Infection Preventionist jobs in Allen, KY

Job Description

Infection Control: Applies handwashing principles during daily work; demonstrates

understanding of isolation precautions; recognizes signs and symptoms of infection and complies

with the employee health program; demonstrates understanding of the process for identifying and

handling infectious waste; maintains personal hygiene; complies with OSHA standards in the

workplace; and demonstrates understanding of cross-contamination.

Essential Functions:

Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

• Oversight of the IPCP, which includes, at a minimum, the following elements:

• A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases

for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement

based upon the facility assessment... and following accepted national standards;

• Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to:

• A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can

spread to other persons in the facility;

• When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported;

• Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent spread of infections.

When and how isolation should be used for a resident; including but not limited to:

• The type and duration of the isolation, depending upon the infectious agent or organism involved, and

• A requirement that the isolation should be the least restrictive possible for the resident under the circumstances.

• The circumstances under which the facility must prohibit employees with a communicable disease or infected

skin lesions from direct contact with residents or their food, if direct contact will transmit the disease; and

• The hand hygiene procedures to be followed by staff involved in direct resident contact.

• A system for recording incidents identified under the facility’s IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility.

• Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens to prevent the spread of infection.

Must perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection

prevention goals and action plan

• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention

• Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread.

• Conduct outbreak investigations

• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies as required

• Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents’ antibiotic use

• Assess the need for, develop, and present IPCP in-service education for individual departments, general orientation, and

annual review as needed; education includes but is not limited to:

• Hand hygiene

• Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization

• Specific direct and indirect care settings

• Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices

• Use of isolation/barrier precautions when indicated

• Resident placement, transfer, and discharge

• Environmental hazards

• Use of patient care products and medical equipment

• Resident immunization programs

• Assess the need for, develop, and implement written policies and procedures for infection control, including those for

standard precautions and for transmission-based precautions, including when these should be used, the duration of use, and

the type of precautions needed for an infection or organism

• Enforce policies prohibiting staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents and

their food, and enforce hand hygiene policies consistent with accepted standards of practices

• Serve as a member of the quality assessment and assurance committee

• Be accountable for surveillance of healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections for residents, staff, volunteers,

and visitors

• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and ensure that the facility leaders are informed of

appropriate issues; understand and comply with infection control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations

Education/Requirement:

Current State Registered Nurse License with a minimum of 2 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Good standing in the state registry is required. Completion of infection preventionist certification.