Infection Preventionist

Our UPMC Chautauqua team is looking for an Infection Preventionist to join their them! This full-time opportunity primarily works standard business hours, Monday through Friday, with occasional on-call weekends.

Our ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas:

• National Health Safety Network (NHSN) Reporting
• Regulatory Surveys
• Leadership
• Conducting Investigations

In this role, the Infection Preventionist will perform surveillance for detection and prevention of infections occurring in the healthcare system. The IP will use an epidemiologic approach to preventing infections throughout the hospital through problem solving, critical thinking, intervention and education. The IP will use advanced epidemiology knowledge and statistical analysis to investigate outbreaks, infection rate calculations and improvement/intervention projects. The IP will use adult education principles to develop and implement infection prevention educational programs.

The IP actively leads or participates in goal planning activities, program assessment and development of business cases.

• Facilitate implementation of infection prevention and control policies/guidelines for all hospital departments that reflect current standards of practice and compliance with CDC, OSHA, TJC, and the Department of Health guidelines.
• Provide leadership for interdisciplinary teams to control specific disease entities and support quality initiatives.
• Identify trends in hospital infections through review and interpretation of surveillance data to develop risk reduction strategies and implement process improvement initiatives. Provide analysis and interpretation of data collected during surveillance activities. Develop reports to communicate trend data and analysis.
• Conduct construction/renovation inspections and rounds to ensure compliance with the practicing state's DOH requirements and assess for any infection control/ safety issues.
• Serve on the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and represent Hospital Epidemiology in hospital committees requiring Infection Prevention and Control input.
• Perform related duties as required.
• Demonstrate ongoing continuing education by reviewing professional publications and participating in educational programs and professional organization activities.
• Investigate clusters and outbreaks for sources of infection, educate healthcare personnel regarding short and long term control measures and assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of such controls.
• Facilitate operational responsibilities of infection prevention and control in mandatory reporting if/as required by practicing state regulatory and legal requirements, including identification of infections, reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), contacting physicians of patients with infections to inform them of notification process and fielding questions from patients with infections reported.
• Conduct environmental rounds as appropriate to assess compliance with the practicing state's DOH, Life Safety and TJC requirements.
• Work with hospital management to identify areas for improved performance to prevent HAIs and/or protect employees, patients and visitors from infectious/communicable conditions.
• Act as liaison with local and state health departments and other healthcare facilities by reporting notifiable diseases and investigating communicable conditions.
• Plan, develop, conduct and document educational programs for hospital personnel, patients and families using age and education level appropriate venues to maintain or enhance knowledge of infection control.
• Support the departmental objective of quality services, system improvement, and cost containment by contributing to the successful implementation of recommended initiatives.
• Perform surveillance of hospital units for detection of healthcare acquired infections through electronic review of patient records, microbiological, radiological, and other laboratory data, patient treatment plans and through communication with hospital personnel.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary health care professionals, administrators, health system personnel and local, state and federal regulatory agencies.
• Document infection data in an electronic surveillance system as required by applicable practicing state regulation.