Infection Preventionist

Hourly Pay Range

$38.67 - $59.94. The hourly pay rate offered is determined by a candidate's expertise and years of experience, among other factors.

• Position:
  Infection Preventionist
• Location:
  
  Evanston IL
• Full Time: 40 hours per week
• Hours:
  
  Monday-Friday, 8:00a-4:30p, on call rotation every 7-8 weeks
• Rotating weekends and rotating holidays with team

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for overseeing and implementing infection control measures within a healthcare facility. This role involves monitoring, preventing, and controlling the spread of infectious diseases to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors. Assures compliance with Joint Commission, OSHA, and the Illinois Dept. of Public Health standards and regulations, all within the context of controlling and minimizing infection risks and the promotion of quality care.

• Conduct surveillance to identify patients with communicable diseases requiring follow-up and isolation. Applies established criteria to identify and classify infections at various body sites.
• Track risks, rates and trends in hospital-acquired infections. Recognize statistical significance of surveillance data and identify variances from baseline that require special attention. Compare data to results from published studies and recognized sources (e.g. CDC).
• Conduct investigations of clusters of infection occurring above expected levels by collaborating with appropriate persons to establish study case definition, period of study, and case-finding methods. Utilize epidemiological principles to design and conduct investigations.
• Routinely perform infection prevention rounds and complete associated tracers to support infection prevention efforts and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with Facilities and key stakeholders to ensure risk mitigation strategies are implemented before, during, and after project work.
• Communicate with public health authorities relative to communicable disease control, prevention and reporting. Maintain appropriate records as required by regulation. Ensure maximum confidentiality of and access to such information.
• Establish and maintain quality of care through direction of various department personnel and in cooperation with the Medical Staff and Clinical Quality/Clinical Excellence.
• Collaborate with various departments on infection control issues as needed including but not limited to:
  Emergency Preparedness, Employee Health, Sterile Processing, EVS.
• Communicate changes in regulations, guidelines, consensus statements, position papers, and standards to appropriate parties. Influence and motivate others to enhance Infection Control perception in their work and personal habits.
• Participate in development and implementation of system-wide policies and procedures related to Infection Control activities.
• Provide new employee orientation and ongoing in-service training to hospital personnel using principles of adult learning. Assess the educational needs of health care providers pertaining to infection control and prepares, presents, or coordinates educational workshops, lectures, or one-on-one instruction as needed.
• Work closely with the Employee Health Department to develop infection control strategies which address the risk of infection transmission between patients and health care providers, including investigation and follow-up for health care providers exposed to communicable diseases.
• Assume rotating on call responsibilities as needed including evenings, weekends, holidays. Duties include answering pages, reviewing laboratory reports, and isolation surveillance.

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required or
• Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology required or
• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health required
• Master's Degree in Nursing preferred or
• Master's Degree in Medical Technology preferred or
• Master's Degree in Public Health preferred
• 2 Years experience as a staff nurse or laboratory scientist with a background in Infectious Diseases required
• Previous Infection Prevention experience preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Proficiency with…