Infection Prevention Specialist - Main Infection Prevention - Part Time

Job Description

Infection Preventionists (IPs) are professionals who are responsible for preventing infections in the healthcare environment through early identification, investigation and monitoring of hospital activities. The IP collaborates with healthcare teams, hospital leadership, and other professionals to create and sustain infection prevention strategies, compile infection data, develop policies and procedures, and coordinate with local, state and national public health agencies. IPs have an awareness of all regulations (CMS, TJC, OSHA, CDC, WHO, AORN, state and local health departments) relative to infection control and prevention while maintaining current standards of infection prevention practices.

• Collects, manages, and analyzes surveillance data using standardized methodology & defined criteria for Hospital Associated Infections (HAI).
• Organizes and maintains surveillance data and records.
• Reports surveillance data, findings, and analyses to the appropriate committees, patient care units, personnel, and external agencies.
• Provides written and verbal reports to administration and relevant committees, departments, personnel and external agencies.
• Monitors patients for the occurrence of communicable diseases, HAIs, and resistant and epidemiologically important organisms.
• Monitors infectious diseases and epidemiologically significant organisms occurring in the community via laboratory reports and public health reports.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficacy of infection prevention and control strategies.

• Participates in development of healthcare staff orientation programs, required annual education programs and ongoing education and competencies.
• Provides education on hand hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection procedures for patient care areas, equipment, and high-touch surfaces, aseptic technique, safe medication injection practices, specific infectious diseases including diseases of high consequences, outbreak management and other related healthcare issues.
• Monitors healthcare staff and environments to ensure proper hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, sterilization of equipment, environmental risks and adherence to isolation precautions. These measures are essential in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
• Understands and ensures implementation of manufacturer's "instructions for use" for equipment or products used for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficacy of infection prevention and control strategies.
• Provides Just-in-Time education and coaching to healthcare staff, as needed to ensure understanding of infection prevention protocols.

• Uses data to identify risks to the health care continuum from threats related to domestic and international travel.
• Provides confirmation of an outbreak through literature review, establishing a case definition, using case finding methodology, preparing a line list, evaluating the environment and guiding sampling if needed.
• Collaborates with public health officials, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to investigate the outbreak, implement control measures, and communicate updates to the relevant parties.
• Notifies appropriate stakeholders of ongoing issues or concerns.

• Uses resources to remain updated with regulatory standards and evidence-based guidelines.
• Ensures staff members are educated on infection prevention practices and that necessary precautions are taken to maintain patient safety.
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to assist with policy and procedure development.
• Continuously evaluates the need for revision of infection control policies to ensure their effectiveness in preventing infections and maintaining a safe environment.

• Participates in annual risk assessments to capture current and potential future infection risks.
• Assists in prioritizing likelihood of occurrence and potential for harm.
• Uses the risk assessment process to plan effective mitigation strategies to eliminate or reduce the transmission of pathogens and address more advanced situations, such as managing outbreaks of novel pathogens, pathogens of consequence, staff safety, environmental considerations such as special locations, water management plans, construction‑related concerns, food handling safety, and equipment management.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of mitigation measures and makes adjustments as needed, ensuring ongoing compliance with infection control protocols.

• Participates in the antimicrobial stewardship program by identifying and detecting MDROs, reporting surveillance trends over time, using surveillance data (i.e., treating asymptomatic bacteriuria, collecting contaminated specimens), and analyzing antibiograms and antibiotic use.
• Collaborates with s to develop…