The Director of Infection Prevention at Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is responsible for the strategic direction, development and implementation of Infection Prevention programs and processes across the full continuum of care within Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center and ancillary outpatient facilities. The Director provides leadership and direction for all projects targeting the reduction of healthcare-acquired and occupational infections with the goal of improving clinical outcomes, providing a safe workplace environment, reducing cost, and maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Essential Accountabilities Include:- Provide direction and oversight for the activities of the local Infection Prevention staff- Lead and facilitate setting of local community goals and objective.- Conduct performance evaluations for all direct reports, provide mentoring and feedback for personal/professional development, resolve human resource issues and implement corrective action plans, if needed.-Participate in System Infection Prevention meetings as scheduled.- Establish and maintain staffing requirements.- Develop and implement an Infection Prevention Program.- Coordinate and implement surveillance methods to monitor nosocomial infection rates in conjunction with the Infection Prevention Committee.- Collaborate with Employee Health to provide preventive health and wellness related services to employees.- Facilitate the establishment and bi-annual review of departmental written Infection Prevention policies and procedures and annual review of the Infection Prevention Manual.- Coordinate Infection Prevention education in collaboration with Nursing Education, Department Directors, and Human Resources and act as a consultant to all clinical areas for Infection Prevention issues.- Enhance personal and professional growth and development through participation in professional meetings, educational programs, in-services, workshops, review of current literature, and membership in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.- Serve as administrative chair of the Infection Prevention Committee and facilitate related sub-committees. Assure representation on other hospital committees including but not limited to Patient Safety, Environment of Care, Product Evaluation, and Critical Care.- Interpret and implement the Infection Control standards of care recommended by governmental and accrediting agencies including assisting the Kentucky Department of Health in communicable disease surveillance.- Use effective interpersonal skills in all interactions and perform duties and exhibit behaviors consistent with care philosophy of ARH.- Provide oversight and ensure collection and reporting of hospital acquired infection data as required by law and other regulations.- Maintain and validate all data for accuracy and database reliability.- Meet all internal and external reporting requirement timeframes.- Facilitate collaborative teams, develop and implement action plans to improve and sustain a decrease in hospital acquired infections.

EducationDegree in Nursing, Clinical Laboratory Science, or other health related field required. Master’s Degree preferred.Current Certification in Infection Prevention preferred.

Minimum Work Experience2 years’ experience in hospital infection control and/or epidemiology preferred.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and AbilitiesEffective written and oral communication to all levels of employeesAbility to analyze, interpret and present complex epidemiologic and statistical dataDemonstrate effective leadership