Infection Control Preventionist-Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals provided pay range

This range is provided by NYC Health + Hospitals. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$/yr - $/yr

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Purpose of Position: Under varying levels of supervision, depending on Assignment Level, conducts, facilitates, develops and monitors activities and functions relating to surveillance, investigation, analysis, interpretation, reporting, prevention and control of infections and communicable diseases. Participates in assessing, implementing, and maintaining a culture of safety across the continuum of care, by performing a wide range of prevention and control functions. Supports the delivery of safe patient-centered, quality care and collaborates with various departments across the health care setting to facilitate improved outcomes and patient experience.

Acts in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal rules and regulations and infection control standards.

Responsible for infection prevention and control components including surveillance with a primary focus on education and consultation of healthcare providers. Demonstrates expert-level understanding of surveillance data gathering, use of surveillance software, definition application, and reporting.

• Conducts ongoing infection control surveillance, prevention, and control program activities within a health care setting to identify early and/or suspected outbreaks of infections and communicable diseases, and to control and reduce the risk of exposure and avoid transmission by using epidemiologic principles. Approximately 80% of time will be spent on surveillance.
• Collects, tabulates, analyzes, and interprets infection data and records, and prepares and reviews reports; utilizes appropriate reporting programs; accurately reports "reportable diseases" to the appropriate public health departments and responds to public health department inquiries, as needed.
• Reviews daily microbiology and virology reports for culture results that may represent HAI.
• Participates in apparent cause analysis to identify modifiable risk factors and other infection prevention opportunities.
• Reviews patient charts for evidence of HAIs and applies National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) definitions to identify and report HAIs through the use of an electronic surveillance system. Documents appropriate information in patient electronic record.
• Assists with investigations of clusters of infections, outbreaks, unusual infections or exposures as these events arise and participates in epidemiologic studies, as needed.
• Assists with reviewing construction plans and designs and with completion of Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRAs), as needed.
• Serves as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.
• Conducts weekly environmental rounding, as assigned.
• Consults with HCPs to answer infection prevention and control questions or concerns from staff, patients, and/or families. Advises staff on appropriate isolation practices and use of personal protective equipment.
• Conducts mandatory education, as well as new employee orientation sessions, in‑services and other educational sessions; participates in the antibiotic stewardship program.
• Assists with the review of infection prevention and control policies and procedures and with risk assessments to identify gaps in infection…