InfecCon Pract NonRN EX, Infection Prevention, Full Time, Flex Shift - Steward Health Care

Position Summary:

The Infection Preventionist directs and coordinates the infection control program in the hospital under the supervision of the IC Manager. The designated person will be given the authority to implement and enforce the Surveillance, Prevention, and Control Program policies, coordinates all infection prevention and control within the hospital and facilitates ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of prevention and/or control activities and interventions under the supervision of the IC Manager.

As such, the Infection Preventionist responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Infection prevention and control practice incorporates into practice effective activities that are specific to the practice setting, the population served, and the continuum of care.
• Surveillance uses a systematic approach to monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control strategies that are consistent with the organizations goals and objectives.
• Epidemiology applies epidemiologic principles and statistical methods, including risk stratification and bench marking, to identify target populations, determine risk factors, design prevention and control strategies, analyze trends, and evaluate processes.
• Education serves as an educator and educational resource for healthcare providers, ancillary staff, patients, families and the general public.
• Consultation provides expert knowledge and guidance in infection prevention, control and epidemiology.
• Occupational health collaborates with occupational health in the development of strategies that address the risk of disease transmission to healthcare providers and ancillary staff.
• Program administration and evaluation systematically evaluates the effectiveness of the program appropriate to the practice setting.
• Fiscal responsibility practices in a fiscally responsible and accountable manner.
• Performance improvement functions as an integral part of performance improvement initiatives to promote positive patient and employee outcomes.
• Research conducts, participates, evaluates and/or applies relevant research findings to infection prevention, control and epidemiologic studies, e.g. outbreak/cluster investigations, surveillance findings and others.

Position Qualification:

• Experienced healthcare professional with a health science background.
• Registered Nurse (RN), FMG (Foreign Medical Graduate), epidemiologist, or medical technologist (MT).
• Has knowledge and experience in patient care practices, microbiology, aseptic technique, disinfection/sterilization, adult education, infectious diseases, communication, program administration and epidemiology.
• Becomes certified in infection prevention and control when eligible through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, and maintains certification or within 2 years of hire.
• Completes a basic infection control training course within the first year of entering the profession or being hired at a Steward facility, whichever comes first.
• Baccalaureate degree preferred, or in recognition of the current demographics of the field, IPs without a baccalaureate degree are considered compliant with entry-level educational standards as long as certification is maintained.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, and knowledge of computer programs (Microsoft word, Excel, Power-point).

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Current Florida License as RN or Foreign Medical Graduate.
• Certification in Infection Control when eligible or within 2 years of hire preferred.
• BSN or BS in health related field preferred, or in recognition of the current demographics of the field of ICPs without a baccalaureate degree are considered compliant with entry-level educational standards as long as certification is maintained current.

Communication Skills:

• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and orally with all levels of the organization.

Palmetto General Hospital is proud to be a minority, physician owned organization. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are at the foundation of the care we provide, the community services we support and all our employment practices. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.