiene, occupational exposure incidents, etc.).

b. Tracks and trends surveillance to identify opportunities for improvement based on data analysis including activities to decrease healthcare associated infections and improve resident outcomes related to identified infection control deficiencies.

c. Works collaboratively with healthcare leaders to identify root causes and trends among healthcare associated infections.

d. Provides ongoing feedback to the QAPI committee for surveillance and compliance updates.

Education and Training\:

a. Provides prepared infection prevention education, including orientation, to all healthcare providers and partners.

b. Provides resident and family education and assists other partners in the implementation of

such teachings.

c. Provides support on center, region and division levels as it relates to education, projects, and presentation activities.

d. Participates in educational opportunities with state/national associations to ensure our

Infection Prevention program and processes are utilizing best practice approaches.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES\:

• Use principles of influence, leadership and changed management.

• Work collaboratively with others and provide direction when necessary.

• Ready share knowledge and expertise

• Bring innovation, enthusiasm and creativity to practice.

• Communicate effectively to a diverse audience.

• Provide input into patient safety and quality initiatives.

• Ability to influence, serve as a role model, demonstrate accountability and integrity.