Infection Preventionist I Inland/SVH
: Job Details :

Northern Light Health Department: Infection PreventionPosition is located: Inland/SVHWork Type: Full TimeHours Per Week: 40.00Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PMSummary:The Infection Preventionist I relies on rules and concepts to guide practice as knowledge and skills develop. The Infection Preventionist I is responsible for collaborating to promote, implement and sustain effective infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies.Responsibilities:Leadership

• Assists in implementing and monitoring infection prevention program throughout the organization.
• Collaborates to align IPC program goals with organizational and strategic goals.
• Seeks mentorship from experienced infection preventionists.

Infection Prevention and Control Operations

• Contributes to centralized surveillance program and investigation using epidemiologic principles to identify and classify events, indicators, measures, and/or outcomes.
• Uses data to identify the need for change.
• Reports epidemiologically significant findings to key stakeholders.
• Identifies infectious disease processes and how to prevent and control the transmission of infectious agents.
• Ensures applicable reporting requirements and regulations are met.
• Evaluates the environment to ensure compliance with infection prevention practices.
• Collaborates to assess risk of exposure to infectious diseases.
• Applies principles of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization practices.
• Participates in infection prevention and control assessments and/or rounding.
• Assesses the education needs of customers and/or the community and delivers basic educational offerings.
• Assists with outbreak investigations.

Infection Prevention and Control Informatics

• Monitors infection prevention and control processes.
• Uses technology and medical records for data collection.
• Identifies trends and changes in process and outcome metrics.
• Utilizes applicable reporting systems as required.
• Uses information technology to analyze and disseminate data and ensure data integrity.
• Organizes and shares findings from surveillance activities and quality improvement projects.

Quality Improvement

• Participates and contributes to IPC projects/teams, using evidence-based practices and published guidance.
• Participates in performance improvement projects and use process and outcome measures to ensure that interventions are sustained over time.
• Utilizes data to aid in decision making and goal setting.
• Participates in IPC risk assessments and action plan development for risk mitigation.

Professional Stewardship

• Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and best practice related to IPC.
• Consults and collaborates with local, state, and federal public health officials, healthcare facilities, and community health organizations on activities related to IPC.
• Consistently adheres to the ethical principles outlined in Professional Practice Standards as dictated by professional society (e.g. APIC).

Research

• Reviews evidence-based practices and research findings to incorporate findings into practices.
• Other Duties.

Other Information:

• Health Care Provider CPR certification.
• Maine driver's license.
• Associate - Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC) entry level certification preferred. Certification in Infection Control within 3 years of hire.

Competencies and Skills

• Achieves Results: Sets high standards for their own outcomes and seizes opportunities to engage others towards objectives. Consistently moves forward with direct actions in order to attain or exceed objectives. Manages their own time effectively to accomplish assigned tasks. Successfully prioritizes multiple projects and duties as needed.
• Acts Strategically: Creates effective plans that anticipate future consequences and opportunities and is able to connect the day to day operations to longer-term objectives, shifts in the industry, and system goals.
• Adobe Acrobat
• Applies Business Acumen:Demonstrates knowledge of current and future trends that impact organizational success. Applies proven practices and business theories to get results that meet financial as well as other business goals. Recognizes opportunities for new services and products and acts accordingly, taking measured risks into consideration. Possesses a thorough knowledge of their field and independently carries out their work in accordance with professional standards of the profession.
• Arithmetic
• Basic Life Support
• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Electronic medical record software.
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.
• Cyber Security
• Demonstrates Adaptability: Learns quickly when facing a new problem or unfamiliar task; is flexible in their approach with changing priorities and ambiguity. Manages change effectively and does not give up during adversity. Capable of changing one's behavioral style and/or views in order to attain a goal. Absorbs new information readily and puts it into practice effectively.
• Demonstrates Emotional Intelligence: Exhibits a high level of self-awareness, self-management, other awareness and relationship management. Conducts themselves in an empathic, appropriate way, with a sense of humor and stimulates a collaborative work environment. Is respectful of the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others and aware of the influence of their own behavior on them. Is aware of relevant social, political, system, and professional trends and developments and uses this information for the organization's benefit.
• Develops Self and Others:Takes responsibility for engaging in professional self-development activities and programs. Strives to gain insight into their own values, strengths and weaknesses, interests and ambitions and takes action in order to enhance competencies and skills when possible. As a leader, encourages and guides employees towards growth opportunities to enhance performance and help them reach goals. Reviews and analyzes employees' strengths and weaknesses to distinguish their talents and development needs, and to ensure they are enhanced appropriately.
• Effectively Communicates: Listens, speaks and writes appropriately, using clear language. Communication methods are fitting to the message(s), audience, and situation and follow-ups are regular and timely. Shows that important (non-) verbal information is absorbed and understood and asks further questions to clarify when necessary. Expresses ideas and views clearly to others and has ability to adjust use of language to the audiences' level.
• Exercises Sound Judgment & Decision Making: Understands and processes complex information, which allows for appropriate and accountable conclusions. Does not react too quickly or slowly. Balances facts, goals, and potential approaches taking the appropriate criteria into account. Makes active decisions and commits oneself by communicating confidently and respectfully.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Fosters Innovation: Employs and encourages the use of meaningful creativity in solving challenges. Proactively identifies opportunities and uses new approaches to enhance processes, systems and services. When appropriate, suggests or initiates new strategies, products, services, and markets.
• Influences and Inspires: Builds enthusiasm and commitment among others to move in a desired direction and models it personally. Creates a compelling vision of success that motivates workplace initiative and energizes others to follow. Provides direction and guidance to encourage cooperation between team members in order to attain an objective. Has the ability to appropriately influence others' actions and decisions with and without express authority.
• Spreadsheet application with the ability to use calculations, formulas, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming.
• Word processing, spreadsheets, data entry, database experience and other computer related skills.
• Email application with the ability to manage email as well as calendars, managing tasks and contacts, note taking, journaling, and web browsing.
• Presentation software with the ability to create presentations with the ability to incorporate animation, audio, video, time delays, as well as designing themes and variants with animations and effects.
• MS Teams
• Word process application with the ability to create and edit documents, format, use tables, apply footnoting, create table of contents and mail merge techniques.
• Experience with operating a network.
• OneNote
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.
• Promotes Health and Safety: Promotes a healthy and safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. Advocates and models healthy physical and mental health behaviors even in challenging circumstances. Sets high quality standards and strives for continuous improvement and quality assurance by reporting and encouraging others to report near misses and safety issues.
• Provides Patient-Centered Care: Demonstrates understanding of patient care quality and service as organizational priority. Proactively supports change to improve patient experience and results. Exhibits the ability and willingness to find out what the patient wants and needs and to act accordingly, taking the organizational and outside resources into account. Cooperates, collaborates, communicates, and integrates care within and between teams to ensure that care is continuous and reliable.
• Public Speaking
• Resolves Conflict: Promptly acts to find alternatives/solutions when team members disagree. Addresses issues in a direct, honest, and appropriate manner. Handles conflicting interests diplomatically and helps to solve them. Transforms difficult situations into teachable moments using respect and accountability .
• Seeks Process Improvement & Applies System Thinking: Possesses and gains insight into situations, problems and processes. Understands the interconnection between organizational elements. Deconstructs problems and systematically investigates the various components. Considers the impact of actions on the entire process/system. Detects problems and opportunities, recognizes important information, and links various data to trace potential causes and relevant details.
• Serves Others: Strives to understand, meet and exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers which may include the people and communities in our service areas. Develops and maintains relationships, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and leverages them in order to obtain information, support, and promote cooperation and collaboration.
• Business intelligence and data analysis software.
• Utilizes Resources Effectively: Understands how to get the most out of available resources and uses cost-benefit thinking in decision-making and in setting priorities. Monitors and analyzes resource usage to identify and eliminate areas of waste and maximize resources. As a leader, defines targets and provides appropriate means; oversees progress and makes adjustments when necessary. Appropriately delegates work, sets clear direction and manages workflow and time.
• Zoom

Education

• Required Bachelor's DegreeIn Health science, healthcare delivery, public health, laboratory science, or related field.

Required Experience

• 5 year/years of Relevant Work Experience

Working Conditions

• Potential exposure to abusive and/or aggressive people.
• Potential exposure to diseases or infections.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials.
• Potential exposure to noxious odors.
• Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.
• Work beyond the regularly scheduled hours.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.