Director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology

at  Aiken Regional Medical Centers

REQUIREMENTS:

Education requirements: Bachelors Degree required (Nursing, Public Health, Microbiology), Master’s Degree preferred in appropriate field (Nursing, Education, Microbiology, Public Health, etc); Minimum of 3 years in Infection Prevention or 5 years hospital experience with demonstrated infection control knowledge of various clinical specialties.
Work experience requirements: Minimum of 3-5 years hospital experience with demonstrated experience in infection control prevention in various clinical specialties.
Required licenses/ certifications/courses National certification in Infection Control preferred or obtained within 2 years.
Required skills, knowledge and abilities: Must have current understanding of The Joint Commission, OSHA, and state/federal regulatory body guidelines and standards; must have understanding of transmission-based disease process. Must possess excellent oral, written and analytical skills. Effective problem solving, conflict management and organizational skills. Clinical competence and the ability to establish respect and rapport with peers, staff, physicians, and administration. Understanding of data collection, analyzing data and benchmarking tools; computer skills.

• Directs an evidence-based data driven infection prevention and control program at the system level. Responsible for establishing mission, vision, planning, assessment, and leadership in the areas of prevention and control of infections. Assures compliance with infection prevention related regulatory, accreditation standards and quality/performance improvement. Oversees the collections and analysis of infection data which drives the IP program.
• Serves as a resource to stakeholders on issues regarding infection prevention and control.
• Performs, in collaboration with the Infection Prevention Committee, an annual Infection Prevention Risk Assessment and develops a system-wide Infection Prevention and Control Program Plan.
• Provides facilitation of hospital Infection Control program, to include trending data, performing focus studies, and maintaining documentation of activities to include the ICP Committee Meetings.
• Provides administative direction and organization for all epidemic investigations related to healthcare-associated or community acquired infections and/or occupational exposures, in order to assure necessary patient safety and risk management practices ae addressed following current evidence-based approaches and regualtory requirments.
• Develops, revises, and/or reviews all department-specific and hospital-wide Infection Control policies at designated intervals.
• Develops written policies and procedures that describe the types of surveillance carried out to monitor the rates of infections, the system used to collect and analyze data, and activities to prevent and control infection.
• Oversees and/or completes the reporting process to the CDC NHSN of healthcare associated infections.
• Provides education to associates, medical staff, and community agencies regarding disease-specific guidelines, policies, and practices.
• Collaborates with Human Resources and Employee Health Services in investigation of occupational exposures to communicable diseases and in design/development of infection prevention programs.
• Collaborates with Information Technology Department regarding implementation of automated surveillance technology (Cerner – Infection Control Module) for identification of healthcare associated infection.
• Oversees and/or completed the analysis, interprets and disseminates specific data on healthcare associated infections to key stakeholders. Collaborates with key stakeholders to devise evidence based prevention programs and corrective action plans as needed.
• Provides administrative direction on matters related to environmental contamination remediation (e.g. water intrusion/damage) to support infection prevention and control for the safety of patients ahd healthcare personnel, in collaboration with other departments as appropriate to the event.
• Utilizes laboratory support, particularly microbiological and serological to collect data and review/analyze information.
• Monitors the effects of intervention strategies on infection rates and supports a culture of zero HAIs along with zero tolerance for non-compliance with best practices.
• Serves as a liaison between regulatory agencies with regard to reporting of cases/ outbreaks of communicable disease to medical staff, S.C. DHEC as mandated by S.C. Code of Laws, Center for Disease Control as appropriate and the implementation of control strategies (epidemiology).
• Collaborates with Emergency Management and external agencies in designing and executing the Epidemic/Bioterrorism Response Plan.
• Provides consultation regarding the purchase of all equipment and supplies used for sterilization, dis-infection, and decontamination purposes.
• Periodically reviews and makes recommendations regarding cleaning agents used throughout the hospital.
• Participates in hospital pre-construction and construction meetings to facilitate maintained Infection Control policies and practices.
• Participates in various community or hospital committees, patient care conferences, and other dept.-specific activities as appropriate.
• Participation in occasional travel to attend educational opportunities or other hospital related activities.