Job Abstract

The Infection Preventionist I coordinates the organization-wide Infection Prevention Program, including surveillance and prevention activities, data collection, analysis and trending, and education of staff. This position serves as a resource/consultant for all departments and services regarding Infection Prevention issues. The Infection Preventionist I will perform surveillance for healthcare-acquired infections, identify HAIs validated by the Subject Matter Expert (SME), conduct environmental rounds, and perform survey readiness activities with oversight of Infection Preventionist III or the department leader(s).

Essential Duties:

• 1. Planning and Organization of Infection Prevention Program Activities a. Independently implements, and coordinates functions, and activities of the organization's Infection Prevention program as defined by the Infection Prevention leaders and Infection Control Committee. b. Maintains the organization's Infection Prevention Program compliance with local, state, and federal rules, recommendations, and regulations (Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Condition of Participation (CoP), Joint Commission on Accreditation (TJC), Standards of Practice, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology (APIC)). c. Maintains the hospital Infection Prevention Program compliance with related hospital Medical Staff Bylaws. d. Identifies and reviews Infection Prevention Policies as changes in Infection Prevention practices evolve. e. Contributes to the program's annual goals to include strategies to accomplish the goals, measured outcomes, and implementation. f. Establishes and maintains rapport with medical staff, department and service leaders as well as others concerned with patient care (direct or indirectly) g. Provide inputs for agenda and monthly reports and agenda items for presentation to the Infection Control and other Committees. h. Provide surveillance summary reports and surveillance studies to appropriate committees and departments. i. Distribute findings and recommendations of the committee to hospital personnel and medical staff committees as directed. j. Coordinates and monitors implementation of Infection Control Committee recommendations and follows results. k. In collaboration with the Infection Prevention leaders, interacts with the Infection Control Committee Chair and/or designee for case review, policy and procedure development, statistical analysis, and implementation of intervention strategies. l. Assist Department leaders and Medical Directors in implementing the Infection Prevention Program within their departments. m. Collaborates with the Employee Health Program and Employee Health Manager in managing employee exposure to communicable and infectious diseases.
• 2. Designs, coordinates, compiles, and conducts surveillance and epidemiological investigations and interprets data collected as a result of studies. a. Conducts infection surveillance on a concurrent and/or retrospective basis to identify hospital-related infections. b. Aids in the development of a plan for decreasing hospital-related infection rates. c. Participates and develops designs of surveillance plans, performance measurement, and improvement plans for hospital-based services and ambulatory care services. d. Coordinates and conducts environmental and other surveillance as directed by the Infection Prevention leaders to evaluate patient care environments for Infection Prevention practices and hazards. e. Makes rounds for case findings, environmental sanitation monitoring, and supervision of Infection Prevention practices as directed by the Infection Prevention leaders. f. Reviews laboratory reports daily to identify potential hospital-acquired infections, emerging pathogens, epidemiologically significant organisms, and reportable pathogens. Differentiates colonization, infection, and contamination. g. Recognizes sentinel events and marker organisms for immediate investigation and intervention. h. Reviews patient medical records, correlates results of diagnostic and laboratory tests with clinical patient status, and differentiates between community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections. i. Collects, compiles, and identifies data on hospital-acquired infections. Follows approved mechanism for identifying baseline/threshold rates. j. Analyzes surveillance data for trends, patterns, or clusters and prepares reports for committees. k. Assesses and analyzes all information pertinent to surveillance, investigations, and evaluation of outcomes. l. Assists with the preparation of the annual report and evaluation of Infection Prevention Program with department leaders for effectiveness. m. Enters reportable HAI to assigned web base data program.
• 3. Communication- a. Collects and communicates significant Infection Prevention information and data to the appropriate member of the healthcare team and the Infection Control Committee. b. Communicates effectively with the Infection Prevention leaders regarding ongoing projects, work activities, and other issues or concerns relating to Infection Prevention as mutually agreed upon. c. Communicates and collaborates per policy with other hospital departments and community agencies to provide expertise and coordinate infection control services.
• 4. Consultation a. Provides Infection Control/Epidemiology consultation to other members of the healthcare team on an ongoing basis per request b. Conducts communicable disease counseling as requested by medical staff or nursing staff.
• 5. Education a. Assists in educational needs assessment of the hospital staff about Infection Prevention. b. Uses principles of adult learning in developing education strategies. c. Develops goals, objectives, and lesson plans for Infection Prevention education offerings. d. Conducts organization-wide in-services, including but not limited to hospital orientation, nursing orientation, and other services as indicated by the department leaders. e. Evaluates the effectiveness of education presentation. f. Reviews develops, and orders education materials. g. Attends education training, inservices, workshops, and seminars and disseminates pertinent information.
• 6. Regulatory Interface and Communicable Disease Reporting a. In the absence of the Infection Prevention leaders, acts as a hospital liaison with the Public Health Department, following state-mandated reporting guidelines.
• 7. Outbreak Investigation and Management a. Identifies clusters of infections about expected levels, single cases of unusual pathogens, or specific problem trends and initiates outbreak investigation as required.
• 8. Customer a. Projects organization values to all customer groups.
• 9. Infection Prevention a. Demonstrates current knowledge of the Infection Prevention process/policies/procedures and acts as a role model for Infection Prevention Practice. b. Aseptic Technique c. Recognizes infectious and communicable processes and initiates appropriate actions. d. Follows and implements Standard Precautions e. Practices correct handwashing technique f. Follows Hospital Exposure Control Protocol g. Uses PPE appropriately when required.
• 10. Others a. Performs other duties as necessary for the smooth operation of the department and the hospital. b. Performs other monitoring related to performance improvement as directed by the department Infection Prevention leaders. c. Participates during disasters as specified in the hospital’s Emergency Preparedness Manual. d. Participates in call rotation acting as an Infection prevention consultant, 24 hr./ 7 days or as assigned by department leaders

Required Qualifications:

• Req Associate's Degree with RN or LVN licensure, a current CIC certification is required OR
• Req Bachelor’s degree in nursing, or related healthcare related field. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date. OR
• Req MPH Masters in Public health. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date. OR
• Req PhD, DNP, or other doctorate. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date.
• Req Working knowledge of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis , disinfection and sterilization practices, adult education principles, infectious disease , disease transmission, surveillance techniques, performance measurement and improvement principles, licensing standards and regulations.
• Req Computer skills, applied knowledge of applied biostatistics, written and graphical presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref 1 - 2 years Experience in Infection Prevention in Acute Care setting.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Certified in Infection Control - CIC (CBIC) With Associate's Degree and RN or LVN licensure, current CIC certification is required OR
• Req Certified in Infection Control - CIC (CBIC) With Bachelor’s degree in nursing, or related healthcare related field. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date OR
• Req Certified in Infection Control - CIC (CBIC) With MPH Masters in Public health. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date OR
• Req Certified in Infection Control - CIC (CBIC) With PhD, DNP, or other doctorate. CIC certification must be obtained within 3 years from eligibility date.
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu.  Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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