Infection Preventionist Outpatient Ambulatory

Infection Preventionist

Great care starts with great people. (Like you.) At HonorHealth, you'll find something special. From humble beginnings in 1927 to one of Arizona's largest nonprofit healthcare systems, our culture is built on warmth and neighborly kindness. Behind every smile is a highly skilled professional with deep expertise and an unwavering dedication to what matters most — caring for the health and well-being of people and communities across the greater Phoenix area.

Responsibilities:

This Infection Preventionist acts as a resource and consultant to all clinical, support and management services and medical staff regarding organizational infection prevention and control. Applies epidemiologic principals and statistical methods, including risk stratification, identifies target populations, analyzes trends and risk factors and designs and evaluates the effectiveness of the infection prevention program and approaches. Coordinates comprehensive system-wide infection prevention and control program and activities.

Essential Functions

• Provides direction for comprehensive infection prevention and control surveillance activities including routine patient-focused and microbiological surveillance, outbreak investigation, environment and construction surveillance, and communicable disease reporting. Interprets surveillance data and presents the information to the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and hospital/medical staff departments.
• Consistently utilizes the CDC/NHSN criteria to evaluate and assign healthcare associated versus community acquired infection status. Possesses a comprehensive knowledge of NHSN and submits data to the CDC/NHSN database according to CMS requirements
• Leads and participates in network wide and local infection prevention improvement programs with special focus on CLABSI, CAUTI, C.difficile and MRSA, along with Surgical Site infection reductions strategies. Guides the implementation of best practices using recommendations from APIC, CDC, SHEA and other infection prevention agencies as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains a comprehensive infection prevention and control plan for the organization based on most current scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice. Develops and maintains infection control-related policies and procedures to prevent and control infections and meet applicable laws and regulatory standards. Serves as a resource to the organization for development and revision of policies and procedures with infection prevention and control implications including construction, environment of care, bioterrorism and occupational health.
• Plans and participates in providing infection-control related education programs for patients, clinical and non-clinical staff, physicians, volunteers, students and the community. Tailors programs to general, position-specific and individual learning needs and makes recommendations for staff development.
• Serves as a consultant to the organization in providing recommendations on appropriate patient care supplies, sterilization, disinfection and cleaning supplies, and safe needle products utilizing the latest evidence-based knowledge and the principles of epidemiology
• Serves as a resource to the organization on infection prevention and control-related aspects of construction, environment of care, disasters and bioterrorism/epidemic detection and response.
• Acts as Liaison with county public health, state licensing and Quality Improvement Organizations as relates to infection prevention issues.
• Consults with administration, legal/risk management, physicians, and staff on complex situations involving patients, staff, and the environment.
• Responds and participates in an organization-wide approach to emerging infectious disease situations, such as Ebola and Pandemic Influenza. Develops policies and procedures to meet compliance with state certification for infectious diseases as appropriate.
• Maintains compliance with national standards and regulatory bodies such as CDC, OSHA, and the FDA.
• Provides post-exposure investigation for internal and external healthcare workers in consultation with Occupational Health and outside agencies

Education

• Bachelors in Medical Lab-Technology or health related field Required
• Bachelors in Nursing Preferred

Experience

• 1 year in Infection Control in acute care setting Preferred
• 5 years experience in Infection Prevention and Control in acute care setting Preferred
• 5 years experience in Infection Prevention in Outpatient treatment. Preferred

License and Certifications

• a-IPC Certification 180 Days Required
• Certified Infection Control (CIC) - Certification Preferred
• Registered Nurse (RN) - License State And/Or Compact State Licensure Preferred