Infection Control Practitioner, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, 40 Hours (Days)

The Nurse Epidemiologist is responsible for coordinating the Infection Control Program.

The Nurse Epidemiologist is directly accountable to the Resource Manager and has a collaborative relationship with the Director of the Infectious Disease Department.

The Nurse Epidemiologist has the authority, in collaboration with the Chief of Infectious Disease and Infection Control Committee, to define the medical center’s infection control program and policies.

The Nurse Epidemiologist has the authority to educate all levels of nursing personnel and other health care workers regarding infection control practices.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

• Provides superior customer service to internal and external clients, customers, and patients as referenced in the Service Excellence Standards."
• Collects infection surveillance data, analyzes trends and proposes corrective action in conjunction with the Chief of Infectious Diseases, and reports to the Infection Control Committee, Department heads, and public health agencies.
• Contacts hospital department heads whenever the reason to believe an epidemic, infection, or hazardous situation exists.
• Initiates, coordinates, and completes investigation of infectious disease outbreaks in the hospital and implements control measures as directed by the Chairman of the Infection Control Committee.
• Coordinates and/or provides consultation in medical center epidemiological studies or projects in a consultative, coordinating, liaison role.
• Acts as a consultant to other disciplines relative to Infection Control.
• Plans and participates in in-service training and other teaching programs on hospital epidemiology and infection control and new employees, nurses, nursing students, medical students, house officers, medical technologists, environmental services personnel, and all nursing assistive personnel.
• Participates in JCAHO and regulatory agencies accreditation processes.
• Maintains hospital isolation manual.

Reporting Requirements

• Provides statistics and surveillance data as requested to department heads and physicians.
• Completes surveillance reports and any special forms for public health agencies.
• Reports all serious breaches in infection control practices, any infectious disease outbreaks, or epidemics to Chief/Chairman of Infectious Diseases and to appropriate hospital personnel.

Accountability:

• Shall be accountable for implementing the Infection Control program in collaboration with the Chief/Chairman of Infectious Diseases.
• Shall be accountable for in-services and educational activities provided concerning infection control policies and practices.
• Shall be accountable for maintaining the confidentiality and security of all medical center related staff and patient data.
• Shall submit written performance improvement projects to the Quality Review Board quarterly.

Education/Experience/Licensure/Technical/Other:

I. Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing required, Master’s Degree in Nursing or Public Health

or Microbiology preferred

II. Experience: 2-3 years in infection control/epidemiology. Teaching experience preferred.

III. Certification/Licensure: Current MA license as a RN; BLS certification.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans