INFECTION PREVENTIONIST / RN

Why Beebe? Become part of the Beebe team - an inclusive team positioned in a vibrant, coastal community.  Enjoy a fulfilling career as you support the health of our patients and a team focused on excellence.  In addition to competitive compensation and wellness benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription) Beebe Healthcare also offers: Sign-on and Referral Bonuses for select positions Tuition Assistance up to $5,000 Paid Time Off Long Term Sick accrual Employer Contribution Plan Free Short and Long-Term Disability for Full Time employees Zero copay for drugs on prescription plan for certain conditions College Bound 529 Savings Plan Life Insurance Beebe Pers via WorkAdvantage Employee Assistance Program Pet Insurance Overview The Infection Prevention Specialist supports the organization-wide Infection Prevention Program and works collaboratively with the Infection Preventionist, clinical leaders, providers, and staff to promote a safe environment for patients, visitors, and team members. This position performs infection surveillance, identifies and responds to infection prevention concerns, supports regulatory and reporting requirements, provides education, and serves as a resource for infection prevention and control practices across the organization. Responsibilities Infection Prevention Program & Strategic Initiatives Assist the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator with implementing annual and strategic Infection Prevention goals that support patient and staff safety. Conduct research, evaluate evidence-based practices, and make recommendations to support organizational infection prevention priorities. Assist with developing Infection Prevention teams and workgroups; actively participate in teams and lead or facilitate processes designed to achieve organizational goals. Collaborate closely with the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator to ensure effective communication, coordination, and achievement of department and organizational objectives. Assist with identifying infection prevention problems and developing appropriate corrective actions at the main campus and satellite locations. Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to infection prevention and control. Infection Surveillance & Outbreak Management Perform surveillance related to healthcare-associated infections, communicable diseases, and other infection prevention indicators. Identify trends, clusters, outbreaks, and other areas of concern and prepare, implement, and evaluate action plans as appropriate. Assist with investigation and management of suspected or confirmed outbreaks and communicable disease concerns. Collect, analyze, and interpret infection prevention data to identify opportunities for improvement. Enter and maintain accurate data in applicable state, national, and organizational databases. Maintain appropriate infection prevention records and prepare reports for departments, committees, the Medical Director, leadership, and the Board as required. Assist with reporting designated communicable diseases and other required information to the Division of Public Health and other regulatory agencies. Obtain and provide pertinent patient information to public health officials and regulatory agencies as needed. Infection Prevention Rounds & Regulatory Compliance Conduct infection prevention and control tracers to assess compliance with established standards, policies, and evidence-based practices. Participate in environment of care and infection prevention rounds throughout the organization, including satellite locations. Identify opportunities for improvement and collaborate with departments to develop and implement corrective actions. Attend applicable organizational, departmental, committee, and regulatory meetings and maintain an understanding of requirements and expectations related to infection prevention. Monitor changes in national standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based infection prevention practices. Assist with maintaining organizational compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements. Policies & Procedures Assist the Infection Preventionist/Coordinator with writing, reviewing, and revising infection prevention policies and procedures. Conduct research to ensure policies and procedures remain current and aligned with national standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based practices. Identify opportunities for policy and procedure improvement based on surveillance findings, regulatory changes, organizational needs, and emerging infection prevention trends. Update and maintain the electronic policy library as needed. Assist departments with interpretation and implementation of infection prevention policies and procedures. Education & Training Assess the educational needs of staff, patients/clients, visitors, departments, and community partners related to infection prevention and control. Develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate educational tools and programs based on identified learning needs, organizational goals, surveillance data, and infection/communicable disease trends. Provide infection prevention education to employees, patients, and families as appropriate. Develop educational resources for external organizations, including schools, nursing homes, physician practices, and community agencies, to help reduce the spread of infection within their populations. Assist with orientation and ongoing education related to infection prevention practices, isolation precautions, communicable diseases, and other applicable topics. Evaluate the effectiveness of educational initiatives and modify materials or approaches as needed. Consultation & Collaboration Serve as an internal consultant and resource regarding infection prevention and control practices. Provide consultation to clinical and non-clinical departments, physician practices,