Infection Preventionist

Department Overview

The mission of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is to prevent and control the transmission of infections to patients, visitors, and staff at OHSU hospitals and clinics. The Department of Infection Prevention and Control provides infection-related surveillance and guidance to Oregon Health & Science University hospitals and clinics. The department also provides consultative services to the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, and Nursing, the Primate Center/West Campus, and OHSU research programs.

The Infection Preventionist is instrumental to the implementation of OHSU healthcare mission, vision, goals and objectives, providing clinical infection control expertise and helping to ensure safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, patient-centered care. The Infection Preventionist implements OHSU's Strategic and Organizational Infection Control Plan through leadership, consultation, facilitation, education, investigation, data collection and analysis, reporting, and research. The Infection Preventionist functions as a change agent in planning, leading, and evaluating infection prevention and control practices, in surveillance-based performance improvement activities directed to identify and reduce the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections, and in assisting with organizational regulatory compliance. Consultative services directed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases are provided to OHSU services outside the scope of OHSU-HC, including the Schools of Nursing, Dentistry, and Medicine, and the West Campus. Shares on-call responsibility with other members of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control. The Infection Control Manager may assign other infection prevention and control (IPC) activities and duties as needed.

Function/Duties of Position

Leadership

• Identifies, recommends, and leads infection prevention and control (IPC) improvement opportunities in assigned areas through surveillance, research, and statistical analysis of internal and external data sources.
• Acts as a liaison to assigned area(s) to promote evidence-based, patient-centered IPC practices.
• Recommends evidence-based infection prevention measures and assists with their implementation.
• Leads the analysis and evaluation of IPC processes and surveillance through membership in Best Practice Groups, Quality Councils, and other assigned committees.

• Promotes and models collaborative working relationships with all members of the healthcare team.
• Provides effective influence in the development and attainment of IPC department and organizational goals through interdepartmental collaboration.
• Leads activities that support regulatory requirements or organizational goals.
• Takes an active role in compliance readiness and preparation for regulatory agency surveys.
• Serves as the IPC liaison in assigned regional and national benchmarking studies and infection prevention initiatives, including the Vizient, IHI, APIC, and the CDC, and facilitates improvement opportunities from the project learnings.
• Participates regularly in clinical and safety rounds.

Consultation
• Provides project management and IPC expertise to teams, medical services, managers, and departments.
• Designs appropriate surveillance studies including methodology, data collection indicators, analysis, and reporting processes to use for identified infection prevention and control PI projects.
• Assists individuals/groups to interpret internal/external infection control data and to develop appropriate follow up action plans.
• Reviews current research and related literature to identify evidence-based best practices in infection prevention and control.
• Provides perspective on the Infection Control Plan and initiatives, and the application of surveillance, and epidemiological tools and techniques.
• Serves as a member of assigned committees, task forces and special projects to provide expert infection prevention and control consultation.
• Provides expert consultation to OHSU and community customers on all areas of infection prevention and control and exposure prevention, investigation, and management.
• Acts as a liaison with county/state health department officials in the management of patients with communicable diseases.

Facilitation
• Initiates and manages infection prevention and control related projects.
• Facilitates development of unit specific and organizational action plans to address surveillance and investigation findings.
• Responsible to timeframes for accomplishment, for reporting, for reviewing achievements, for facilitating additional actions as needed, and for working with departments/programs to "hold the gains" from infection prevention and control performance improvement activities.

Education
• Assesses educational needs of healthcare workers pertaining to infection prevention and control, developing and providing targeted educational programs and materials to assigned areas utilizing principles of adult education.
• Disseminates infection control findings and recommendations to appropriate individuals, committees, departments, and units.
• Conducts regular unit rounds in assigned areas to assess practices, educate, and interact with healthcare providers.

• Collaborates with University mission to teach infection prevention and control to healthcare students. Mentors healthcare students interested in healthcare epidemiology or infection prevention and control.
• Identifies specific needs for self development and implements plan to achieve professional growth and stay current in the concepts and processes of infection prevention and control.
• Attends and participates in professional meetings and committees; stays abreast of new trends and innovations.

Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation
• Conducts routine and investigative surveillance activities, chart reviews and data abstraction utilizing epidemiological and microbiological methodologies and principles. Assures data reliability and validity or accurately identifies limitations associated with the study methodology. Interprets and analyzes data in collaboration with Data Analysts, Medical Directors and other members of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control, comparing results with published data or other benchmarks.
• Performs intensive monitoring of issues in assigned areas; tracking, trending and follow up. Works intra and interdepartmentally to investigate infection prevention and control issues and to document findings. Reports activities to appropriate oversight committees, governing bodies, and to the appropriate organizational leaders.
• Performs exposure and outbreak investigations and designs appropriate containment interventions working collaboratively with Employee Health, hospital, clinic, and medical staff departments and programs communicating the status of actions and outcomes.
• Develops and presents complex, comprehensive reports and presentations for teams, committees, councils, department medical and surgical chairs, and the Pro Board.

Prevent Infection Transmission
• Recognizes, investigates and assists with controlling outbreaks or clusters of infection; prepares summary reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Reviews and investigates infection control associated incident reports and infection control clinical risk related patient concerns. Works collaboratively with the Patient Safety Manager in critical incident reviews.
• Intervenes directly as needed to interrupt the transmission of infections and infectious diseases.
• Evaluates environmental issues for infection control risks to patients and staff and provides recommendations for remediation and improvement.
• Develops, reviews, and revises policies related to infection prevention, utilizing current evidence-based guidance.

Research
• Conducts literature searches relative to specific infection control problems, products, or rates of infection, applying critical reading skills to evaluate research.
• Incorporates research findings into practice and policies.
• Disseminates relevant published research finding through practice, education, and consultation.
• Participates in research activities as interest and time permits

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 2 years' experience as an Infection Preventionist in an
  acute care setting or equivalent education/experience, Certification in Infection Control (CIC) within 3
  years.
• Knowledge of infection prevention and control practices and processes.
• Knowledge of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection, sterilization, infectious diseases, and epidemiology.
• Ability to work as a team member and interact with broad spectrum of healthcare personnel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer and data entry skills, especially in using Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Skilled in organizational behavior and group dynamics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in healthcare -related field (e.g. MPH, MSN)
• Board certification in Infection Prevention (CIC); board certification in their professional field, eg, MT(ASCP)SM; Healthcare Professional with two years acute care-related experience (e.g. BSN Registered Nurse, Medical Technologist, etc.)
• Knowledge of Epic.
• Experience with the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) (e.g. entering cases, running reports)
• Experience working with Project Management and Performance Improvement.
• Leadership training and/or experience.
• Data analysis skills and experience.

Additional Details

• This role is primarily based in a standard office environment but may involve exposure to human tissues, body fluids, and communicable diseases. The typical schedule is Monday-Friday, 0730-1600, with variability based on operational needs, such as investigations, assignments, and project needs. The position often requires more than 40 hours per week and includes participation in a shared 24-hour on-call rotation for the Infection Prevention and Control Department.
• This role is based in a typical shared office environment and requires extended periods of computer use, including data entry and keyboarding. The position involves frequent walking or driving between buildings, units, and clinics, and may occasionally require standing for extended periods.

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center.

In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

All are welcome.

OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact View email address on click.appcast.io