Infection Prevention & Patient Safety Specialist

Job Summary :

The Infection Prevention and Patient Safety (IPPS) Specialist relies on mentorship, rules and concepts to guide practice, as knowledge and skills in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Patient Safety develop. The IPPS Specialist is responsible for collaborating to promote, implement and sustain effective strategies outlined in the organization-wide Infection Prevention and Control Plan and the Patient Safety Plan.

Job Description

Essential Responsibilities

Infection Prevention Responsibilities
1. Assumes ownership for monitoring the organization-wide hand hygiene program and collaborates to recommend and implement corrective actions to improve compliance.
2. Seeks mentorship from experienced Infection Preventionists for the Infection Prevention responsibilities
3. Assists in implementing and monitoring of delegated functions of the infection prevention and control program throughout the organization
4. Participates in infection control surveillance of inpatients, outpatients, associates, volunteers and medical staff.
5. Ensures proper patient isolation per organization-wide protocols.
6. Participates in the review, analysis, and reporting of infection control statistical data to Quality Steering Committee and Safety/Infection Control Committee (if requested) quarterly.
7. Participates in the assessment of the on-going effectiveness of infection prevention practices/processes throughout the organization.
8. Participates in the development and implementation of corrective actions for issues identified through surveillance and evaluation of the effectiveness of actions taken to resolve issues.
9. Completes routine rounding of units and departments to assess effectiveness of infection prevention practices, including isolation practices, and environment of care rounds.
10. Participates in the validation of culture specimen needs with physicians and nursing staff.
11. Reports reportable communicable diseases and associated lab findings to appropriate public health agencies per regulatory requirements.
12. Participates in overseeing environmental culturing initiatives resulting from surveillance or outbreak occurrences.
13. Participates in the reviews of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization methods practiced throughout the organization.
14. Monitors infection control data used for comparative reporting purposes.
15. Collaborates in the coordination of the infection control program with the associate health program and serves as a collaborative resource and advisor.
16. Identifies associates, volunteers, students and physicians who have been potentially exposed to infectious agents and collaborates with Employee Health Nurse regarding necessary prophylaxis post exposure.
17. Participates in the development of curriculums and education and training on HRH Infection Control Program, assuring compliance with regulatory and licensing agency requirements.
18. Participates in the determination of potential occupational exposure risk category for infectious tuberculosis and bloodborne pathogens per job/position for associates, students and volunteers.
19. Provides age specific educational material for patient education for various communicable diseases and infections/colonization.
20. Participates in the development, reviews and revision of all organization-wide infection control policies/procedures at least biennially.
21. Participates in the review and revision of the organization-wide TB Exposure, Prevention and Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, year specific Infection Control Plan and Infection Control Program at least annually.
22. Participates in medical records review for data collection and reporting of Hospital Acquired Conditions to NHSN
23. Participates in Participates in IPC risk assessments and action plan development for risk mitigation, including Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) creation of construction zones to mitigate patient exposure to environmental pathogens

Patient Safety Responsibilities
1. Seeks mentorship from the Patient Safety Officer and Director of Quality for patient safety responsibilities
2. Assists in implementing and monitoring delegated functions of the Patient Safety program throughout the organization including patient safety rounds, risk assessments, audits and review of patient safety events as assigned.

Education and Experience Required
1. Bachelor’s degree in nursing, microbiology, or epidemiology
2. Experience in presentations and teaching required
3. Must be knowledgeable in infection control practices, and microbiology

Certification & Licensure
1. A minimum of 2 years or infection control experience preferred
2. APIC certification in infection control preferred

Work Shift :

Scheduled Weekly Hours :

40