Infection Preventionist

Job Details

Job Description

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for identifying, investigating, monitoring, and reporting healthcare-associated infections. The IP collaborates with teams and individuals to create and sustain infection prevention strategies, provide education and feedback to all healthcare staff, and ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards as it relates to infection prevention and control throughout the hospital environment.

Essential Functions

* Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.

* Collaboratively develops and implements an effective infection prevention and control program

with the healthcare team. Performs ongoing surveillance utilizing the electronic medical record in

order to identify hospital-associated infections following NHSN criteria, management of clusters

and/or outbreaks within the facility or in the community, monitoring and oversight of sterilization

and disinfection activities including all ambulatory care sites, communicable diseases (if applicable),

and conduct ongoing data trend analysis

* Consults with hospital staff to provide infection control recommendations for specific patients

based on their disease process and mode of transmission in order to ensure the use of appropriate

precautions. Communicates changes in infection control or related practices to appropriate staff to

facilitate consistent practice.

* Interprets hospital infection control policy, official recommendations and related regulations to

facilitate conformance with current infection control regulatory standards.

* Provides relevant infection control resources to new and current employees in order to protect

hospital staff, patients, and visitors from transmission of infection.

* Serve on selected hospital committees to act as a resource for infection control-related information

to facilitate communication and make recommendations and provide updates to the Infection

Control Committee.

* Identifies and reports hospital-associated infections to ensure compliance with national and state

requirements (such as PA Act 52). Monitors and implements measures to maintain compliance with

all regulatory agencies (CMS, TJC, PA DOH).

* Collaborates with local and state Department of Health (DOH) on public health initiatives and issues

affecting our surrounding communities.

* Provides additional knowledge, support and input to identify environmental issues to reduce the

risk of infections related to the environment

* Other duties as assigned

Education:

Baccalaureate degree in nursing (Active nursing license required), public health, epidemiology, clinical

laboratory science, medical technology, or related field required, Masters preferred.

AND

Experience:

Previous Infection Control experience preferred.

Minimum Certifications, Registration or License Requirements:

Completion of the APIC training course on fundamental aspects of surveillance, prevention and control of infections within one year from date of hire or transfer (if not already a CIC). Certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) required within 24 months from date of hire or transfer.

Work Shift

Worker Sub Type

Primary Location Address

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.