INFECTION PREVENTIONIST

Overview Infection Preventionist, Clinical Quality Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift Location: Morristown Hamblen Hospital  Covenant Health Overview: Covenant Health is the region’s top-performing healthcare network with 10 hospitals, outpatient and specialty services, and Covenant Medical Group, our area’s fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes “Best Employer” seven times.  Position Summary: Under the direction of the Vice President of System Quality and Performance Improvement and the Chief Medical Officer, the Infection Preventionist (IP) directs and operationalizes the infection prevention program for the entire organization. This role collaborates with both local and system senior leadership in order to develop, manage, and evaluate the quality of patient care and clinical outcomes, both in an effort to reduce healthcare–associated infections and to improve patient safety for the entire healthcare system. The IP role supports and is responsible for the management and execution of the infection prevention plan, risk assessment/strategy, and prevention efforts for all applicable hospital departments, outpatient services, and clinical disciplines engaged in infection prevention practices. Additionally, the IP role is responsible for evaluating potential cost reduction or savings by evaluating equipment and supplies as it pertains to infection prevention. The IP conducts routine systematic surveillance, collects, prepares and analyzes healthcare–associated infection data for senior leaders, medical staff leadership, and for use in public reporting to improve patient outcomes. This role is also responsible for participating and providing support for ongoing educational opportunities for clinical and non-clinical staff. The IP serves as a resource for managers, directors, senior leaders, and front line staff in evaluating clinical best practices as it relates to infection prevention processes. The IP is responsible for collaborating with employees to implement practices to keep employees safe and prevent disease related exposures. The IP is responsible for collaborating, assessing, and evaluating policies and procedures related to infection prevention. The IP is responsible for internal and external reporting of information and data, assessing and validating compliance with applicable rules, regulations, conditions of participation, and Joint Commission standards. The IP collaborates with leadership, teams, and individuals to create infection prevention strategies, provide feedback, and sustain infection prevention strategies. The IP contributes to the facility Emergency Preparedness team as a valued content expert member. Responsibilities Develops, implements, and evaluates the organizational infection prevention program. Provides organization-wide surveillance. Develops an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of historical surveillance data. Utilizes epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations, evaluates and modifies the surveillance plan as necessary. Develops, interprets, and assists with implementation of infection prevention and control policies and protocols. Communicates infection prevention and control information and data to various committees and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned. Designs and delivers education. Assesses and addresses learning needs of those served. Creates educational goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and available educational tools and technology. Evaluates the effectiveness of infection prevention related educational programs and learner outcomes. Assesses and facilitates compliance with regulatory and mandatory reporting requirements at the local, state, and federal levels. Facilitates compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. Stays current on infection prevention and control regulatory and accreditation standards. Utilizes DMAIC Process Improvement (PI) methodology as a means of enacting change. Defines the scope of the project and selects appropriate PI tools to aid in efficiency, reliability, and effectiveness and ensures sustainability of the initiative. Ensures that customer needs and expectations are considered in the development of and continuous improvement of processes, products, and services. Monitors and analyzes process and outcome measures to evaluate effectiveness and sustainability. Participates in PI committees, teams, and initiatives as indicated. Provides consultative assistance for occupational health policies and procedures related to IPC as needed. Assesses risk of occupational exposures to infectious disease. In consultation with Occupational Health, assists with the development of rates and trends of occupational exposures and the development of immunization and screening programs. Applies work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable disease or following an exposure in conjunction with Occupational Health team. Pursues professional growth and development of required knowledge and skills. Establishes at least one (1) professional goal per year and participates in an infection prevention and control professional organization/association (i.e.: APIC). Advocates for patient safety, health worker safety, and safe practices. Consults and collaborates, as needed, with local, state, and federal public health officials and community health organizations. Involves multidisciplinary teams to ensure changes are vetted by