Clinical Infection Prevention Specialist

About the Unit

Are you ready to join a dynamic team dedicated to advancing healthcare excellence? We are seeking a motivated and passionate Clinical Infection Prevention Specialist to drive operational improvement across our inpatient spaces. As a key player in our organization, you'll spearhead quality improvement activities that enhance clinical and non-clinical areas ensuring measurable business process enhancements and championing infection prevention principles. Imagine yourself implementing best practices and upholding our commitment to patient safety. If you thrive on making a positive impact, have a background in infection prevention or the passion to learn and oversee infection prevention, we invite you to bring your expertise to our team and help us elevate healthcare standards to new heights. Join us in shaping the future of infection prevention and healthcare delivery!

About Corewell Health South – Lakeland Hospitals 

The health system comprises three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, a regional cancer center, rehabilitation centers, two long-term care residences, home care and hospice services, and 34 affiliate physician practice locations. We provide both inpatient and outpatient medical services throughout Southwest Michigan.

Scope of Work

Supports operational improvement projects throughout the organization including both clinical and non-clinical areas to accomplish measurable business process improvements. Analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing processes and helps to develop sustainable, repeatable and quantifiable clinical and business process improvements. Collects and analyzes process and quality data to initiate, develop, and recommend operational practices and procedures that focus on enhanced safety, increased productivity, and reduced cost. Experienced in hospital epidemiology principles and is responsible for the surveillance, analysis and reporting and prevention of healthcare associated infections; educating all healthcare providers, patients and families about infection control; and the development of health system policies and procedures to ensure rigorous infection control standards that meet Joint Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Community Health Departments and Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirements

Essential Functions

• Utilizes infection prevention information, research and other quantitative data in the analysis and synthesis of plans to mitigate risks related to infections, streamlining of processes or improve performance.
• Serves as an internal consultant by providing guidance on infection prevention, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization practices and products.
• Facilitates quality improvement activities to stabilize processes, reduce variation, and improve outcomes to establish a culture of safe and infection free care.
• Fosters and maintains collaborative relationships with team, internal customers, and external agencies.
• Performs ongoing surveillance, as assigned, utilizing proactive and reactive approaches to identify and mitigate risks related to infections.
• Engages team and leadership in a professional manner, accesses the chain of command as needed, and participates in developing the team culture. May participate in the budgetary, staff recruitment and policy review process.
• Develops and delivers infection prevention education to staff, as needed. Presents on infection prevention topics as requested.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Nursing, medical technology, or education related to epidemiology.
• 2 years of relevant Clinical or Infection Prevention experience
• LIC-Registered Nurse (RN) - State of Michigan OR
• CRT-Medical Technologist, Certified (MT) - ASCP American Society for Clinical Pathology
• AHA or ARC Basic Life Support (BLS) within 90 days 

Preferred

• Master's Degree or equivalent experience including Master of Public Health.
• 2 years of relevant experience in participation on improvement initiatives
• CRT-Infection Prevention and Control, Certified - CBIC Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc within 3 years after hire
• CRT-At least one Certification from preferred list - Institute for Healthcare improvement (IHI), IHI Open School

How we will care for you, while you care for our patients 

• Comprehensive benefits package to meet your financial, health, and work/life balance goals. Learn more