Infection Control Assistant - Foster Hospital for Small Animals - Tufts University

The Foster Hospital for Small Animals (FHSA) in North Grafton, MA provides state-of-the-art, 24-hour, 7-day a week emergency and multi-specialty care for small animals (FHSA). It provides high-quality veterinary medical/surgical care to inpatient, outpatient, and critical/emergent small animal cases and superior customer service to our clients. In addition, the hospital provides a positive learning experience for Tufts veterinary students encompassing all specialties at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals. The annual caseload is approximately 35,000 cases per year, with over 60 faculty, 50 residents, 35 interns, and approximately 300 staff. From 120 – 150 clinical year DVM students are educated in the hospital annually.

The Infection Control Assistant is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene throughout the clinical spaces in the FHSA, focusing on general and specific cleaning tasks in patient care areas. Duties include regular specific cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining cleanliness in accordance with infection-control procedures. Assisting the Infection Control Technician (ICT) in their duties.

the essential functions and responsibilities of the infection Control Assistant will be:

• Performs infection control-related tasks in accordance with established policies and procedures, demonstrating a service orientation approach to fellow employees, patients, visitors and hospital staff
• Performs regular disinfection and deep-cleaning tasks for in-patient, exam room, and treatment care spaces. This includes, but is not limited to:
  
  • Carrying out infection control protocols, including sanitizing runs, cages, sinks, outflows, floors, equipment, furniture, and dog walking areas.
• Performing regular, periodic cleaning of floor spaces to reduce risk of spread of infectious agents.
• Disinfection of nursing stations and other areas assigned.
• Operating specialized equipment to assist with necessary cleaning and disinfection.
  
  • Note: this position is not responsible for routine, general cleaning outside of clinical areas.
• Ensures that supplies and consumables in the in-patient wards, ICU, and emergency are maintained in a clean and organized state, with supplies provided as needed to meet demand required for patient care. Additionally: Maintain the knowledge and competence required to meet this need.
• Assist with inventory and ordering of materials as needed.
• Maintain assigned work areas and storage areas in a clean, organized, and orderly fashion.
• Assists supervisor in carrying out regular sampling and submission protocols to monitor for presence of infectious agents.
• Monitors the agents used to disinfect services to ensure that they are being prepared and used appropriately.
• Assists in ensuring that staff and students are knowledgeable in the infection control protocols.
• Assists the ICT in ensuring appropriate signage is displayed and by bringing identified issues forward for consideration.
  Other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements:

• High school diploma (or the equivalent) and at least two years of diversified environmental service work experience in a health care or institutional setting OR an associates or other degree in an area relevant to infection control.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Working knowledge of how to operate typical industrial cleaning equipment and the use of cleaning techniques. 
• Must have basic math skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing to provide instructions and information to others.
• Must be able to interpret and respond appropriately to verbal and written instructions.
• Must accomplish assigned work despite frequent interruptions and changing priorities and have the ability to multi-task in coordinating several projects simultaneously.
• Must serve as a role model to others in customer service skills, safe work practices, and infection control including hand hygiene.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a veterinary environment is considered an asset.