Infection Preventionist

Job description

Infection Preventionist
Position Summary:
Responsible for identifying, investigating, monitoring, and reporting healthcare-associated infections. Collaborates with teams and individuals to create infection prevention strategies, provide feedback, and sustain infection prevention (IP) strategies. Collaborates with all other departments to provide consultation and content expertise to protect patients, providers, employees, visitors, and others from risk of infection or infectious disease transmission throughout Kootenai Health.
Responsibilities:
• Develops, implements, and evaluates the organizational infection prevention program
• Develops annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data
• Utilizes epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations
• Evaluates and modifies the surveillance plan as necessary
• Develops, interprets, and assists with implementation of infection prevention and control policies and protocols
• Communicates infection prevention and control information and data to various committees and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned
• Serves as a resource to all Kootenai employees and providers regarding infection prevention standards and best practices
• Connects with organizations to promote health and safety across the region
• Collaborates with leadership to assure employee awareness and practice in accordance with infection prevention standards, policies, and procedures
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve patient and employee safety
• Assesses and addresses learning needs of those served through IP education programs
• Create IP educational goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and available educational tools and technology
• Evaluates the effectiveness of IP educational programs and learner outcomes
• Complies with infection prevention related regulatory/mandatory reporting requirements at local, state, and federal levels
• Facilitates compliance with IP regulatory and accreditation standards, assuring both accuracy and timeliness of data submission
• Stays abreast on infection prevention and control regulatory and accreditation standards
• Utilizes performance improvement (PI) methodology as a means of enacting change
• Defines the scope of the project and select appropriate PI tools to aid in efficiency, reliability, effectiveness and ensure sustainability of the initiative
• Ensures that customer needs and expectations are considered in the development of and continuous improvement of processes, products, and services
• Monitors and analyzes process and outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability
• Participates in PI committees, teams and initiatives
• Participates in the development and review of occupational health policies and procedures related to IPC
• Collaborates with Employee Health to assess risk of occupational exposures to infectious disease
• Collaborates with Employee Health to develop rates and trends of occupational exposures and immunization and screening programs
• Collaborates with Employee Health to apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure
• Consults and collaborates with local, state, and federal public health officials, and community health organizations
• Evaluates research and evidence-based practices and incorporates appropriate findings into routine practice
• Integrates evidence-based practices into policies, guidelines, protocols and educational strategies
• Identifies barriers for implementation and develops strategies to minimize or remove barriers
• Implements strategies to sustain efforts such as audit tools and meaningful feedback
• Considers the financial and safety implications and clinical outcomes when making recommendations, evaluating technology and products, and developing policies and procedures

Requirements and Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• Infection Control and Epidemiology (i.e.: CIC©) certification within 2 years of employment required
• Prior infection prevention and control experience preferred
• Prior clinical experience preferred

Working Conditions:
• Must be able to bend, stoop and crouch
• Bust be able to lift and move up to 10lbs
• Typical equipment used in an office setting

About Kootenai Health:
Kootenai Health is a highly esteemed healthcare organization serving patients throughout northern Idaho and the Inland Northwest. We have been recognized with many accolades and distinctions, including being a Gallup Great Workplace, No. 1 Best Place to Work in Large Healthcare Organizations, and Magnet™ Status for Nursing Excellence. We pride ourselves on our outstanding reputation as an employer and a healthcare provider.
As your next employer, we are excited to offer you:
• Comprehensive medical coverage, including fully employer‑paid options for eligible full‑time employees, plus affordable plans for part‑time staff. Benefits begin on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Dental, vision, life, and pet insurance, with telemedicine and wellbeing resources available to all employees
• Tuition assistance after 90 days to support your professional growth
• Retirement plans with pre‑tax and Roth options and employer matching from 3%–6%
• Competitive pay, plus night, weekend, and PRN shift differentials
• Award‑winning wellness program with coaching, financial wellness resources, and free or discounted access to fitness centers and premium wellbeing apps
• PerkSpot discounts providing access to thousands of exclusive deals in over 25 categories
• And an employee referral bonus program

Kootenai Health provides exceptional support for extraordinary careers. If you want to work on a high-quality, person-centered healthcare team, we can't wait to meet you!
Apply today!
Kootenai Health complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sex. Kootenai Health does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sex.