Infection Preventionist

Position Summary:

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for the development, direction, implementation, management, and operation of infection prevention in the long-term care facility. The Infection Preventionist will work to identify, investigate, monitor, and report healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to create, educate, and sustain infection prevention strategies, as well as providing feedback. The Infection Preventionist conducts ongoing staff development, training, and quality assurance performance improvement monitoring to ensure adherence with the organizational standards, professional guidelines, state, and federal regulations.

Responsibilities:

Program Management:

Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program to include policies and procedures for surveillance, pandemic preparedness, hand hygiene, and standard precautions. Must provide employee and resident infection control education, employee health, outbreak management, and transmission-based precautions. Establish routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance date to identify infections, infection risks, communicable disease outbreaks and to maintain or improve resident health status. Utilize nationally recognized surveillance criteria such as but not limited to CDC's National Healthcare, Safety Network (NHSN), or Revised McGeer criteria to track trends and identify opportunities for improvement based on data analysis. Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data. Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan and infection prevention policies and procedures no less than annually and as needed. Participates in national collaboratives and external reporting to National Healthcare Network (NHSN).

Design and Deliver Education:

Provide infection prevention education at time of hire, no less than annually and when lapses in adherences occur. Acts as subject matter expert and resource within the healthcare center to residents/families, partners, providers, visitors, community, and public health regarding infection prevention and control measures, including identification of infectious disease processes. Create a process for demonstrating competencies following each training activity.

Regulatory Requirements:

Comply with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state and federal levels. Maintain current knowledge with CMS, state and federal regulatory agencies and public health guidelines as it relates to infection prevention. Performance Improvement (PI): Participate in interdisciplinary performance and quality improvement process. Serve as a member of the quality assessment and assurance committee (QAAC) and report to the committee on the infection prevention control program on a regular basis.

Occupational Health:

Participate in the development/review of occupational health policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control. Reviews the risk of blood borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practice for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposures to infectious diseases. Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. i.e. needle stick injuries. Develop (or assist with) immunization and screening programs i.e. Influenza and TB. Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.

Facility Management:

Environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, plumbing/ventilation, food preparation/storage, laundry collection/cleaning, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning.

General Responsibilities:

Monitor resident care practices and develop/maintain resident health program. Participates in the antibiotic stewardship program that includes antibiotic use protocols and a system to monitor antibiotic use.

Qualifications:

Must be a RN or LPN and in good standing in the state of Massachusetts. Is qualified by education, training, experience, or certification (NEHD is willing to help the candidate receive the education preferred by NEHD). Has completed specialized training in infection prevention (NEHD is willing to help the candidate receive the education preferred by NEHD). The ability to effectively collaborate with team members. Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines. Knowledge in and ability to conduct data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation. Ability to communicate clearly using ASL is preferred. All staff are required to take our free, on-site ASL and Culture class.