Infection Preventionist

About City of Hope

City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution with over 6000 employees, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases and guided by a compassionate, patient-centered philosophy.

Founded in 1913 and headquartered in Duarte, California, City of Hope is a remarkable non-profit institution, where compassion and advanced care go hand-in-hand with excellence in clinical and scientific research. City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers that develops and institutes standards of care for cancer treatment.

Position Summary

This is the operational level for the Infection Control Practitioner job series. Incumbents in this classification perform journey-level work in implementing healthcare-associated infection reduction strategies for patient and personnel through assessment and risk identification. Practitioners at this level utilize greater discretion and work more independently than those at the Associate Infection Preventionist level. Incumbents report directly to the Manager of the Infection Prevention Program, and may also obtain lead direction from the Senior Infection Preventionist.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Infection Preventionists are responsible for identifying healthcare-associated infection risks to patients and personnel through surveillance, observation and assessment. Incumbents specialize in developing, implementing, monitoring and reporting infection risk-reduction strategies through collaboration with all levels of medical center personnel. Infection Control Practitioners research and develop infection control policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements, nationally-recognized infection control guidelines, and recognized best practices.
• Infection Preventionists coordinate initial and on-going department-specific and facility-wide educational programs related to infection prevention and control. The infection preventionist reports state and federally mandated healthcare associated infections (HAI) Infection preventionists plan and coordinate programs to evaluate and monitor sterile and aseptic techniques, cleaning procedures, and sterilization processes employed by the medical center. Incumbents collaborate with and make recommendations to department leadership to reduce or eliminate potential infection hazards and to initiate corrective action as indicated through infection surveillance and monitoring programs.
• Performs surveillance for overall HAI rates, BSIs, VAPs, SSIs, and any identified cluster or trends using standardized definitions used to provide consistency, and allow for benchmarking.
• Assists in monitoring compliance with the Joint Commission IP requirements, CMS COP, and State and Federal regulations.

• Ad hoc information and teaching done on rounds. Teach New Employee Orientation as skills are developed as assigned.
• Interface with NHSN reporting program for institution as assigned. Complete Confidential Morbidity reports. Liaison with PHD on Advisory committees. Assists in investigations of reportable disease/conditions as defined in Title 17.
• Assists in assessing, inspecting, and making infection prevention and control recommendations to assure compliance with environmental and patient safety, including but not limited to renovation demolition and water intrusion and transmission based precautions. Participate in COH committees, as assigned. Participate in external professional organization(s) (APIC CACC).
• Follows established City of Hope and department policies, procedures, objectives, performance improvement, attendance, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines, including adherence to the workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Plan. Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or commensurate degree in a healthcare-related field or public health
• Experience may substitute for minimum education requirements
• Greater than 2 years recent infection prevention and control experience in an acute care facility.
• Meets or exceeds all competencies of Associate Infection Preventionist

Required Certification/Licensure:

• CIC required or must pass the CIC exam within 6 months of hire.

Preferred education experience and skills:

• Masters in degree in a healthcare-related field or MPH

Additional Information:

• Full-time
• Days
• 8 hours

City of Hope is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

• Posting Date: Dec 20, 2021
• Job Field: Leadership
• Employee Status: Regular
• Shift: Day Job