Overview
The Infection Prevention Specialist supports the organization-wide Infection Prevention Program and works collaboratively with the Infection Preventionist, clinical leaders, providers, and staff to promote a safe environment for patients, visitors, and team members. This position performs infection surveillance, identifies and responds to infection prevention concerns, supports regulatory and reporting requirements, provides education, and serves as a resource for infection prevention and control practices across the organization.
Responsibilities
Infection Prevention Program & Strategic Initiatives - Assist the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator with implementing annual and strategic Infection Prevention goals that support patient and staff safety.
- Conduct research, evaluate evidence-based practices, and make recommendations to support organizational infection prevention priorities.
- Assist with developing Infection Prevention teams and workgroups; actively participate in teams and lead or facilitate processes designed to achieve organizational goals.
- Collaborate closely with the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator to ensure effective communication, coordination, and achievement of department and organizational objectives.
- Assist with identifying infection prevention problems and developing appropriate corrective actions at the main campus and satellite locations.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to infection prevention and control.
Infection Surveillance & Outbreak Management - Perform surveillance related to healthcare-associated infections, communicable diseases, and other infection prevention indicators.
- Identify trends, clusters, outbreaks, and other areas of concern and prepare, implement, and evaluate action plans as appropriate.
- Assist with investigation and management of suspected or confirmed outbreaks and communicable disease concerns.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret infection prevention data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Enter and maintain accurate data in applicable state, national, and organizational databases.
- Maintain appropriate infection prevention records and prepare reports for departments, committees, the Medical Director, leadership, and the Board as required.
- Assist with reporting designated communicable diseases and other required information to the Division of Public Health and other regulatory agencies.
- Obtain and provide pertinent patient information to public health officials and regulatory agencies as needed.
Infection Prevention Rounds & Regulatory Compliance - Conduct infection prevention and control tracers to assess compliance with established standards, policies, and evidence-based practices.
- Participate in environment of care and infection prevention rounds throughout the organization, including satellite locations.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and collaborate with departments to develop and implement corrective actions.
- Attend applicable organizational, departmental, committee, and regulatory meetings and maintain an understanding of requirements and expectations related to infection prevention.
- Monitor changes in national standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based infection prevention practices.
- Assist with maintaining organizational compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Policies & Procedures - Assist the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator with writing, reviewing, and revising infection prevention policies and procedures.
- Conduct research to ensure policies and procedures remain current and aligned with national standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based practices.
- Identify opportunities for policy and procedure improvement based on surveillance findings, regulatory changes, organizational needs, and emerging infection prevention trends.
- Update and maintain the electronic policy library as needed.
- Assist departments with interpretation and implementation of infection prevention policies and procedures.
Education & Training - Assess the educational needs of staff, patients/clients, visitors, departments, and community partners related to infection prevention and control.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate educational tools and programs based on identified learning needs, organizational goals, surveillance data, and infection/communicable disease trends.
- Provide infection prevention education to employees, patients, and families as appropriate.
- Develop educational resources for external organizations, including schools, nursing homes, physician practices, and community agencies, to help reduce the spread of infection within their populations.
- Assist with orientation and ongoing education related to infection prevention practices, isolation precautions, communicable diseases, and other applicable topics.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of educational initiatives and modify materials or approaches as needed.
Consultation & Collaboration - Serve as an internal consultant and resource regarding infection prevention and control practices.
- Provide consultation to clinical and non-clinical departments, physician practices, nursing homes, schools, community agencies, and other organizations regarding infection prevention concerns, questions, and education.
- Collaborate with physicians, nurses, clinical leaders, ancillary departments, Environmental Services, Quality, Employee Health, Occupational Health, and other stakeholders to address infection prevention concerns.
- Communicate effectively with patients and provide infection prevention education as appropriate.
- Promote a culture of infection prevention and safety through effective communication, collaboration, and relationship building.
On-Call & Flexible Scheduling - Respond to infection prevention and control calls as needed during nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Provide consultation and assistance related to isolation precautions, infection prevention policies and procedures, communicable diseases, and other urgent infection prevention concerns.
- Maintain a flexible schedule to meet department and organizational needs.
- Flex work hours and provide additional coverage as needed when the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator is unavailable due to vacation, conferences, illness, or other absences.
- Participate in after-hours coverage and other department activities as assigned.
Additional Responsibilities - Maintain confidentiality of patient, employee, and organizational information.
- Maintain current knowledge of infection prevention and control standards, emerging infectious diseases, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based practices.
- Participate in professional development activities to maintain and enhance infection prevention expertise.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Infection Prevention and Control Program.
Qualifications
- Current Infection Prevention experience with a minimum of two (2) years of related healthcare experience.
- Knowledge of CDC guidelines and NHSN infection surveillance criteria.
- Experience conducting medical record reviews, infection surveillance, data collection, and analysis.
- Ability to investigate outbreaks, identify trends, develop corrective actions, and lead Infection Prevention performance improvement initiatives.
- Strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Self-motivated, flexible, and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary teams.
- Proficient in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database management systems.
- Ability to provide coverage for the Infection Prevention Coordinator/Preventionist and respond to infection prevention concerns during nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Credentials
- Current RN license in Delaware or compact state
- CIC (Certification in Infection Control) preferred.
Entry
USD $79,144.00/Yr.
Max
USD $122,678.40/Yr.
