Infection Preventionist - Healthcare Epidemiology

Purpose of Your Job Position The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct our Infection Control Program and its activities in accordance with current Federal, State and local standards, guidelines and regulations that govern such programs, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Infection Control Committee to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times. Delegation of Authority As the Infection Control Coordinator you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. Your immediate supervisor is the Director of Nursing Services. Must possess an active LPN or RN license. Job Functions Every effort has been made to keep your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that they are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position. Administrative and Surveillance Functions Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, coordinate, and direct our Infection Control Program in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern such requirements in the long-term care facility. Develop, maintain, and periodically update infection control procedures and aseptic technique. Make rounds to nursing units for the purpose of case findings, review of environmental sanitation procedures, and supervision of isolation precautions/practices. Review and analyze infectious disease laboratory reports and consult with the Director of Nursing Services in developing the care plan for assuring that aseptic technique are implemented. Provide the Director of Nursing Services with a report of pertinent findings and recommendations pertaining to nosocomial infection and other infection control surveillance information. Maintain a written record of all residents placed in isolation or on infection control precautions, as well as those residents and employees who have nosocomial infections. Monitor infection control practices and procedures to ensure that all personnel are implementing our Standard Operating Procedures for Universal Precautions. Monitor the designated shelf life of medical items wrapped and sterilized at the facility. Reprocess as necessary. Ensure that all personnel follow established procedures for the disposal and removal of infective and contaminated materials from the facility. Assist in developing and implementing guidelines for the decontamination and sterilization activities performed in the facility. Assist the Director of Laundry Services in developing infection control procedures for the handling of clean and soiled laundry/linen, equipment cleaning, etc. Assist the Director of Housekeeping Services in developing infection control procedures for the routine and terminal cleaning of isolation rooms and areas, equipment cleaning, etc. Interpret infection control policies and procedures as necessary. Prepare summaries of special investigations on the occurrence of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Prepare monthly summaries of all resident/personnel infections, corrective action taken, and the results of the corrective action. Submit copies to the Administrator and Director of Nursing Services. Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluation, studies, charting, etc., as necessary. Maintain a reference library of written infection control material that will assist the facility in meeting the day-to-day needs of the isolated resident. Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing, and implementing discharge plans for the resident in isolation or on infection control precautions. Participate in survey (inspections) made by authorized government agencies. Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required, concerning the Infection Control Program of this facility. Report all reportable diseases to the county and state health departments. Participate in surveys of possible carriers among residents and personnel, and in tracing possible sources of infection within the facility. Committee Functions Serve on, participate in, and attend Infection Control Committee meetings. Assist the Infection Control Committee in evaluating and revising our infection control practices and aseptic technique to ensure continued sanitation practices are maintained throughout the facility. Assist in evaluating and implementing recommendations from the Infection Control Committee. Provide the Infection Control Committee with written and oral reports concerning all nosocomial infections within the facility. Assist the Infection Control Committee in establishing the criteria for classifying all routine and reasonably anticipated job-related tasks to ensure that Category 1 and 2 tasks are properly identified. Personnel Functions Develop and implement a practical system of reporting, detecting, evaluating, and recording of infections which originate with facility personnel. Orient new employees to the importance of infection control policies and procedures, personal hygiene, hand washing techniques, etc., as well as the employee’s responsibility in following our established procedures for Universal Precautions. Develop and maintain a good working rapport with all department directors and personnel to assure that infection control services and activities can be properly maintained to meet the needs of the residents. Maintain an excellent work relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations. Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility. Meet with the staff to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services, as necessary. Obtain culture samples in accordance with our established procedures. Nursing Care and Consultation Functions Ensure that residents with known communicable or infectious diseases are placed in isolation or on infection control precautions to include Universal Precautions. Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility. Assure that all nursing services personnel follow established isolation precautions and aseptic technique to include Universal Precautions. Interview residents or family members and explain isolation and Universal Precautions as necessary. Review nurses’ notes of those residents in/on isolation precautions to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided and that they reflect the resident’s response to the care. Make rounds with physicians as necessary. Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians’ orders, etc., on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations. Monitor medication passes and treatments to assure that appropriate hand washing techniques are being followed in the handling and administering of drugs, medications, and treatments. Provide direct nursing care as necessary. Assist nursing service personnel in performing nursing care procedures as necessary. Staff Development Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely in-service training classes and educational programs that provides instructions on “how to do the job” for all facility personnel. Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs relative to infection control. Attend and participate in continuing educational program designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status. #J-18808-Ljbffr