PRIMARY FUNCTION: Identifies and reduces the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, employees, physicians, volunteers, students and visitors. Promotes a safe environment for patients and others and complies with applicable regulations, OSHA recommendations and JCAHO standards.
Infection Control
1) Conducts surveillance using approved methodologies.
2) Ensures compliance with the local, state, and federal agency regulations and with JCAHO standards with regard to all infection control activities.
3) Investigates any infection outbreak to establish etiology, develop interventions and evaluate outcomes.
4) Provides mandated education to all staff and collaborates with department managers in providing staff with specific infection control educational programs.
5) Develops and initiates activities to monitor and evaluate Infection Control program to identify opportunities for improvement.
6) Develops policy and procedures that reflect program goals.
7) Oversees the communicable disease reporting process to appropriate state, county and local health agencies. 8) Consults with staff regarding communicable diseases, need for immunization and isolation with consideration of the aging process, human growth and development, and cultural patterns; assisting as needed in the development of plan of care.
9) Maintains professional competence through membership in professional organizations and attendance in education programs in the specialty.
10) Develops and implements an Infection Control Performance Improvement Plan.
11) Serves as a liaison to other hospital committees (i.e Product evaluation, Safety Committee) and coordinates activities and related task forces to ensure integration with the overall Infection Control Committee.
12) Functions as chairperson of the Infection Control Committee. Maintains regularly scheduled meetings. Prepares and presents reports. Maintains accurate and precise records/minutes.
Employee Health
1) Manages the employee health program and promotes a healthy and safe work environment for employees, patients, volunteers and visitors under the guidance of the Employee Health Task Force.
2) Provides treatment, referral and follow-up for all work-related illnesses and injuries for allWhittier Rehabilitation Hospital employees. Manages work related disability cases and assists with return to work process. Functions as a liaison with the worker's compensation insurance carriers and the human resource department.
3) Develops short and long term goals for the department designed to prevent employee accidents and infection. 4) Provides a program of primary and secondary disease prevention, which includes immunization, medical surveillance, health hazard appraisals and early disease detection.
5) Assures that pre-employment health requirements are met.
6) Maintains compliance with all local, state and federal agencies with regard to employee health and safety. Maintains OSHA 300 log.
7) Provides mandated education to all employees.
8) Conducts safety inspections and is a member of the safety committee.
9) Develops and maintains a confidential employee health medical record system.
10) Assumes responsibility for professional growth and development by identifying learning need and pursuing continuing education.
11) Actively participates in research and hospital committees.
12) Acts as Drug Testing Program manager for all new employees.
PREREQUISITES:
1) Current Massachusetts RN Nursing licenses.
2) BSN/CIC preferred.
3) Minimum of two years clinical experience.
4) Education and experience in Infection Control, epidemiology and/or microbiology (or other related science) required.
5) Preferred 2 years occupational/employee health experience. Knowledge of Workers Compensation and OSHA regulations.