Infection Preventionist

UPMC; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC Mercy is seeking a full-time Infection Preventionist to lead surveillance, prevention, and education across the hospital. The role emphasizes epidemiologic approaches to reduce infections and ensure patient safety.

The position operates Monday–Friday during daytime hours with on-call rotations, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to implement Infection Control programs and meet state and regulatory guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate infection prevention policies across hospital departments to reflect current standards.
• Provide leadership for interdisciplinary teams to control specific infections and support quality initiatives.
• Identify infection trends via surveillance data and develop risk-reduction strategies and reports.
• Conduct inspections to ensure infection control and safety compliance with DOH and regulatory guidelines.
• Serve on Infection Prevention and Control committees and provide epidemiology input.
• Participate in continuing education and professional activities to stay current in the field.
• Investigate clusters/outbreaks, educate personnel on control measures, and evaluate effectiveness.
• Coordinate reporting for notifiable diseases and NHSN notifiable infection data.

Job description

UPMC Mercy is hiring a Full Time Infection Preventionist!

This position will work Monday-Friday during daylight hours with rotating on call requirements.

Purpose:

Perform surveillance for detection and prevention of infections occurring in the healthcare system through investigation, consultation, and education of healthcare personnel. Provide an epidemiologic approach to preventing infections throughout the hospital through problem solving, intervention and education. Implement the Infection Control Program based on standards of care provided by the Infection Control Committee Administration, the practicing state's Department of Health, and other applicable regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate implementation of infection prevention and control policies/guidelines for all hospital departments that reflect current standards of practice and compliance with CDC, OSHA, TJC, and the Department of Health guidelines.
• Provide leadership for interdisciplinary teams to control specific disease entities and support quality initiatives.
• Identify trends in hospital infections through review and interpretation of surveillance data to develop risk reduction strategies and implement process improvement initiatives. Provide analysis and interpretation of data collected during surveillance activities. Develop reports to communicate trend data and analysis.
• Conduct construction/renovation inspections and rounds to ensure compliance with the practicing state's DOH requirements and assess for any infection control/ safety issues.
• Serve on the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and represent Hospital Epidemiology in hospital committees requiring Infection Prevention and Control input.
• Perform related duties as required.
• Demonstrate ongoing continuing education by reviewing professional publications and participating in educational programs and professional organization activities.
• Investigate clusters and outbreaks for sources of infection, educate healthcare personnel regarding short and long term control measures and assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of such controls.
• Facilitate operational responsibilities of infection prevention and control in mandatory reporting if/as required by practicing state regulatory and legal requirements, including identification of infections, reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), contacting physicians of patients with infections to inform them of notification process and fielding questions from patients with infections reported.
• Conduct environmental rounds as appropriate to assess compliance with the practicing state's DOH, Life Safety and TJC requirements.
• Work with hospital management to identify areas for improved performance to prevent HAIs and/or protect employees, patients and visitors from infectious/communicable conditions.
• Act as liaison with local and state health departments and other healthcare facilities by reporting notifiable diseases and investigating communicable conditions.
• Plan, develop, conduct and document educational programs for hospital personnel, patients and families using age and education level appropriate venues to maintain or enhance knowledge of infection control.
• Support the departmental objective of quality services, system improvement, and cost containment by contributing to the successful implementation of recommended initiatives.
• Perform surveillance of hospital units for detection of healthcare acquired infections through electronic review of patient records, microbiological, radiological, and other laboratory data, patient treatment plans and through communication with hospital personnel.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary health care professionals, administrators, health system personnel and local, state and federal regulatory agencies.
• Document infection data in an electronic surveillance system as required by applicable practicing state regulation.