Infection Preventionist

Job Description Summary

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for identifying, investigating, monitoring, and reporting health-care infections. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to create infection prevention strategies, provide feedback, and sustain infection prevention strategies.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program
• Surveillance
• Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data
• Utilizes epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations
• Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan as necessary
• Assist with implementation of infection prevention and control policies and protocols.
• Communicate infection prevention and control policies and protocols
• Communicate infection prevention and control information and data to various committees and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned

Design and deliver education

• Assess and address learning needs of those served
• Create educational goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and available educational tools and technology

• Work with CPDS team to create education plans based on the learning needs assessment
• Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes

Regulatory requirements

• Comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state and federal levels
• Facilitate and assist in auditing for compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards
• Stay current on infection prevention/control regulatory and accreditation standards

Performance Improvement/Quality Management

• Utilize QM methodology as a means of enacting change
• Monitor, audit and analyze process and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability
• Participate in QM committees, teams and initiatives as indicated

Employee Health Services

• Review Employee Health policies and procedures related to IPC
• Assess risk of occupational exposures to infectious disease
• Understand work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure

Professional accountability

• Pursue professional growth and development of required knowledge and skills
• Maintain certification and licensure requirements
• Establish at least one professional goal per year
• Advocate for patient safety, health care worker safety, and safe practices
• Participate in an infection prevention and control professional organization/association (APIC)

Collaboration

• Consult and collaborate, as needed with local, state, and federal public health officials, and community health organizations
• Involve multidisciplinary teams to ensure all stakeholder groups vet changes

Leadership and technology

• Utilize principles of influence, leadership and change management
• Bring enthusiasm, creativity and innovation to practice
• Work collaboratively with others, providing direction when necessary
• Readily share knowledge and expertise
• Contribute to the development of less-experienced healthcare providers through education and mentorship
• Prepare and deliver infection prevention presentations

Research and implementation science

• Evaluate (critically) research and evidence-based practices and incorporate appropriate findings into routine practice
• Integrate evidence-based practices into policies, guidelines, protocols and educational strategies
• Identify barriers for implementation and develop strategies to minimize or remove barriers
• Implement strategies to sustain efforts such as audit tools and meaningful feedback

IPC informatics

• Be familiar with infection prevention software and other technology
• Collaborate with IT to create meaningful electronic reports to enhance infection prevention initiatives

Fiscal responsibility

• Consider the financial/safety implication and clinical outcomes when making recommendations, evaluating technology and products, and developing policies and procedures
• Use a systematic approach to evaluate costs, benefits, and efficacy
• Incorporate fiscal assessments into program evaluations and/or reports

Job Requirements

Educational and Certification and Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing, public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science or related science

  BSN, MSN preferred with 5 years of clinical experience Current license in MA

Completion of basic training program for infection prevention/control that may include on the job training.

• Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology or, attainment within 2.5 years after employment

Essential Skills:

• Analytical

• Problem Solving

• Collaboration

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines

• Conflict resolution 

• Program and project management

• Expertise in data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation

• Leadership

• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of pertinent computer software (EPIC preferred)