Infection Preventionist

The Department of Infection Control at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time TH Staff Associate / Infection Preventionist.

The Infection Preventionist (IP) evaluates quality of patient care and patient outcomes as they relate to healthcare-associated infections; collects, prepares and analyzes healthcare-associated infection data; presents infection data and makes recommendations for actions; monitors employee compliance in use of barriers and infection prevention measures; prepares and presents education offerings for the staff; serves as  resource to all departments and personnel; implements programs to protect the healthcare workers, visitors, and others in the healthcare environment; sets and recommends policies and procedures to prevent adverse events; provides internal and external reporting of information and data; promotes compliance with regulations, guidelines, and accreditation requirements. Additional duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Collect, review, analyze and interpret surveillance data and recommends appropriate actions to clinicians and administrators targeted to reduce or eliminate infectious risks in patients and staff.
• Conduct investigations of suspected infectious outbreaks. Conduct activities related to exposure of patients and employees to communicable diseases. Assess all positive cultures. Properly classify as hospital acquired or community acquired through concurrent or retrospective review of the patient charts.
• Develop, review, evaluate and implement infection control policies and procedures to improve quality of care and meet current recommended guidelines.
• Educate specific patient population and their families regarding health promotion/infectious disease prevention, and management of their care.
• Function as an educational resource in the areas related to Infection Control. Plan, develop and conduct in-service education programs for University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) employees. Participate in hospital orientation program, educating new staff about their role in infection control. Instruct hospital personnel in standard and specific infection control procedures.
• Consult with department and administrative staff on infection control issues.
• Initiate and participates in quality improvement projects. Provide for the integration with the hospital’s Performance Improvement Program through the performance of PI related functions and reporting mechanisms.
• Plan, organize, develop, coordinate and direct a hospital-wide plan for the prevention, surveillance and control of infection.
• Facilitate Infection Control Committee meetings in conjunction with IC Director; i.e. agenda, minutes, etc.
• Inspect hospital construction projects for infection control issues during all stages of the project.
• Participate in periodic surveys of patient care areas.
• Provide consultative services on product and equipment evaluation.
• Review monthly surgical reports. Prepare special and routine reports and perform special projects, including research studies.
• Serve as an active member of the assigned committees and/or departmental PI working groups.
• Acts as liaison to the NYCDOHMH, NYSDOH, and CDC.

1. Collects, reviews, analyzes and interprets surveillance data and recommends appropriate actions to clinicians and administrators targeted to reduce or eliminate infectious risks in patients and staff.

2. Conducts investigations of suspected infectious outbreaks. Conducts activities related to exposure of patients and employees to communicable diseases. Assesses all positive cultures.  Properly classifies as hospital acquired or community acquired through concurrent or retrospective review of the patient charts.

3. Develops, reviews, evaluates and implements infection control policies and procedures to improve quality of care and meet current recommended guidelines.

4. Educates specific patient population and their families regarding health promotion/infectious disease prevention, and management of their care.

5. Functions as an educational resource in the areas related to Infection Control. Plans, develops and conducts in-service education programs for UHB employees. Participates in hospital orientation program, educating new staff about their role in infection control. Instructs hospital personnel in standard and specific infection control procedures. 

6. Consults with department and administrative staff on infection control issues.

7. Initiates and participates in quality improvement projects. Provides for the integration with the hospital's Performance Improvement Program through the performance of PI related functions and reporting mechanisms.

8. Plans, organizes, develops, coordinates and directs a hospital-wide plan for the prevention, surveillance and control of infection. 

9. Facilitates Infection Control Committee meetings in conjunction with IC Director; i.e. agenda, minutes.

10.  Participates in Environmental Rounds 

11. Inspects hospital construction projects for infection control issues during all stages of the project.

12. Participate in periodic surveys of patient care areas.

13. Provide consultative services on product and equipment evaluation.

14. Reviews monthly surgical reports. Prepare special and routine reports and perform special projects, including research studies.

15. Serves as an active member of the assigned committees and/or departmental PI working groups.

16. Acts as liaison to the NYCDOHMH, NYSDOH, and CDC.

17. Submits reports to NYSDOH, HERDS, NYCDOH for communicable disease, NHSN and ad hoc reports.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Nursing, Epidemiology or related health field.
• Masters-level education in related field.
• Desirable experience in structured patient education experience and/or design of patient education program.
• Ability to develop policies and procedures.
• Knowledgeable in adult education principles and able to develop and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrate proficiency in accessing information systems; computer, fax, copier, multiline telephones, etc.
• Demonstrate effective verbal, written and listening skills.
• Basic math ability, including understanding of basic statistical principles.
• Effective communication with patients, visitors, hospital staff, and physicians.
• Demonstrate ability to be an effective team member, offering input, willingness to trust the skills and expertise of other team members, share in group decision-making, and refer them to appropriate sources of help, if indicated.
• Demonstrate effective conflict management problem-solving, and team building skills.
• Maintain a balanced, focused, stable approach when faced with emergency situations.
• Demonstrate appropriate coordination of tasks and duties using effective organizational/priority setting skills.
• Formulate and establish effective working relationships with all healthcare team members, patients, and families.
• Or, a satisfactory equivalent combination of experience, education and training to the above. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) preferred.