Infection Preventionist - Performance Management

Now hiring an Infection Preventionist!

The Infection Preventionist provides for a safe environment where risks for infection are identified and minimized for patients, employees and visitors. The Infection Preventionist is a liaison and resource for Infection Prevention and Control and accountable for management of all Infection Prevention and Control activities aimed at reduction of healthcare-associated infections in patients, members, and workforce. The Infection Preventionist is responsible for surveillance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of infections including healthcare associated infections (HAIs); investigation and response to outbreaks of infection amongst patients and/or healthcare workers. The Infection Preventionist assists with the analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of Infection Prevention and Control.

How you belong matters here.

We value our employees' differences and find strength in the diversity of our team and community.

At Presbyterian, it's not just what we do that matters. It's how we do it - and it starts with our incredible team. From Information Technology to Food Services and beyond, our non-clinical employees make a meaningful impact on the healthcare provided to our patients and members.

Why Join Us

Full Time - Exempt: Yes
• Job is based Presbyterian Hospital
• Work hours: Days
• Benefits: We offer a wide range of benefits including medical, wellness program, vision, dental, paid time off, retirement and more for FT employees.

Ideal Candidate:

Bachelors degree in health-related field. Masters degree preferred.

2 years of experience in acute health care required. Previous experience in acute care Infection Prevention and Control and/or quality improvement work preferred.

• Bachelors degree in health-related field. Masters degree preferred.
• 2 years of experience in acute health care required. Previous experience in acute care Infection Prevention and Control and/or quality improvement work preferred.
• Certificate in Infection Control (CIC) is within 3 years from hire preferred.
• Must have a valid drivers license, clean driving record, and able to travel locally.
• Must share 24-hour responsibility for availability to respond to infection prevention and control concerns through scheduled on-call activities.
• Computer software application skills
  such as Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of epidemiological principles and infectious disease.
• Knowledge of current patient care practice.
  
  

Education Essential: Bachelor Degree

Credentials Nonessential: Certification in Infection Control

• Understand how to systematically conduct surveillance of infections.
• Reviews/validates surveillance data and performs in-depth investigation of cases.
• Detects, investigates, summarizes findings, and assists with response to clusters or outbreaks in the healthcare setting.
• Conducts communicable disease outbreak investigations occurring in the hospitals and clinics.
• Conducts rounds on a regular basis within the hospital to review infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.
• Monitors, reports, and assists in the systems compliance with national, state, county, and local health department rule and regulations pertinent to healthcare IPC.
• Recommends and implements transmission-based isolation practices and IPC policies and procedures.
• Serves as a knowledgeable and available resource on IPC practices and policies throughout PCNM.
• Provides consultation and definition of exposure to employees who have been exposed to infectious diseases or agents. Consults with Employee Health and Infection Disease on post-exposure processes.
• Conducts Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessments as determined by site-specific needs.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams throughout PHS to design and implement strategies/interventions to decrease the impact of nosocomial infections across the continuum of care.
• Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of appropriate IPC interventions.
• Ensures the completion of audits regarding the implementation of and compliance with IPC practices.
• Maintains current and accurate knowledge of regulatory requirements.
• Assists the organization in remaining compliant to IPC regulatory requirements.
• Able to interpret research data and apply findings to current practice.
• Understands principles of microbiology, environmental cleaning and disease transmission.
• Demonstrates and maintains competency in IPC practice, evidence-based research and healthcare epidemiology.
• Provides education regarding the principles and techniques of infection prevention and control.
• Provides input into Supply Chain on evaluation, selection and implementation of products/equipment for clinical use or prevention of infection.
• Leads, facilitates and participates on improvement teams related to HAIs, and/or relevant infection prevention and control process/practice initiatives.
• Serves as lead facilitator on related HAI task forces and working groups.
• Participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures; identifies and recommends areas of improvement.
• Assists with the development and implementation of processes that support standardization of the IPC program.
• Analysis, management, and presentation of IPC subject matter data including identifying critical performance issues, trending, and benchmarking of performance.
• Measures, analyzes, generates, and presents reports on IPC measures and patient outcomes.
• Maintains ongoing communication with program leaders regarding status of performance measures, clinical initiatives, projects, and improvement opportunities.
• Follows patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols.
• Identify, report, correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk/harm.
• Reports patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner.
• Provides general support and performs other functions as required.
  
  

All benefits-eligible Presbyterian employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, group term life insurance and other optional voluntary benefits.

Wellness
Presbyterian's Employee Wellness rewards program is designed to provide you with engaging opportunities to enhance your health and activate your well-being. Earn gift cards and more by taking an active role in our personal well-being by participating in wellness activities like wellness challenges, webinar, preventive screening and more.

Why work at Presbyterian?
As an organization, we are committed to improving the health of our communities. From hosting growers' markets to partnering with local communities, Presbyterian is taking active steps to improve the health of New Mexicans.

About Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Presbyterian exists to improve the health of patients, members, and the communities we serve. We are locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system of nine hospitals, a statewide health plan and a growing multi-specialty medical group. Founded in New Mexico in 1908, we are the state's largest private employer with nearly 14,000 employees - including more than 1600 providers and nearly 4,700 nurses.

Our health plan serves more than 580,000 members statewide and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicaid (Centennial Care) and Commercial health plans.

Inclusion and Diversity
Our culture is one of knowing and respecting our patients, members, and each other. We capture this in our Promise and CARES commitments.

AA/EOE/VET/DISABLED. PHS is a drug-free and tobacco-free employer with smoke free campuses.