Infection Preventionist - Public Health

Overview

We are seeking candidates for a full-time Infection Preventionist to support a state health department. The position will report to the Chief of the Office of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and will serve as a subject matter expert for infection prevention and control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an applied clinical science (nursing, public health, microbiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology or related field) required. Master's degree preferred.
• Certified in Infection Control (CIC ) by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) required.
• Experience as an infection preventionist (IP) in acute care infection prevention required.

Preferred Skills

• Broad knowledge of infection prevention in congregate care settings with previous experience in hospital-based IPC programs to reduce HAIs in targeted settings (dialysis, long-term care, outpatient, long-term acute care hospitals and acute care).
• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate infection control practices, policies and procedures.
• Ability to perform on-site assessments in healthcare and congregate facilities.
• Strong technical skills including word processing, spreadsheet development and management, and database management, with an emphasis on proficiency in Google Suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience reviewing and editing documents and interviewing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Ability to work independently and use strong judgment based on existing knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Provide IPC support to programs and track activities to ensure alignment with grant objectives and milestones.
• Create/update standard operating procedures and protocols for activities related to infection prevention and control.
• Participate in strategic planning; develop and implement ideas to promote infection prevention and control efforts throughout the state.
• Conduct on-site (travel involved) and teleconference infection prevention and control program assessments in healthcare and congregate care settings, including long-term care facilities, assisted living, memory care, and other facilities as directed.
• Complete summary reports of facility assessments with facility recommendations and disseminate within 2 weeks of assessment. A mitigation tool should be provided with the findings report when necessary.
• Follow-up with facilities after assessments to ensure recommendations are implemented.
• Provide education to licensing surveyors on infection prevention and control and how to best identify needs at facilities.
• Conduct infection prevention trainings on a variety of infection prevention topics including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, infection control precautions and surveillance methods in a variety of educational formats (e.g., oral presentations, recorded videos, webinars, quick guides, templates).
• Provide consultation, in conjunction with local/tribal health departments, for outbreak investigations, especially those associated with healthcare facilities.
• Interview healthcare facilities about risk factors associated with outbreak or exposure situations to ensure community practices are safe and meet guidelines.
• Provide infection prevention subject matter expertise in drafting, reviewing, and editing technical reports, infection control guidelines, and quality educational materials on a diverse spectrum of infection prevention topics, from risk assessment to transmission-based precautions.
• Provide consultation to local health jurisdictions and provide them with resources and trainings to build capacity for quality site assessments and how to build infection prevention and control expertise.
• Educate and train internal staff about appropriate precautions to prevent and control diseases.
• Evaluate research and evidence-based practices and incorporate appropriate findings into routine practice.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for general infection prevention and control practices.
• Willingness to travel within the state, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.