Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:
The Infection Prevention Coordinator is responsible for the administration of a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Program. The Infection Prevention Program implements a multidisciplinary collaborative plan designed to prevent and control the spread of infection among patients, staff, volunteers and visitors in the healthcare setting.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's Degree in in Nursing, Public Health, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Allied Health, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, or related fields. and

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
3 to 5 years experience in a healthcare or laboratory/clinical setting. Exceptions will be made for other relevant experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must attend an approved epidemiology training program
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position
• Active APIC membership
• Assumes responsibility for self-education and ongoing changes related to infection prevention

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Strong organizational and planning skillsAbility to work with common computer software applications and databasesKnowledge and application of quality improvement principles and practices.Excellent communication skills with ability to handle diverse and complex situations.Information management skills, including data analysis and report preparationIdentify work to be done, prioritize and accomplish tasks independently and through teamwork

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Implementation of Infection Prevention StrategyDevelops, interprets, and assists with the implementation of infection prevention policies and procedures.Assesses performance of infection prevention process measures and interprets data related to infection prevention outcome measures. Leads prevention teams in the development and implementation of improvement initiatives.Interacts, communicates and collaborates with other healthcare workers and multidisciplinary groups regarding improvement efforts.Uses current standards, guidelines and evidence-based practice to implement and facilitate improvement activities designed to prevent healthcare-associated infections.Provides new hire and ongoing education related to infection prevention.Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of infection prevention best practices and standards.
• Surveillance and ReportingPerforms surveillance for healthcare-associated infections across multiple sites of care, utilizing the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definitions.Reports infection prevention data to NHSN as required by state and/or federal reporting requirements.Supports the ongoing development and maintenance of an electronic surveillance system to assist in the identification of healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases.
• ComplianceMaintains compliance with state ( IL Departments of Public Health), accreditation (The Joint Commission), and federal (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA) rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines for infection prevention.Assists in the development, review, and revision of Infection Prevention and department policies and procedures to maintain compliance with rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines.