Infection Preventionist

Job Requirements

The Infection Preventionist conducts nosocomial infection surveillance, analyzes data for trends, participates in outbreak investigations, provides related education to staff and maintains relevant policies.

Responsibilities and Tasks

1. Collects, processes, and analyzes surveillance data to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to decrease morbidity and mortality as well as employee exposures and injuries
2. Evaluate hospitalized patients for the presence of nosocomial, infectious or reportable disease using both electronic data and site visits
3. Reviews culture and sensitivity reports on in-patients with possible infections to set priorities for surveillance activities in patient care areas and define nosocomial infections in accordance with CDC published definitions.
4. Performs surveillance of current in-patient and discharged patient's medical records suspected of having acquired a nosocomial infection.
5. Identifies, alert sand discusses significant Infection Control issues with the Director of Infection Prevention & Control and Hospital Epidemiologist, usually pertaining to those nursing units assigned for surveillance activities.
6. Reports communicable diseases as required by law
7. Consult with administration, medical staff, department managers, employees, and patients regarding infection control practices, policies, and procedures, transmission of communicable disease, and reduction of nosocomial infections
8. Maintains records of nosocomial infections and prepares various monthly, quarterly and annual infection reports in accordance with departmental procedures.
9. Completes necessary data collection in a timely manner in preparation for monthly infection prevention reports.
10. Attends monthly Infection Control Subcommittee meetings to present nosocomial infection data for specific patient care areas and/or types of infections.
11. Prepares and reviews quarterly nosocomial infections reports for accuracy and completeness with Hospital Epidemiologist. Distributes report to the Executive Infection Control Committee to be presented by the Hospital Epidemiologist. May attend and present the data as required.
12. Leads and or participates in multidisciplinary collaborative teams to improve preventative practices, identify evidenced based research, and improve patient and institutional outcome.
13. Some On-Call is required.
14. Investigates patient/employee exposures to communicable diseases and participates in outbreak investigations, making recommendations to control such outbreaks and notifies appropriate City and State Health Officials in accordance with departmental procedures and state regulations.
15. Reviews current infection control literature to keep up to date on infection control changes and developments.
16. Makes recommendations to departments to alter specific procedures to decrease the transmission of nosocomial infection between and/or to patients.
17. Develops educational programs to meet the needs of all employees as required by regulatory agencies to keep them informed about current infection control concepts and their specific responsibilities.
18. Provides infection control education to nursing, medical staff and various allied health staff to communicate departmental and hospital-wide policies and procedures.
19. Consults with health care workers via telephone and/or in person concerning infection control issues in patient care and/or employee health.
20. Review and revise house wide policies to ensure that current practice meets professional and regulatory standards with regards to identification of issues and outbreak control and prevention. Develop sound policies that reflect changing trends.
21. Develops and conducts hospital-wide in-service programs on infection control.
22. Assists with conducting Annual Training Sessions on "Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogens" and tuberculosis for UMMS employees, physicians and other hospital personnel.
23. Collaborates with Employee Health regarding vaccine programs, PPD testing and post-evaluation follow-up for infectious disease exposures.
24. Maintains infection prevention expertise in a clinical specialty in infection control as identified by the Director

Work Experience

Education and Experience

1. A bachelor's degree in nursing, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Public Health or other related field is required. Master's degree is preferred.
2. Two years clinical experience as an RN, microbiology experience as a Medical Technologist or an advanced degree in a closely related field is required. Current licensure in the State of Maryland as a Registered Nurse or certification as a Registered Medical Technologist is required if using these criteria to fulfill the experience requirement. Infection Prevention experience is strongly preferred.
3. Certification from the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC)) as an Infection Control Practitioner is required, or taken within two (2) years of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Sound knowledge of epidemiology, sterilization and sanitation, bacteriology, infectious disease and asepsis
2. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs
3. Self-motivated individual with the ability to work independently
4. Ability to respond, investigate, identify and problem-solve infection control issues requiring immediate and decisive action.
5. Strong leadership skills
6. Ability to deliver various educational programs to hospital personnel regarding infection control precautions/procedures.
7. Must be able to relate to others on a professional level
8. Ability to plan, organize, and consult
9. Strong aptitude to present information in a sound and concise manner
10. Highly effective verbal and written communication skills are required to interact with patients and clinical staff regarding infection control procedures and precautions.
11. Strong computer skills
12. Demonstrated knowledge of computer applications as it applies to database management such as database management software, and knowledge of the operation of a personal computer system is required. Knowledge of statistics, research design, adult and pediatric infectious diseases, nosocomial infections surveillance, interpretation of microbiology lab data is required.

Patient Safety Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives

1. Acts to correct observed risks to patient safety.

2. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.

3. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.