Infection Prevention Consultant - MDRO

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Title: Infection Prevention Consultant - MDRO

$56,472 - $93,038 / Posted Thru: 4/29/24

Location: Remote/Virtual - Must Live and Work in Michigan

Purpose: This position functions as the Multidrug Resistant Organism Infection Prevention Consultant for the MDRO Containment Unit within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service's Emerging Infections Division. Employees in this position provide guidance and recommendations to nursing, infection prevention and other health care providers in the public and private sector to improve infection prevention practices and the containment of novel and targeted organisms. The MDRO IP Consultant will assist with case reporting, investigation, and response to targeted MDROs (e.g., CPOs and Candida auris) as well as other healthcare-associated clusters and outbreaks (as needed). The MDRO IP Consultant will also assist with the implementation of Michigan's Enhanced MDRO Prevention Program. The MDRO IP Consultant will assist with advanced MDRO analyses, data visualizations using available datasets, including patient transfer modeling data.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance and interpretation or clarification of guidance to local health departments, nursing staff, infection prevention, and health care providers across the continuum of care.
• Serve as a resource in MDRO containment strategies, health care infection prevention program planning, development, and implementation.
• Conduct Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) observations in-person or remotely to ascertain recommendations are being implemented; review medical charts and other pertinent records and specific health care facility layout and environmental conditions; observe infection-prevention related practices for conformance with standards and regulations; prepare reports of findings and recommendations to health care facilities.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance in the development of facility-specific policies and standards of infection prevention for healthcare-associated infections and MDROs; adapt procedures and practices to meet CDC recommendations.
• Collaborate on advanced analysis and use of routine surveillance data as well as non-traditional data sources to describe and communicate MDRO rates and transmission patterns.
• Conduct and participate in conferences, webinars, and workgroups with federal, state, and local health departments and professional associations for MDRO and HAI prevention, which may include input on developing and implementing new approaches and resources to address challenges.
• Act as the liaison with other professionals, community agencies, and interested parties relative to HAIs and MDROs.
• Provide expert consultation to partners in the Division, Section and Unit.
• Assist with writing and submission of grant applications.
• Assist with writing and submission of progress reports, performance measures, and surveillance summaries.
• Always represent the best interests of MDHHS and MPHI.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education: Possession of a master's degree in epidemiology, nursing, communicable diseases, public health, or related health field. Certification in infection control desired.

Experience: Two years of professional experience in public health, nursing, infection prevention, epidemiology, or other health related field.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Knowledge of epidemiology, public health, and infection prevention principles, practices, and standards.
• Knowledge of hospital, nursing care, and other health care facilities and personnel
• Knowledge of local health department practices and their relationships to state government.
• Ability to analyze health care needs, and to plan, develop, and promote infection prevention or health care programs.
• Ability to interpret and apply new developments or experimental theories to problems not readily treatable by accepted methods.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex epidemiology data.
• Ability to provide leadership to other professionals in health care and related fields.
• Ability to identify training needs, plan, and conduct training workshops and meetings.
• Ability to maintain records, and prepare reports, and correspondence related to the work.

• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong customer service and communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders.
• High level of personal integrity, dedication, creativity, flexibility, and initiative.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements: Job may require moderate physical effort including lifting materials and equipment of <50# and involves viewing a CRT or VDT screen 25% to 75% of the time. Standard office environment. Will require valid vehicle operator's license where needed to perform duties of the position (e.g. healthcare facility site visit).

IMPACT ON PROJECTS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: This person is a key member of the HAI Section and MDHHS response to the novel and targeted organisms. The candidate will provide subject matter expertise to healthcare facilities and State and local partners with respect to preventing the transmission of MDROs in congregate settings. The position will help ensure that the best evidence-based practices are being implemented to help protect the health of residents/patients and staff in these settings.

"For purposes of employment standards, this classification is "Exempt" from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act."

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