Infection Control Prevention Lvl II - Nyc Health Hospitals : Job Details

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan, and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. Metropolitan delivers high quality health services with compassion, dignity, and respect to all, without exception. Since its founding in 1875, the hospital has been affiliated with New York Medical College, representing the oldest partnership between a hospital and a private medical school in the United States. Metropolitan is a part of the NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country.At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.Work Shifts9:00 A.M - 5:00 P.MJob DescriptionPurpose of Position: Under varying levels of supervision, depending on Assignment Level, conducts, facilitates, develops and monitors activities and functions relating to surveillance, investigation, analysis, interpretation, reporting, prevention and control of infections and communicable diseases. Participates in assessing, implementing, and maintaining a culture of safety across the continuum of care, by performing a wide range of prevention and control functions. Supports the delivery of safe patient-centered, quality care and collaborates with various departments across the health care setting to facilitate improved outcomes and patient experience. Acts in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal rules and regulations and infection control standards.Under direct supervision, conducts infection control surveillance and activities, assists with investigations of outbreaks and education and consultation of healthcare providers (HCPs), and performs healthcare associated infections (HAI) prevention activities. RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts ongoing infection control surveillance, prevention, and control program activities within a health care setting to identify early and/or suspected outbreaks of infections and communicable diseases, and to control and reduce the risk of exposure and avoid transmission by using epidemiologic principles.
• Approximately 80% of time will be spent on surveillance.
• Collects, tabulates, analyzes, and interprets infection data and records, and prepares and reviews reports; utilizes appropriate reporting programs; accurately reports reportable diseases to the appropriate public health departments and responds to public health department inquiries, as needed.
• Reviews daily microbiology and virology reports for culture results that may represent HAI.
• Participates in apparent cause analysis to identify modifiable risk factors and other infection prevention opportunities.
• Reviews patient charts for evidence of HAIs and applies National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) definitions to identify and report HAIs through the use of an electronic surveillance system.
• Documents appropriate information in patient electronic record.
• Assists with investigations of clusters of infections, outbreaks, unusual infections or exposures as these events arise and participates in epidemiologic studies, as needed.
• Assists with reviewing construction plans and designs and with completion of Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRAs), as needed. Serves as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee.
• Conducts weekly environmental rounding, as assigned.
• Consults with HCPs to answer infection prevention and control questions or concerns from staff, patients, and/or families.
• Advises staff on appropriate isolation practices and use of personal protective equipment
• Conducts mandatory education, as well as new employee orientation sessions, in-services and other educational sessions; participates in the antibiotic stewardship program.
• Performs related duties, as assigned, which may include periodic responsibility for responding to urgent infection prevention questions after hours or on weekends.
• Responsible for infection prevention and control components including surveillance with a primary focus on education and consultation of healthcare providers.
• Demonstrates expert-level understanding of surveillance data gathering, use of surveillance software, definition application, and reporting.
• Conducts ongoing infection control surveillance, prevention, and control program activities within a health care setting to identify early and/or suspected outbreaks of infections and communicable diseases, and to control and reduce the risk of exposure and avoid transmission by using epidemiologic principles. Approximately 50% of time will be spent on surveillance. Leads outbreak investigations and projects to reduce infection and participates in performance improvement initiatives to prevent healthcare associated infections. Identifies opportunities for improvement based on observations, process and outcome indicators and other findings and utilizes performance improvement methodology to create and implement interventions using current scientific literature.

Minimum QualificationsFor Appointment to Level II1. Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Nursing or a related discipline and three (3) years of satisfactory clinical experience or experience working in infection prevention and control, health care epidemiology or a related field in a hospital or a health care setting; or2. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in disciplines, as listed in #1 above and four (4) years of satisfactory experience, as described in #1 above.3. Current CIC issued by CBIC can be substituted for two (2) years of qualifying experience. However, all candidates must obtain a CIC issued by CBIC within three (3) years of appointment to the position.The position requires an individual to be mobile throughout the facility to perform the duties of this role.NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
• Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
• Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
• Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
• College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
• Multiple employee discounts programs