Infection Preventionist

kaweahhealth; Visalia (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaweah Health in Visalia, CA is seeking an Infection Preventionist to lead and continuously improve the infection prevention and control program in line with regulatory standards.

Responsibilities include surveillance of healthcare-associated infections, NHSN data management, risk assessments, outbreak response, and collaboration across Environmental Services, Nursing, Laboratory, and Facilities to ensure IPC goals and compliance with CDC, CMS, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Microbiology, Medical Technology or related field.
• CIC eligibility: Board Certified in Infection Control within 3 years of hire/transfer.
• Minimum 3 years of infection prevention/epidemiology experience in healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Conduct surveillance for healthcare-associated infections using standardized definitions (NHSN).
• Manage NHSN data for the organization.
• Analyze infection data, identify trends, and recommend mitigations.
• Perform risk assessments and guide responses to outbreaks and exposures.
• Ensure compliance with CDC, CMS, OSHA, The Joint Commission, and state/local regulations.
• Lead staff education and training programs on infection prevention.
• Collaborate with Environmental Services, Nursing, Laboratory, Facilities to IPC goals.
• Review construction/renovation projects for IPC risk (ICRA).
• Prepare reports for leadership and external agencies.

Skills

Communication skills

Staff education

Detail oriented

Time management

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Health/Microbiology/Medical Technology

Master’s degree in public health/epidemiology (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

NHSN

Electronic health records

Job description

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do - in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible

Full-Time Benefit Eligible

Work Shift

Day - 8 Hour or less Shift (United States of America)

Department

8753 Infection Prevention Svcs

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for the implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of the infection prevention and control program in accordance with regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and evidence-based practices. The Infection Preventionist plays a critical role in protecting patients, healthcare workers, and visitors by preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and promoting a safe, sanitary, and compliant environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

License/Certification

Required: Eligibility to obtain Board Certified in Infection Control (CIC) from Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology within three years of hire/transfer.

Education

Required: Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Microbiology, Medical Technology or other related field.

Preferred: Master's degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or other related field.

Experience

Required: Minimum of three years of experience in infection prevention, clinical epidemiology, or clinical experience in a healthcare setting

• Experience with electronic healthcare record systems, the National Healthcare, Safety Network (NHSN), data management.
• Previous experience in acute care or long-term care setting.
• Participation in infection prevention networks or professional organization (e.g. APIC, SHEA)

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to use PC-based information management systems and databases (proficiency with Microsoft Office).
• Positive customer service skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to educate and influence staff at all levels of the organization.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

• Conducts surveillance for healthcare-associated infections using standardized definitions and methodologies (e.g., NHSN).
• Manages the National Healthcare Safety Network system for the organization.
• Analyzes infection data, identifies trends, and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Performs risk assessments and guides facility response to outbreaks and exposure incidents.
• Ensures compliance with CDC, CMS, OSHA, The Joint Commission, and state/local public health regulations.
• Participates in performance improvement projects related to infection control outcomes.
• Leads support staff education and training programs related to infection prevention practices.
• Collaborates with departments (e.g., Environmental Services, Nursing, Laboratory, Facilities) to ensure alignment with IPC goals.
• Reviews construction and renovation projects for infection control risk assessments (ICRA).
• Serves as a subject matter expert on infection prevention and emergency preparedness and response planning.
• Monitors the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene compliance, high-level disinfection, sterilization practices, and environmental cleaning.
• Prepares and presents infection prevention control reports to leadership committees, and external agencies as required.
• Maintains documentation for internal audits, regulatory inspections and accreditations.
• Participates in policy development and reviews to align with current guidelines (CDC, SHEA, APIC).
• Monitors and supports the hospital's Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in partnership with pharmacy and infectious disease, and microbiology.
• Serves as a liaison with public health agencies during communicable disease reporting, inspections, or emergency preparedness activities.
• Investigates potential outbreaks and exposure events and participates in mitigation planning, documentation, and follow-up activities.
• Performs infection prevention risk assessments and audits to evaluate environmental, operational, and procedural compliance with established standards.
• Maintains infection prevention records, reports, and documentation systems to support organizational reporting requirements and quality initiatives.
• Supports organizational quality improvement efforts through data-driven recommendations, commit