Manager, Infection Prevention - Main Infection Prevention - Full Time - Days

The Christ Hospital Health Network; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati is seeking an experienced Infection Control Director to lead the hospital's infection prevention program, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive patient safety.

This role oversees surveillance, policy development, staff education, and collaboration with nursing, medical staff, and administration to implement effective infection control measures.

Qualifications

• Experience leading hospital infection control programs and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., TJC, OSHA).
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate infection control policies and education for staff.

Responsibilities

• Manages the hospital infection control program and coordinates implementation of infection control policies.
• Provides feedback, coaching, and evaluations to staff; supports staff development and performance management.
• Leads administrative leadership activities, staff meetings, and aligns infection control with hospital goals.
• Develops and oversees surveillance systems for infections; reports findings to Infection Control Committee and administration.
• Collaborates with nursing, medical staff, risk, and other departments to ensure effective infection control practices.

Job description

Job Description

Manages, coordinates, and conducts the hospital infection control program. Assists department directors with implementation in order to minimize the risks of infection to patients and other employees. Responsible for meeting all regulations (i.e. TJC, OSHA, state and local health departments, etc) relative to infection control; and to maintain current standards of infection control practice

Responsibilities

Administrative Leadership

• • Demonstrates knowledge of job standards and key requirements for each staff position in assigned areas of responsibility , holding subordinates accountable for the responsibilities inherent to their position
• • Provides feedback/counseling, and discipline to assigned staff relating to unsatisfactory performance
• • Provides assigned staff with performance evaluations as defined by HR
• • Supports Peer review systems, and implements as feasible with mechanisms in place for staff input into their own evaluation
• • Provides structure and opportunity for unit based nurse leaders to establish and accomplish their goal
• • Delegates appropriate responsibility and accountability for designated management activitie
• • Conducts regular leadership and staff meeting
• • Creates an atmosphere that encourages staff participation in nursing and hospital based activities Ensure staff maintain/achieve necessary competencies for their job function
• • Supports professionalism through ethical conduct, appearance, positive communication, attendance, and holding self accountable for same standards set for staff
• • Participates in councils, task forces and special projects as assigned or requested
• • Manages the hospital infection control program in order to provide quality care and minimize risks of infection (based upon concepts of prevention and control) utilizing the following:
  • a. Functions in role of change agent in the implementation of hospital wide policies relative to infection control.
  • b. Designs and develops a system for reviewing and evaluating assigned departmental infection control programs, policies and orientation programs. Reviews of the assigned departments will be completed with emphasis on revisions and updates of government and professional standards. Submits recommendations to department directors in a timely manner.
  • c. Assists department directors in implementing changes in infection control practices.
  • d. Serves as a liaison officer of the Infection Control Committee for the implementation of the recommendations to Administration, Medical and Nursing staffs. Reports pertinent information and problems related to infection control.
  • e. Supervises, plans and directs the activities of the Epidemiology assistant and the Administrative secretary and is responsible for completing yearly performance appraisals.
  • f. Reviews, and evaluates aseptic, isolation, cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and waste disposal practices through out the hospital.
  • g. Manages a computerized data system for developing statistical reports.
  • h. Develops and/or coordinates research related to improvements in infection control

Operations

• • Ensures personnel work hours best meet the needs of the assigned areas of responsibility
• • Ensures safe and therapeutic environment is maintained for patients, personnel, physicians and visitor
• • Fill staff vacancies in a timely manner
• • Conducts and facilitates performance assessment and improvement activities for assigned areas of responsibility.
• • Informs risk manager of serious or potentially serious patient/visitor problems and issues as soon as they are identified
• • Provides a comprehensive surveillance program that reflects the current hospital's infection status utilizing the following practices:
• • Develops/reviews/modifies a plan to provide a surveillance system of patient infections. Utilizes pertinent data sources (i.e. microbiology reports, surgery reports, census sheets, etc.), then plans and implements a systematic method of data collection.
• • Continually monitors pertinent data sources to identify and investigate all significant clusters of infections above the expected level; and for infections due to unusual pathogens.
• • Analyses data for conclusions related to hospital quality improvement and changes in patient or employee practices on an ongoing basis.
• • Quarterly provides results of the targeted and high-risk surveillance to the Infection Control Committee. Provides comparison of infection rates to both internal and external benchmarks as available.
• • Annually disseminates targeted surveillance rates, along with statistical analysis and interpretation to department directors, administrative staff, committees, and the Alliance Quality Indicator Group. Recommends corrective action when necessary.
• • Submits detailed summary reports along with statistical analysis regarding patient infections, which exceed expected thresholds to the appropriate committees/departments within a timely manner.
• • Utilizes a practical computerized record keeping system for surveillance data.
• • Performs environmental, patient, and employee cultures as deemed necessary, and only after consulting the Infection Control officer. Findings are reviewed with the Infection Control Officer and recommendations are based upon culture results after review of medial literature and/or infection control standards (i.e. CDC).
• • Promptly reports infectious diseases to both local and state health departments as required by law. Completes necessary forms in a timely manner.

Finance

• • Identifies and quantifies resources needed to support patient care activities in areas of assigned responsibility. Acts in a cost conscious manner taking into account the limitations of resource
• • Balances patient needs, quality and cost effectivene
• • Links the budgeting process to the planning process for areas of responsibility
• • Prepares and participates in finance budget meeting presentation for areas of responsibility
• • Stays current on health care financing and reimbursement issue
• • Managers and organizes work through objectives leading to goal attainment

Education/Consultation and Collaboration

• • Works collaboratively with all hospital departments in a consultative and supportive role.
• • Serves as a consultant to nursing units/coordinators for the management of patients with resistant organisms and other infectious diseases.
• • Serves as a consultant regarding other infection control practices or related programs to various levels of hospital staff (Administration, department directors, supervisors, medical staff, nurses, students, etc.).
• • Interprets and mediates hospital isolation policies for physicians, admitting, nursing and various hospital departments.
• • Serves as a consultant to the Occupational/Employee health department regarding employee immunization practices, accidental exposure to blood, body fluids and diseases, post exposure prophylaxis, interpretation of laboratory data and hospital polices relating to infection control.
• • Serves as a consultant to various hospital committees as requested. Provides data, analysis and statistical support as necessary.
• • Serves as a consultant regarding traffic patterns, physical facilities, and equipment and infection control requirements during renovation projects.
• • Serves a consultant to purchasing department/committees regarding the purchase of equipment and supplies related to infection control.
• • Seeks advise and consults with the Infection Control Officer when standards of practice have not been well established or clinical expertise is warranted
• • Works collaboratively with departments to identify the educational needs of hospital personnel as they relate to infection control.
• • Informally instructs all levels of personnel pertaining to infectious diseases, causative agents, and modes of transmission, control and preventative measures.
• • Develops and revises an infection control continuing education program relative to OSHA requirements which shall be designed as an instructors guide containing background information transmission of bloodborne pathogens and tuberculosis, etc.; list of available education materials, and associated policy and procedures. Department instructors shall be trained and updates on concepts as appropriate.
• • Reviews literature and /or videos on health issues for employee viewing/instruction. Makes recommendations to departments on appropriate usage.
• • Plans and updates the infection control orientation program as needed (i.e. general infection control practices, Epidemiology and modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens, universal precautions, and handwashing, etc.).

Professional

• • Maintains and seeks responsibility for self development including certification and continuing education
• • Participates in hospital Leadership programs.
• • Networks with colleagues to share ideas, trends, and innovations in areas of responsibility.
• • Maintains membership and association in professional nursing organizations, incorporates standards into operations to