Knoxville Hospital and Clinics strive to be your healthcare destination, building on compassion and innovation. We are committed to faithfully providing exceptional healthcare. The values we hold true are Teamwork, Innovation, Compassion, Integrity, Service, and People-Centered.
This is a Part-Time position working 40 hours per pay period (biweekly). This position is eligible for a $5,000 sign on bonus.
The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for planning, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating the hospital-wide Infection Prevention and Control Program in accordance with CMS Conditions of Participation for Critical Access Hospitals, CDC guidelines, OSHA standards, state and local public health requirements, and evidence-based infection prevention practices.
The Infection Preventionist provides leadership in surveillance, prevention, investigation, education, regulatory compliance, outbreak response, and quality improvement activities to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improve patient safety. The IP serves as the content expert for infection prevention and collaborates with leadership, medical staff, nursing, ancillary departments, environmental services, employee health, and Quality Improvement.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Associate or higher degree in a healthcare-related field required.
Experience
- Minimum one (1) year of healthcare experience required.
- Experience in acute care, clinic, quality improvement, infection prevention, laboratory, or public health preferred.
Licensure/Certification
If applicable to professional discipline:
- Current Iowa professional license in good standing.
- Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) preferred.
- Candidates without certification are encouraged to obtain CIC certification within 3 years of hire.
Preferred Knowledge
Knowledge of:
- CDC infection prevention guidelines
- Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
- CMS Conditions of Participation
- NHSN reporting
- Antibiotic Stewardship principles
- Quality Improvement methodologies
- Healthcare epidemiology
Essential Job Functions
Infection Prevention Program
- Develops, implements, evaluates, and continuously improves the hospital Infection Prevention and Control Program.
- Maintains current infection prevention policies and procedures.
- Ensures the program reflects the scope and complexity of services provided by the hospital.
- Collaborates with leadership to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Collaborates with construction contractors and facilities staff on ICRA (infection control risk assessment) standards
Surveillance
- Conducts ongoing surveillance for healthcare-associated infections.
- Reviews microbiology reports, laboratory data, and patient records.
- Identifies infection trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Performs surveillance using CDC/NHSN definitions.
- Maintains accurate infection surveillance databases.
Investigation
- Investigates suspected outbreaks and clusters.
- Conducts exposure investigations.
- Coordinates response activities with public health agencies.
- Recommends mitigation strategies.
Regulatory Compliance
- Ensures compliance with:
- CMS Conditions of Participation
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)
- CDC guidance
- OSHA requirements
- NHSN reporting requirements
- Accrediting organization standards (if applicable)
- Maintains documentation necessary for regulatory surveys.
Education
Provides education for to the following on topics including but not limited to hand hygiene, isolation precautions, PPE, injection safety, environmental cleaning, infectious diseases
- New employee orientation
- Annual competencies
- Medical staff
- Nursing staff
- Ancillary departments
- Volunteers
- Contract staff
Performance Improvement
- Participates in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI).
- Develops infection prevention performance measures.
- Monitors compliance with evidence-based practices.
- Conducts audits including:
- Hand hygiene
- Isolation compliance
- PPE use
- Environmental cleaning
- Device care bundles
Antibiotic Stewardship
Collaborates with Pharmacy, med staff, nursing, laboratory to support the hospital antibiotic stewardship program through data review, education and quality initiatives.
Employee Health
Collaborates with Employee Health regarding: Occupational exposure, blood borne pathogen exposure follow up, respiratory protection, immunizations, return to work
Reporting
Prepares reports for:
- Infection Prevention Committee
- Medical Staff
- Quality Committee
- Governing Board
- Leadership Team
Provides analysis of:
- Infection rates
- Trends
- Opportunities for improvement
- Regulatory compliance
Leadership Responsibilities
- Serves as infection prevention resource for all departments.
- Participates on committees as assigned.
- Promotes a culture of patient safety.
- Assists in emergency preparedness related to infectious diseases.
- Coordinates infection prevention activities during disasters, pandemics, and outbreaks.
Critical Access Hospital Responsibilities
This position fulfills the Infection Preventionist responsibilities described under the CMS Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation by:
- Leading the facility-wide Infection Prevention and Control Program.
- Conducting surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections.
- Monitoring adherence to infection prevention practices.
- Providing education to hospital personnel.
- Coordinating infection prevention activities with the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program.
- Supporting the Antibiotic Stewardship Program.
- Investigating communicable diseases and outbreaks.
- Collaborating with public health authorities as appropriate.
- Reporting required infectious disease data in accordance with federal and state requirements.
Preferred: Completion of an approved Infection Prevention training program (CDC, APIC, SHEA, or equivalent) within one year of hire if the employee does not have prior infection prevention experience.
This is a Part-Time position and is eligible for benefits for medical, dental, vision, retirement plan with company match of up to 6%, flexible spending accounts, accrued hours for vacation, and company paid benefits for employee life, employee AD&D, short term and long-term disability.
