Infection Control Specialist

Description The work location for this position is Lewiston, Idaho Full-Time: 80-hours per pay period Benefits May Include: Medical, Dental, Vision 401k w/ employer match Short & Long-term disabilities Life & AD&D insurances Employee Assistance Program Pet Insurance and more Position Summary: The Infection Control Coordinator operates under the direction of the Infection Control Committee (ICC) and is mentored by the ScionHealth Certified Infection Preventionists. The Infection Control Coordinator will establish a networking relationship with the Infection Preventionists at neighboring hospitals. The position is supervised by the Director of Quality, or designee. The role of the Infection Control Coordinator is to provide education, consultation, surveillance of infection control and prevention activities under the guidance of the ScionHealth Certified Infection Preventionists. The Infection Control Coordinator will follow the Centers for Disease Control infection prevention and control guidelines. In addition, the Infection Control Coordinator will use references from National Healthcare Safety Network, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and The Joint Commission. The Infection Control Coordinator assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures designed to improve patient care and safety through infection prevention and control. The Infection Control Coordinator will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate and develop process improvements that will reduce harm caused by the spread or development of health care acquired infections including, but not limited to, CAUTI/HAUTI, CLABSI, C difficile, MRSA, SSI, PNA, and Sepsis. Primary (Essential) Duties: Under the guidance of an infection prevention practitioner (ScionHealth), or when available, Infectious Disease Practitioner acts as the primary individual to facilitate the development of policies, procedures, and control measures to ensure compliance with the regulatory and accreditation agency standards. Specific duties are as follows: Performs infection control related surveillance duties in all patient care departments/clinics for the purpose of observation, consultation, and collaboration with the members of the health care team to determine presence of both nosocomial and community-related infections. Ensures surveillance data is submitted to all required agencies such as NHSN. Maintains accurate records of reported information to include location of patient, name and type of infection, related organisms, primary physician, and other key information. Facilitates the Infection Control Committee to review infection data, control measures, policies, and procedures, and to develop and implement Committee objectives. Provides direction and consultation with health care providers to develop specific plans for patients and families utilizing age-specific knowledge, for prevention or management of infections. Facilitates the implementation of appropriate isolation protocols to control and prevent infections. Participates in quality improvement monitoring and evaluation activities including frequent rounding (tracers) in patient care areas relating to infection control issues and utilizes the quality improvement data to improve patient care and safety. This includes overseeing the functioning of assigned projects/project teams encompassing required quality reporting related to infection prevention and for collaborating with leadership to access necessary resources. Develops and updates the ongoing management plan in conjunction with the Infection Control Committee. Monitors and ensures that detailed project plans, reporting mechanisms, issue resolution processes, and communications are timely and meet quality guidelines. Demonstrates a commitment to process improvement and expert knowledge of continuous improvement principles and tools to positively impact patient outcomes. This includes planning and organizing tasks and resources and collaboration among leaders, employees, and medical staff to support achievement of Medical Center goals and objectives related to such quality pro-jects. Initiates and reports special studies and pertinent information relating to infection control to the Infection Control Committee for recommendations. Coordinate Infection Control Committee activities (i.e.: agendas, topics, minutes, implementation, engagement, and participation) to promote a venue for collaboration and feedback. Services and functions are formally assessed throughout the year based on IPC risk assessment, volume of services provided, problem-prone areas of infection prevention and control, and high employee risk of acquiring a transmissible disease. Verifies and completes required reporting to public health authorities. Uses surveillance data to prepare statistical reports for the Infection Control Committee, the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality (PSCQ)(s), appropriate medical committees and hospital administration. Facilitates the development and review of infection control policies and procedures for all hospital and clinic departments. Uses approved policies and procedures in coordinating day to day operations infection control operations and references The Joint Commission Resources Book on Policies. Provides input in the budgeting process regarding the infection control program needs. Develops and maintains infection control processes according to CDC, public health, OSHA, CMS, and APIC standards. Oversees infection prevention/control education with the education department and other departments when necessary. Ensures teaching guidelines specific to the area of infection prevention/control principles and isolation protocols are provided for new employees via general and patient care orientation, and the annual skills fair. Facilitates the development of educational and teaching information related to infection control issues for distribution to patients, families, and staff. Participates on assigned committees to provide relevant current infection control information including statistical data related to infection control monitoring and evaluation activities, surveillance data, changes in standards or practice, etc. Committee assignments include, but are not limited to the Infection Control, Quality, and Environment of Care. Other committee appointments are made on an annual basis or on request. Maintains knowledge base and principles for epidemiology and infection control through reading current literature, attending workshops and active memberships in local and national professional organizations of INFECTION CONTROL coordinators or Infection Preventionists Coordinates with Human Resources and Occupational/Employee Health for identified employee health activities that include but are not limited to consulting on prophylaxis for employee exposure, assisting with investigation of employee incidents relating to infection control. Coordinates with Environment of Care team to ensure proper safeguards including Infection Control Risk Assessments are taken to provide a safe environment and collaborates when the environment is disrupted such as construction, maintenance, and incidents such as floods. Coordinate with the leaders supporting the clinics and outpatient services in compliance to the infection control and prevention requirements set forth by The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medi-caid Services, and other regulatory bodies. SECONDARY DUTIES: Available to consult on the acquisition of equipment and supplies used for sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination purposes. Available to consult on infection control risk assessments for construction and renovation projects. Available to provide department-specific infection control in-service programs for the hospital, clinics, and outpatient services. The above statements reflect the general characteristics considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. Scion Health considers a consistently positive, cooperative, self-motivated, courteous, and professional attitude to be an essential function of every position. While different positions have different primary areas of responsibility, everyone needs to work as a team, and we expect all employees to roll up their sleeves and pitch in as necessary to get the job done. Employees must be able to relate to other people beyond giving and receiving instructions: (a) can get along with co-workers or peers without exhibiting behavioral extremes, (b) perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, supervising, persuading, or speaking with others; and (c) respond appropriately to constructive feedback from a supervisor. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g., emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate. Qualifications Required: Minimum of two years of nursing experience in one of the following areas: Perioperative Services Critical Care Services Or Related Specialty Or two years of Infection Prevention experience Bachelors of science in nursing (BSN) Knowledge in epidemiological principles, infectious diseases, and sterilization, sanitation and disinfection practices Requires a knowledgebase in adult education principles Infection Control Practitioner Certification (CIC) required within two years of hire date. Upon completion of this certification, this role will be re-aligned as an Infection Control Practitioner. Preferred: Masters degree in nursing (MSN) or healthcare related field