Infection Control Assistant

Children's National Hospital; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's healthcare provider in Washington, DC, seeks an Infection Control Practitioner to assist with the development and implementation of infection prevention policies. The candidate will act as the primary contact for local health agencies and manage administrative activities within the department. Education requirements include a Bachelor's in Nursing or a Master's in a related field. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Infection Control practitioner or Epidemiologist preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and evaluation of infection control measures.
• Act as point of contact for health agencies on communicable disease.
• Coordinate office administrative activities.

Skills

Excellent written skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Presentation skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Basic knowledge of statistics

Education

BSN Bachelor's in Nursing

Master's in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Microbiology

Job description

Under supervision, this individual will assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of infection control measures/policies throughout the organization, assist activities for prevention and control of healthcare associated infections, and assist risk assessment processes. They will be the primary point of contact person for reporting and follow up with local department of health agencies on communicable disease, will update and manage the Infection Control page on the intranet, coordinate office's day-to-day administrative activities, facilitate surveillance activities, and participate in education and training activities.

Minimum Education

BSN Bachelor's in Nursing (Required) Or
Master's Degree Master's in Epidemiology, Public Health, or Microbiology. (Required)

Minimum Experience

Previous working experience as an Infection Control practitioner or Epidemiologist is preferred

Required Skills/Knowledge

Excellent written, interpersonal, time management and presentation skills with flexibility to meet a wide range of service needs
Proficient in Microsoft Office software
Basic knowledge of statistics and epidemiologic methods

Functional Accountabilities

Departmental Organization

• Assist epidemiology department and infection control practitioners with the coordination of office activities.
• Maintain awareness of deadlines and plan appropriately.
• Maintain organized workspace including both paper and computer files.

Administrative Duties

• Coordinate, schedule, and develop agendas, office appointments, meetings, conferences, and projects in timely manner.
• Perform tasks such as initiating correspondence, faxing, and copying.
• Attend internal committee meetings and take minutes.
• Maintain and process employee time cards.
• Complete work on time.

Surveillance

• Collect central line data in patient care units as assigned.
• Collect daily microbiology reports from laboratory and sorts for targeted organisms.
• Complete accurate and timely reports on infection rates.
• Communicate infection control issues and reportable diseases in a timely fashion with the relevant departments in the hospital and to public health agencies.
• Ensure infection control databases are maintained in a timely fashion (Flag MDRO in computer system; maintain access data base for DOH reports; and maintain data base for all outbreak investigations).

Prevention

• Collaborate with Infection Control Staff to identify trends in healthcare associated infections.
• Collaborate with Infection Control staff to implement prevention efforts.
• Contribute to the infection control patient care policies and protocols by posting to intranet and placing announcements in CNMC newsletters.

Infection Control Practitioner Assistance

• Assist infection control practitioners in control activities as assigned.
• Assist infection control practitioners with outbreak and exposure investigations.
• Collect data and assist in preparation of reports.

Organizational Accountabilities

Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Partner in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization
• Committed to diversity and recognizes value of cultural ethnic differences
• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity
• Maintain confidentiality at all times

Customer Service

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
• Partner with all team members to achieve goals
• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently
• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance