The Infection Preventionist is instrumental to the implementation of OHSU healthcare mission, vision, goals and objectives, providing clinical infection control expertise and helping to ensure safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, patient-centered care. The Infection Preventionist implements OHSU’s Strategic and Organizational Infection Control Plan through leadership, consultation, facilitation, education, investigation, data collection and analysis, reporting, and research. The Infection Preventionist functions as a change agent in planning, leading, and evaluating infection prevention and control practices, in surveillance-based performance improvement activities directed to identify and reduce the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections, and in assisting with organizational regulatory compliance. Consultative services directed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases are provided to OHSU services outside the scope of OHSU-HC, including the Schools of Nursing, Dentistry, and Medicine, and the West Campus. Shares on-call responsibility with other members of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control. The Infection Control Manager may assign other infection prevention and control (IPC) activities and duties as needed.

Leadership

• Identifies, recommends, and leads infection prevention and control (IPC) improvement opportunities in assigned areas through surveillance, research, and statistical analysis of internal and external data sources.
• Acts as a liaison to assigned area(s) to promote evidence-based, patient-centered IPC practices.
  Recommends evidence-based infection prevention measures and assists with their implementation.
• Leads the analysis and evaluation of IPC processes and surveillance through membership in Best Practice Groups, Quality Councils, and other assigned committees.
• Promotes and models collaborative working relationships with all members of the heathcare team.
• Provides effective influence in the development and attainment of IPC department and organizational goals through interdepartmental collaboration.
• Leads activities that support regulatory requirements or organizational goals.
• Takes an active role in compliance readiness and preparation for regulatory agency surveys.
• Serves as the IPC liaison in assigned regional and national benchmarking studies and infection prevention initiatives, including the Vizient, IHI, APIC, and the CDC, and facilitates improvement opportunities from the project
  learnings.
• Participates regularly in clinical and safety rounds.

Consultation

• Provides project management and IPC expertise to teams, medical services, managers, and departments.
• Designs appropriate surveillance studies including methodology, data collection indicators, analysis, and reporting processes to use for identified infection prevention and control PI projects.
• Assists individuals/groups to interpret internal/external infection control data and to develop appropriate follow up action plans.
• Reviews current research and related literature to identify evidence-based best practices in infection prevention and control.
• Provides perspective on the Infection Control Plan and initiatives, and the application of surveillance, and epidemiological tools and techniques.
• Serves as a member of assigned committees, task forces and special projects to provide expert infection prevention and control consultation.
• Provides expert consultation to OHSU and community customers on all areas of infection prevention and control and exposure prevention, investigation, and management. 
• Acts as a liaison with county/state health department officials in the management of patients with communicable diseases.

Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation

• Conducts routine and investigative surveillance activities, chart reviews and data abstraction utilizing epidemiological and microbiological methodologies and principles. Assures data reliability and validity or accurately identifies limitations associated with the study methodology. Interprets and analyzes data in collaboration with Data Analysts, Medical Directors and other members of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control, comparing results with published data or other benchmarks.
  
• Performs intensive monitoring of issues in assigned areas; tracking, trending and follow up. Works intra and interdepartmentally to investigate infection prevention and control issues and to document findings. Reports activities to appropriate oversight committees, governing bodies, and to the appropriate organizational leaders.
  
• Performs exposure and outbreak investigations and designs appropriate containment interventions working collaboratively with Employee Health, hospital, clinic, and medical staff departments and programs communicating the status of actions and outcomes.
• Develops and presents complex, comprehensive reports and presentations for teams, committees, councils, department medical and surgical chairs, and the Pro Board.

Prevent Infection Transmission

• Recognizes, investigates and assists with controlling outbreaks or clusters of infection; prepares summary reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
  
• Reviews and investigates infection control associated incident reports and infection control clinical risk related patient concerns. Works collaboratively with the Patient Safety Manager in critical incident reviews.
  
• Intervenes directly as needed to interrupt the transmission of infections and infectious diseases.
  
• Evaluates environmental issues for infection control risks to patients and staff, and provides recommendations for remediation and improvement.
  
• Develops, reviews, and revises policies related to infection prevention, utilizing current evidence-based guidance.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2 years’ experience as an Infection Preventionist in an acute care setting or equivalent education/experience,
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) within 3 year.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Knowledge of infection prevention and control practices and processes.
• Knowledge of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection, sterilization, infectious diseases, and epidemiology.
• Ability to work as a team member and interact with broad spectrum of healthcare personnel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer and data entry skills, especially in using Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Skilled in organizational behavior and group dynamics.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

• Masters degree in healthcare - related field (e.g. MPH, MSN)
• Board certification in Infection Prevention (CIC);
• board certification in their professional field, eg, MT(ASCP)SM;
• Healthcare Professional with two years acute care-related experience (e.g. BSN Registered Nurse, Medical Technologist, etc.)
• If RN, current Oregon Nursing Licensure or able to obtain within 90 days of acceptance.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Knowledge of Epic.
  
• Experience with the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) (e.g. entering cases, running reports)
  
• Experience working with Project Management and Performance Improvement.
  
• Leadership training and/or experience.
  
• Data analysis skills and experience.

Normal office environment. May be exposured to human tissues/fluids or communciable diseases. Generally follows Monday - Friday work week 0730-1600 with variabililty depending on assignment or project needs. Shares 24 hour call responsibility for Infection Prevention and Control Department

 

Benefits:

• Healthcare Options - Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents, and $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
  
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from
  
• Vacation- up to 200 hours per year depending on length of service
  
• Sick Leave- up to 96 hours per year
  
• 8 paid holidays per year
  
• Substantial Tri-met and C-Tran discounts
  
• Additional Programs including: Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.