Infection Preventionist

Job Summary: The Infection Preventionist provides oversight for the Hospital’s Infection Prevention Program, directing all technical aspects, surveillance, and program evaluations, while ensuring staff follow hospital Infection Prevention policy, procedure and practices. This role ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations while driving performance improvement initiatives across the organization. Serving a diverse patient population, the Infection Preventionist establishes stringent quality control procedures, fosters a culture of safety, and upholds Pipeline Health’s mission through consistent, AIDET-compliant communication and operations.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Essential Functions:

• Through strategic planning, expert leadership and consultation, directs the identification and implementation of infection control goals and objectives related to: surveillance, data analysis and reporting, infection prevention and control practices that eliminate potential infection hazard for members, physicians, staff and visitors, appropriate selection and usage of products and equipment related to cleaning, antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization, and acts as infection prevention expert on construction projects throughout the Pipeline Health.
• Oversees, reports, and leads outbreak investigations in the Pipeline Health facilities and acts as Public Health liaison when required.
• Directs the development and review of Infection Prevention and Control Standards of Care Policy and Procedure manuals
• Maintains an Infection prevention and control performance improvement activities within the department and participates in performance improvement subcommittee.
• Directs the development and implementation of educational programs designed to prevent, reduce or control infections.
• Successfully partners with other leaders across Pipeline Health to execute strategies to prevent, reduce or control hospital acquired infections.
• Performs comprehensive infection prevention rounding in all patient care areas to proactively identify risks, validate compliance with policies and best practices, and drive timely intervention and performance improvement. Ensures all identified risks are immediately escalated to appropriate department leadership, with corrective actions initiated and resolved in real time whenever possible.
• Ensure that all operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, federal, and governmental regulations, and laws.
• Develops and trains personnel in Infection control and prevention in partnership with department leaders.
• Evaluates Infection control and prevention through assessment, planning, intervention, re-evaluation, written documentation, observation, and comparison to established standards.
• Integrates the Infection control and prevention activities with the hospital’s primary functions. Provides ongoing progress reports (verbal and/or written) to their respective unit leaders, of department activities that contribute to achieving the goals of Pipeline Health (strategic plan).
• Participates in the preparation and response to emerging infectious disease threats and/or exposures
• Plans, develops, implements, and monitors appropriate facility-wide programs for the prevention of healthcare associated infections.
• Analyzes and interprets data from surveillance activities and evaluates trends.
• Collaborates with representatives of community health agencies and other institutions to provide coordinated services for prevention and control of infections.
• Assists leadership in developing strategic initiatives, procedures, and processes for clinical regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Develops new policy and procedures, oversees policy and procedure revisions, management, and implementation to comply with accreditation and regulatory standards and requirements for infection prevention.
• Oversees investigations, follow up activities, and action plans in response to infection outbreaks, significant infection events, and significant infection adverse events and serious near misses.
• Directs and leads work groups on projects as assigned.
• Participates in the development and implementation of infection prevention and control activities by facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration of caregivers across the continuum of care.
• In collaboration with the administrative director, participates in the development and implementation of department policies and procedures and departmental infection Prevention and control improvement initiatives.
• Uses clear, concise, professional communication with coworkers, patients, all customers internal and external.
• Uses AIDET in interactions with patients and family members.
• Basic unit/department maintenance such as keeping files, drawers, cabinets free from unnecessary clutter.
• Reports on any equipment and or environmental issues for repair.
• Abides by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations.
• Speaks up to stop the line and escalates potential safety events if necessary.
• Completes and attends monthly training assigned.
• Provides Infection Prevention Coverage across Pipeline Health affiliated facilities as needed, including during periods of staff absence (e.g., illness, vacation, or vacancy). Must be willing and able to travel to sister hospitals when necessary to ensure continuity of infection prevention services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Behavioral Standards:

• Leads collaborative efforts to reduce nosocomial infections throughout the Hospital by developing and implementing standardized infection prevention and surveillance processes.
• Promotes standardization of patient safety practices across Pipeline Health to ensure best practices.
• Serve as a role model for the organization's Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Demonstrates solid understanding of business and operational requirements.
• Demonstrates leadership skills, including team building, and coaching/mentoring with the ability to motivate and engage others.
• Solid understanding of operations and workflows and how department’s process/workflow impacts other department operations.
• Treats everyone as their customer; utilizes scripting and other tools to ensure consistency in customer service; Expresses recognition and shows appreciation to others; fully utilizes AIDET principles; responds quickly to handle requests, complaints, and questions; displays a positive attitude.
• Demonstrates the highest level of professionalism, passion and care when interacting with patients, families, physicians, and hospital staff members.
• Using a lens of equity in all aspects of patient care delivery, education, and research to promote policies and practices to allow opportunities for all to thrive and reach their potential, embracing ingenuity to service our customers.

Communication/Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of epidemiologic principles, microbiology, infectious disease, sterilization, and disinfection in the prevention and control of infection
• Knowledge of nursing and infection control practices, and ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate guidance and direction regarding all aspects of infection control program.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate with various individuals both inside and outside the organization; and able to understand and create reports/presentations/proposals.
• Possesses strong leadership skills including the willingness to pursue roles with increasing levels of accountability, coaching, teaching, inspiring, forging alliances, and collaborating to negotiate resolution to issues.
• Ability to work in stressful situations.
• Wears nametag properly; follows dress code policy; answers phone correctly and promptly; is prepared for meetings; meets deadlines; does not participate in gossip; acts ethically and treats others with respect; respects customer’s and co-worker’s time; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and co-workers.
• Ability to comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state and federal levels.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and/or workshops.
• Ability to direct the development of programs/processes related to Infection Prevention and Control in compliance with external regulatory and accreditation standards and requirements.
• Ability to foster effective working relationships and build consensus.
• Ability to make effective oral presentations and prepare concise written reports to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to mediate and resolve complex problems and issues.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide leadership and influence others.
• Ability to supervise, coach, mentor, train, and evaluate work results.
• Ability to work effectively, with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of computer systems and software used for infection prevention surveillance and regulatory reporting, such as but not limited to the National Hospital Safety Network (NHSN) application.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and related levels of care and treatment.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of organization, administration, fiscal, and personal management.
• Knowledge of local, state and federal regulatory requirements related to infection prevention and control compliance.
• Knowledge of data analysis and reporting practices pertaining to infection prevention and control, quality improvement.

Collaboration/Teamwork:

• Works with directors and managers throughout Pipeline Health to create and implement projects around patient safety that could be incorporated into the annual Infection Prevention plan.
• Maintains a dotted line relationship with the associates at each facility who manage/coordinate the functional areas of Patient Safety, Infection Prevention, and Regulatory Compliance. The dotted line relationship includes setting performance goals, maintaining regular communication, monitoring progress to goals, and providing input to the evaluation of these associates based on the defined expectations.
• Contributes toward effective, positive working relationships with internal and external colleagues.
• Demonstrates cooperation, flexibility, reliability, and dependability in all daily work activities and a willingness to collaborate with others for the good of the customer and the organization.
• Attends staff meetings; follows HIPAA guidelines; follows patient rights policy; complies with the compliance program; demonstrates knowledge of role in a disaster; demonstrates knowledge of fire and fire drill procedures; working knowledge of hospital emergency codes; always utilizes standard precautions in the clinical setting; safely manages the environment of care by demonstrating a working knowledge of the requirements of the: Life Safety program, Utilities Management program, Hazardous Materials program, Emergency Preparedness program, Safety Management program, Medical Equipment Management program, Security Management program.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience; acute care Infection Prevention, Control, and Hospital Epidemiology a plus.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ directing/managing an Infection Prevention and Control Program in an acute care hospital, preferably in a system of hospitals, preferred.
• Critical thinking, service excellence and good interpersonal communication skills, ability to read/comprehend written instructions, strong organizational skills, ability to follow verbal instructions, and PC (computer) skills.
• A capacity to learn, synthesize, make critical judgments, work independently, place patients and families first, and collaborate with the team members who are recognized leaders within healthcare.

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