General Summary

Under general supervision, conducts nosocomial infection surveillance, analyzes data for trends, participates in outbreak investigations, provides related education to staff and maintains relevant policies.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Collects, processes, and analyzes surveillance data to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to decrease morbidity and mortality as well as employee exposures and injuries.
  • Evaluates hospitalized patients for the presence of nosocomial, infectious or reportable disease using both electronic data and site visits.
  • Reviews culture and sensitivity reports on in-patients with possible infections to set priorities for surveillance activities in patient care areas and define nosocomial infections in accordance with CDC published definitions.
  • Performs surveillance of current in-patient and discharged patient's medical records suspected of having acquired a nosocomial infection.
  • Identifies, alert sand discusses significant Infection Control issues with the Director of Infection Prevention & Control and Hospital Epidemiologist, usually pertaining to those nursing units assigned for surveillance activities.
  • Reports communicable diseases as required by law.
• Consults with administration, medical staff, department managers, employees, and patients regarding infection control practices, policies, and procedures, transmission of communicable disease, and reduction of nosocomial infections.
  • Maintains records of nosocomial infections and prepares various monthly, quarterly and annual infection reports in accordance with departmental procedures.
  • Completes necessary data collection in a timely manner in preparation for monthly infection prevention reports.
  • Attends monthly Infection Control Subcommittee meetings to present nosocomial infection data for specific patient care areas and/or types of infections.
  • Prepares and reviews quarterly nosocomial infections reports for accuracy and completeness with Hospital Epidemiologist. Distributes report to the Infection Prevention Committee to be presented by the Hospital Epidemiologist. May attend and present the data as required.
  • Leads and or participates in multidisciplinary collaborative teams to improve preventative practices, identify evidence based research, and improve patient and institutional outcomes.
  • Some On-Call is required.
• Investigates patient/employee exposures to communicable diseases and participates in outbreak investigations, making recommendations to control such outbreaks and notifies appropriate City and State Health Officials in accordance with departmental procedures and state regulations.
  • Reviews current infection control literature to keep up-to-date on infection control changes and developments.
  • Makes recommendations to departments to alter specific procedures to decrease the transmission of nosocomial infection between and/or to patients.
• Develops educational programs to meet the needs of all employees as required by regulatory agencies to keep them informed about current infection control concepts and their specific responsibilities.
  • Provides infection control education to nursing, medical staff and various allied health staff to communicate departmental and hospital-wide policies and procedures.
  • Consults with health care workers via telephone and/or in person concerning infection control issues in patient care and/or employee health.
  • Review and revise house wide policies to ensure that current practice meets professional and regulatory standards with regards to identification of issues and outbreak control and prevention. Develop sound policies that reflect changing trends.
  • Develops and conducts hospital-wide in-service programs on infection control.
  • Assists with conducting Annual Training Sessions on "Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogens" and tuberculosis for UMMS employees, physicians and other hospital personnel.
  • Collaborates with Employee Health regarding vaccine programs, PPD testing and post-evaluation follow-up for infectious disease exposures.
• Maintains infection prevention expertise in a clinical specialty in infection control as identified by the Director.

Patient Safety

Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives.