Infection Preventionist

Definition

**IF YOU PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RE-SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION**

Under general supervision of the Nursing Administrator, the Infection Preventionist oversees multiple HHS patient care facilities and directs all infection prevention related activities associated with surveillance, performance improvement, and education which are intended to ensure that the facility's patients, personnel and visitors will be protected from transmission of diseases and infection within the facility's environment as identified by accreditation and other Infection Prevention and Control certification agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This job class is treated as FSLA Exempt.

Essential Functions: Essential functions may vary among positions and may include the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, skills and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification.

Examples of Tasks

• Responsible for the oversight of facility/facilities compliance with Infection Prevention Accreditation Standards, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other Infection Prevention and Control certification agencies for the daily operations of the Infection Prevention Department.
• Responsible for the ongoing assessment and development of training programs, policies and Procedures and forms to address the Infection Prevention needs of employees, volunteers, contract workers, independent contractors, medical staff, registry workers and students in accordance with the guidelines established by the accreditation agencies and regulatory agencies.
• Develops and operationalizes the Infection Prevention Program's annual risk assessment, action plans, and annual evaluations.
• Responsible for the strategic development of the Infection Prevention Program within the facilities.
• Collaborates with Program Area Managers, Medical Staff and Administrative Representatives to develop and implement the Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Plans and develops appropriate Infection Prevention and Control feedback mechanisms with program area managers.
• Develops and maintains current reference files on Infection Prevention and Control, epidemiology and clinic practices.
• Responsible for HHS compliance with AAAHC Accreditation regulations.
• Accountable for reporting communicable disease to appropriate health agencies as required.

Infection Prevention and Control Activities

• Facilitates Infection Prevention and Control Committee and evaluates its effectiveness by coordinating information relative to surveillance findings, problem identification, and infectious incidence trends.
• Communicates Infection Prevention and Control Committee's activities to the leadership of HHS.
• Serves as the Chair of the Infection Prevention Committee, and as an Infection Prevention Consultant to appropriate facility Committees.
• Serves as a standing member during Environment of Care Rounds.

Infection Prevention and Control Administration

• Coordinates Infection Prevention and Control activities relative to follow-up of patients, personnel or visitor exposure to infectious diseases or adverse environmental conditions.
• Confidentially maintains provider specific infection rate and adherence of Infection Prevention Policies and submits annual report for the re-credentialing process.
• Responsible for monitoring environmental cultures as appropriate in patient care areas and Central Sterile Processing.
• Supervises systems of surveillance utilized by each Clinic area for Infection Prevention monitoring.

Infection Prevention and Control Surveillance

• Plans and develops data collection, maintenance, and reporting systems for surveillance of facility associated infection exposure.
• Identifies problems of surveillance findings, develops plan of approach and communicates plan appropriately.
• Maintains all records relative to Infection Control surveillance.
• Utilizes appropriate Quality Assurance monitoring activities to address issues of potential risk of exposure and infection for patients, personnel and visitors.
• Documents problems and implements Infection Prevention measures in performance improvement projects.
• Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:

• Knowledge of the history, culture, laws, customs, and traditions of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
• Knowledge of medical records management systems, both physical and electronic.
• Knowledge of EHR, and other related clinical software.
• Knowledge of procedure codes and processes for healthcare treatment.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare workflow processes.
• Knowledge of performance improvement models and root cause analysis

• Skill in analyzing data, from multiple sources (including paper charts, software applications, databases, etc.) collaboratively.
• Skill in solving complex problems through the use of a combination of delivered and custom-developed tools.
• Skill in time management and organization.
• Skill in interpersonal communication and collaboration.

• Ability to code, compile and categorize, and verify information/data.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and use judgment.
• Ability to meet and comply with HIPAA/Confidentiality policies and procedures and ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive patient and financial information.
• Ability to complete work assignments and special projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively to train large numbers of staff.
• Ability to handle difficult situations with patients, providers, and others in a professional manner.
• Ability to work with technology to extract and manipulate data.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Master's Degree in Nursing preferred.

Experience: 3 to 5 years' experience as an Infection Preventionist; 5 years clinical experience in Nursing or Public Health.

Licensure and Certification: Active Arizona Registered Nurse License; Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) to be obtained during first two (2) years of hire.

Special Training: APIC Basic IC Course and Certification preparation course to be obtained during first year of hire;

• Equivalency: Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, Public Health with seven (7) years of infection prevention experience in lieu of Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.

• Underfill Eligibility: An enrolled Community Member whom closely qualifies for the minimum qualifications for a position may be considered for employment under SRPMIC Policy 2-19, Underfill .

Special Requirements

• Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of this position, successful completion of an extensive background investigation is required. Employees in, and applicants applying for jobs providing direct services to children are subject to the "Community code of Ordinances", Chapter 11, "Minors", Article X. "Investigation of Persons Working with Children".

Prior to hire as an employee, applicants will be subject to drug and alcohol testing. Will be required to pass a pre-employment background/fingerprint check. Employees are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

"SRPMIC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer" Preference will be given to a qualified : Community Member Veteran, Community Member, Spouse of Community Member, qualified Native American, and then other qualified candidate.

In order to obtain preference, the following is required: 1) Qualified Community Member Veteran (DD-214) will be required at the time of application submission 2) Qualified Community Member (must provide Tribal I.D at time of application submission),3) Spouse of a Community Member (Marriage License/certificate and spouse Tribal ID or CIB is required at time of application submission), and 4) Native American (Tribal ID or CIB required at time of application submission).

Documents may be submitted by one of the following methods:

1) attach to application

2) fax (480) 362-5860

3) mail or hand deliver to Human Resources.

Documentation must be received by position closing date.

The IHS/BIA Form-4432 is not accepted .

Your Tribal ID/CIB must be submitted to HR-Recruitment-Two Waters.