Infection Preventionist

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH); Middlesborough (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) in Kentucky seeks an Infection Preventionist to lead the hospital-wide Infection Prevention Program and oversee surveillance of healthcare-associated infections. You will educate staff and collaborate with clinical teams to continually improve safety and compliance.

The role focuses on implementing evidence-based prevention strategies, regulatory alignment, and data-driven decision making to protect patients, staff, and visitors across ARH facilities.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in a related field with experience in Infection Prevention (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree with current RN license required
• Bachelor's Degree and ASCP certification in Clinical Laboratory Science required

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and oversight for local facility staff.
• Lead and facilitate setting of facility level goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement a facility-wide Infection Prevention Program.
• Coordinate surveillance methods to monitor nosocomial infection rates with the Infection Prevention Committee.
• Collaborate with Employee Health to provide preventive health services to employees.
• Establish and review Infection Prevention policies and procedures and the Infection Prevention Manual.

Skills

Infection prevention

Epidemiology

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Education

Associate's Degree in related field

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing with active license

Bachelor's Degree with ASCP certification in Clinical Laboratory Science

Job description

Overview

The purpose of Infection Preventionist is to promote patient and staff safety through the identification of sources/risks for infection and developing strategies in the prevention of infections. The Infection Preventionist is responsible for assisting in the development of the Infection Prevention Program Plan and implementation of the Plan at the facility level. The Infection Preventionist implements the Infection Prevention Program Plan by collection, analysis and provision of actionable data regarding healthcare-associated infections to physicians, staff members, department directors/managers and senior management and the Infection Control Committee. The Infection Preventionist uses epidemiologic data to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate infection control practices throughout the hospital and to educate staff members, patients and their families on measures for prevention of infection. The Infection Preventionist acts as a resource/consultant within the hospital in regard to all matters that relate to the prevention and control of infections including: outbreak investigation; isolation precautions; implementation of evidence-based measures for prevention of infection; review of patient care products proposed for purchase; review of construction and renovation projects with regard to infection prevention; development of infection prevention policies and procedures. The Infection Preventionist ensures that the hospital is in compliance with the recommendations and regulations of governmental agencies and regulatory authorities with regard to infection prevention.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and oversight for the activities of the local facility staff.
• Lead and facilitate setting of facility level goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement a facility wide Infection Prevention Program.
• Coordinate and implement surveillance methods to monitor nosocomial infection rates in conjunction with the Infection Prevention Committee.
• Collaborate with Employee Health to provide preventive health and wellness related services to employees.
• Facilitate the establishment and bi-annual review of departmental written Infection Prevention policies and procedures and annual review of the Infection Prevention Manual.
• Coordinate Infection Prevention education in collaboration with Nursing Education, Department Directors, and Human Resources and act as a consultant to all clinical areas for Infection Prevention issues.
• Report to Regional and/or System Director of Infection Prevention.
• Enhance personal and professional growth and development through participation in professional meetings, educational programs, in-services, workshops, review of current literature, and membership in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
• Serve as administrative chair of the Infection Control Committee and facilitate related sub-committees. Assure representation on other hospital committees including but not limited to Patient Safety, Environment of Care, Product Evaluation, BSI, VAP, Nurse Liaison, ICN, CT Surgery, and Critical Care.
• Interpret and implement the Infection Control standards of care recommended by governmental and accrediting agencies including assisting the Kentucky Department of Health in communicable disease surveillance.
• Use effective interpersonal skills in all interactions and perform duties and exhibit behaviors consistent with care philosophy of ARH.
• Provide oversight and ensure collection and reporting of hospital acquired infection data as required by law and other regulations.
• Maintain and validate all data for accuracy and database reliability.
• Meet all internal and external reporting requirement timeframes.
• Facilitate collaborative teams, develop and implement action plans to improve and sustain a decrease in hospital acquired infections.
• As needed travel to other ARH facilities to cover for IP staff absence or as surge staff to address identified issues such as outbreaks or other rapid needs for IP manpower.

Qualifications

Education (experience can be substituted for education)

• Associate's Degree in a related field with experience working in Infection Prevention. Required
• Bachelor's Degree Bachelor’s Degree and current license required in the field of Nursing
• or
• Bachelor’s Degree and current ASCP certification required in the field of Clinical

Laboratory Science Preferred

Work Experience (education can be substituted for experience)

4-6 Years Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Mastery of problem solving and decision making skills.
• Mastery of collaboration and teamwork.
• Mastery of growth mindset (agility and developing yourself and others) skills.
• Mastery of execution and delivery (planning, delivering, and supporting) skills.
• Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Ability to function in clinical setting with diverse cultural dynamics of clinical staff and patients.
• Mastery knowledge of phases of care transitions and resources available for patients.
• Mastery of digital literacy skills.

Licenses and Certifications

• CIC(CBIC) Certification in Infection Prevention