Infection Control

Infection Control Practitioner

Under the guidance and oversight of the ICP/Infectious Disease Physician, the position is responsible for monitoring, controlling and reducing nosocomial infections. Also responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating infection control and prevention within the hospital.

This position requires the full understanding and active participation in fulfilling the Mission of San Gabriel Valley Medical Center. It is expected that the employee will demonstrate behavior consistent with the Core Values. The employee shall support San Gabriel Valley Medical Center's strategic plan and the goals and direction of the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).

Responsibilities

• Provides orientation/review classes for hospital employees on the policies, standards and practices of Infection Control relative to their scope of responsibilities.
• Conducts educational programs for Nursing Staff and other associates.
• Serves as principal working member of the Infection Control Committee, by influencing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating policies and procedures developed by the Committee.
• Collaborates with Nursing and Medical Staff in assessing known or suspected infection in patients, and implementing appropriate control measures to insure that care is not compromised for patients requiring isolation.
• Participates in establishing and evaluating policies for the Employee Health Department with regard to infection prevention and control, assists EHD Staff in investigations of patient-to-employee and employee-to-patient cross-infections.
• Consults with, and makes recommendations to hospital employees in ancillary departments regarding isolation procedures, environmental cleaning, handling of infectious waste, disinfection, sterilization and in the selection of equipment.
• May act in consultative capacity to other health care agencies or providers by assisting in investigation of suspect problem, staff development/education, etc.
• Reviews and disseminates new information on infection control measures to appropriate individuals or departments within the hospital.
• Plans and supervises on-going surveillance of known or suspected infection in patient or employees.
• Detects outbreaks or other special problems; provides recommendations of activities to control/prevent infection in patients and employees.
• Evaluates effectiveness of adherence to Infection Control Policies to identify practices, equipment, supplies and/or new products which constitute a risk or breakdown in infection control measures.
• Analyzes data collected to institute appropriate remedial measures. Utilizes reporting mechanisms to inform and motivate hospital employees and provides data to the Infection Control Committee and appropriate others.
• Assists members of the Medical Staff in reporting reportable communicable disease to local, county, state and federal health authorities as appropriate.
• Makes environmental rounds throughout hospital and clinics for the purpose of alerting the professional and nursing staffs to possible infections, as well as monitoring compliance with Infection Control Procedures.
• Conducts studies relevant to Infection Control Programs to assist the Infection Control Committee in policy development and evaluation.
• Disseminates and interprets infection surveillance data to various committees.
• Assists Infection Control Committee in planning corrective actions and establishing future goals and objectives.
• Translates Committee decisions into action, assists in distributing guidelines to hospital personnel, assesses implementation of same documents and reports outcome to Committee, making recommendations for further action as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in nursing or health care related field required.

Minimum 3 years acute care experience.

Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish/Chinese/Vietnamese)

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

CIC Certification preferred