Infection Preventionist

Infection Preventionist
0.9 FTE, 72 hours per pay period
Hours between 7 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, with some flexibility needed to work outside of those hours on occasion

* Starting pay between $35.15 and $43.93, based on experience

Position Overview:

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing the organization-wide Infection Control Program, which includes all functions related to infection prevention, surveillance, and control at Winona Health. Specializes in identifying, controlling, and working to prevent outbreaks of infection. Collects, reviews, analyzes, and submits infection prevention and control data to various groups and regulatory agencies; implements, evaluates, and maintains the organization-wide infection prevention and control plan;

develops, revises, and maintains infection control policies and procedures; provides education on infection prevention and control, and investigates suspected outbreaks of infection. Consults on infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies. The Infection Preventionist serves as a resource for infection prevention and control for all of Winona Health Services.

• Serves as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee. Works closely with the Chair of the Infection Control Committee to assure the agenda is set, the box score is updated, infection prevention and control issues are identified for discussion, and reports are ready for presentation. Attends the Infection Prevention and Control Committee Meetings.
• Collects, reviews, analyzes, and submits infection-control data to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other regulatory agencies as required and/or requested.
• Conducts surveillance and investigations through the use of current epidemiologic principles. Uses appropriate statistical analysis to describe data, calculate rates, and critically evaluate the significance of findings. Presents surveillance data to the Infection Prevention and Control Committee. Integrates surveillance findings into the infection prevention and control plan for continuous improvement of clinical practice and patient care outcomes.
• Assures regulatory requirements are met. Apprises the Infection Prevention and Control committee of upcoming changes. Keeps current on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for worldwide, national, and local infection control issues or concerns that may impact Winona Health. Brings forward relevant public health issues to the Infection Prevention and Control Committee for discussion and implementation as determined.
• Maintains the Winona Health membership in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and keeps current on trends and issues in Infection Prevention and Control.
• Maintains the organization-wide infection prevention and control plan along with the Infection Control Committee. Recommends changes based on current knowledge. Actively assures that the Infection Prevention and Control plan is communicated.
• Develops, revises, and maintains infection control policies and procedures, presents these to the Infection Prevention and Control Committee for approval, then educates and communicates policies to all departments. Recommends new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted, evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies.
• Maintains positive, solid working relationships and open communication with the local public health agencies and MDH.
• Monitors and investigates known or suspected sources of infections to…