Wellstar Cobb Hospital has an opportunity for an Infection Preventionist (IP)

This position is Full-Time/Day Shift

Job Summary:

The Infection Preventionist II (IP II) is a professional who functions under the Infection Prevention Manager, or
Director/ED/AVP of Safety and Quality, with a matrix relationship to the Executive Director of Infection Prevention at
the system level. The Infection Preventionist II is responsible for monitoring and responding to Healthcare Associated
Infections (HAI's) and communicable infections by infection detection, data collection and analysis; monitoring; and
evaluation of preventive interventions. Additional responsibilities include providing input on relevant policies and
procedures, conducting risk assessments, ensuring adequacy of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization practices,
educating, and coaching staff, and assuring regulatory compliance in all aspects of infection surveillance, prevention,
and control. The Infection Preventionist II monitors and responds to HAI (Healthcare Associated Infection) infections
in high-risk patient populations, serves as the primary contact for regulatory agencies in matters related to infection
prevention and control, helps analyze relevant data trends and clinical practice workflows, and leads organization-
wide efforts to minimize harm from infections and to meet current and anticipated future regulatory and accreditation
standards related to infection prevention and control.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Surveillance
- Conducts surveillance for healthcare associated infections and epidemiologically significant organisms as specified in the Infection Prevention Plan.
- Utilizes current NHSN definitions and applies them consistently.
- Collects, aggregates and analyzes data.
- Confirms and investigates potential clusters and outbreaks
- Participates in environment of care (EOC) rounds and oversees IP-related corrective actions.
- Facilitates activities to ensure compliance with Hand Hygiene and Isolation Compliance
- Conducts evaluations and assessments for Construction and Renovation
- Collect data in support of epidemiological studies of specific problems or problem areas to determine the source of the problem and make appropriate recommendations
- Champion a minimum of one quality/performance improvement project annually. This should be accomplished by assessing, monitoring, and measuring hospital associated infections, development interventions, and provision of education, and evaluating outcomes.
- Expertise in NHSN definitions, methodology, and database management/oversight
- Accurate NHSN data input
- Consistently and proficiently runs validation reports through NHSN
- Manage internal and external data validation processes Reporting and Communicating
- Maintains confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
- Maintains accurate surveillance records and enters data into repositories.
- Reports infection prevention and control activities to facility Infection prevention Performance Improvement Committee, WellStar System Infection Prevention, and applicable departments, committees and managers
- Maintain a knowledge base of current infection prevention and control information through peer networking, internet access, published literature and professional meetings.
- Reports diseases to local and state public health authorities as required by law.
- Submits internal and external data according to established deadlines.
- Analyzes information to develop knowledge for appropriate dissemination. Education
- Develops and delivers staff education programs.
- Provides patient and family education of infection prevention practices as requested by clinical caregivers.
- Provides Infection Prevention orientation for hospital team members.
- Maintains current knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements pertaining to infection prevention
- Apply knowledge of adult learning principles.
- 1:1 Education based on identified performance observations
- Participate in continuing educational activities at the department, state, and national levels to promote personal growth and maintain a current knowledge base commensurate with latest research and scholarly knowledge. Leadership
- Collaborates with Manager to review and implement system policies and procedures.
- Utilizes resources to respond to the questions and needs of the organization.
- Serves as a mentor to new IPs.
- Maintains regulatory and accreditation compliance.
- Collaborates with Employee Health regarding healthcare worker exposure and illness prevention.
- Assists Manager in annual risk assessment, goal development and surveillance plan evaluation.
- Experience in leading performance improvement initiatives
- Contributes to the evaluation of new products.
- Collaborates with Managers to enhance relationships with staff.

Required Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in a healthcare related field
• Master's Degree in a healthcare related field, preferred Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.