RN Infection Preventionist - Quality Management - Full Time

Position Title:  Infection Preventionist                                             Position Code:  QMInfPre-8030

Department:  Quality Management                                                  Oracle Title:  Infection Preventionist-8030

Reports to:  Sr. Director of Quality Management                            Safety Sensitive:  ☒  Yes            ☐  No

                                                Exempt Status:    ☒  Yes     ☐  No  

Position Purpose:

All KHI employees are expected to perform their respective tasks and duties in such a way that supports KHI’s vision to be among the kindest, highest quality health systems in the country.

Key Responsibilities

Surveillance:

• Apply epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification, to identify target population, analyze trends and risk factors, and design and evaluate prevention and control strategies.

• Conduct on-going surveillance using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) infection criteria, definitions, documentation, and investigation of hospital and community associated infections through review of admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, isolation needs, patient records, consultation requests, post-discharge surveillance, and autopsy findings.

• Assess environmental control through surveillance of water supply systems as needed, air pressure relationships for high risk environmental monitoring.

• Conduct environmental healthcare safety rounds in all inpatient and outpatient care areas.

• Participate in investigations of unusual hospital infection outbreaks utilizing microbiology laboratory, consultation with Infectious Disease Division, county/state public health departments, and when necessary in consultation with the Center for Disease Control. Report epidemiologically significant findings to appropriate shareholders and customers.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the surveillance plan and modify as necessary.

• Report all in-house patients with communicable disease to the county and/or State health department and maintain appropriate records. Compile, interpret and present surveillance reports to Infection Prevention committee, specialty areas, nursing care units, and Quality Council on a regular basis.

• Share infections identified as present on admission and present post discharge to appropriate discharge and admitting facility and keep log.

Data:

• Collect data in support of epidemiological studies of specific problems or problem areas to determine the source of the problem and make appropriate recommendations.

• Timely and accurate reporting to NHSN and all regulatory agencies

• Accurate reporting of metrics to Medical Staff committees and Administration

• Utilize and maintain appropriate electronic databases

Performance Improvement:

• Participate in quality/performance improvement activities by assessing, monitoring, and measuring hospital and community associated infections and evaluating outcomes on a continuous basis.

• Select indicators based on the projected use of the data, and facility history of infections.

• Assist in the organization of regularly scheduled Hospital Infection Control meetings and dissemination of recommendations hospital-wide.

• Plan, organize, develop and implement educational programs for all KHI employees including administrative and ancillary services which convey specialized knowledge and skills to increase employee awareness of existence of nosocomial infections; techniques for avoidance and preventive measures to provide a safe environment for hospital employees and patients.

Exposure:

• Develop appropriate informational materials at appropriate level of understanding and need.

• Serve as a knowledgeable and available resource on infection prevention practices and policies to patients, families, staff, employees and community.

• Participate in continuing educational activities at the department