Infection Control Practitioner/Quality Initiative Project MGR - The Brookdale Hospital Medical Center

The Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner [IPCP] is a health care professional with expert knowledge and skills in Infection Prevention and Control. This role is responsible for strategic planning, compliance with regulatory agencies and management of daily operations for the Infection Control Program.   Oversees the Infection Control Performance Improvement projects including hand hygiene compliance, healthcare associated infection [HAI]-central line associated bloodstream infections initiative, ventilator-associated pneumonia, indwelling catheter associated urinary tract infection, multi drug resistant organism [MDRO] initiative and surgical care improvement project analysis and trending of data. The Quality Initiative Project Manager (Sepsis) is an expert role in sepsis protocol management.  The position is responsible for strategic planning, compliance with regulatory agencies and management of daily operations for the sepsis program. This role oversees the Sepsis Performance Improvement Outcome including monitoring of timely screening and early identification of sepsis, early intervention, analysis of sepsis practice outcomes of morbidity and mortality.  Serves as a liaison between the Interfaith Medical Center Sepsis Practice, and NYSDOH.

• IPCP will act as a director or assistant director in the absence of their leadership.
• Effective communication between the Infection Control Officer/ Chairman, Infection Control Committee, Chief Nursing Officer, Hospital Leadership and hospital personnel.
• Task prioritization, time management, special project initiation and evaluation and collaboration with the multi disciplines team members.
• Assists for Staffing of the Infection Control Committee. 
• Active participation on Emergency Management Coordination as one of the Bioterrorism Coordinator Alternate.
• Recommends control measures to contain an outbreak.
• Monitors performance improvement report and where applicable, takes action to correct deficiencies, and to improve elements of care.
• Identifies potential areas for improvement in the quality of care provided.  Organizes and identifies PI teams to improve efficiencies.
• Acts as a role model and as a resource to hospital personnel regarding Infection Control practice and education.
• Serves as an educator in OSHA, JCAHO, and New York State-required and unit-based continuing education and collaborate with education specialists regarding orientation of new staff and ongoing staff development.
• Assesses compliance with infection prevention policies and guidelines by conducting quality monitoring.
• Establishes infection control program goals, and objectives under the supervision of the Hospital Epidemiologist.
• Implements infection control policies and guidelines, acts as a role model and as a resource to hospital personnel regarding infection control practice and education.
• Responsible for communicable diseases reporting and conducting contact investigations. Responds to all requests of NYC/NYS DOH.
• Conducts nosocomial infections surveillance and identifying issues of epidemiological significance and recommend control measures to contain an outbreak per CDC guidelines.
• Presents all epidemiologically-significant organisms, surveillance activity reports with implications, investigations to control outbreaks, and other pertinent issues to the multidisciplinary team such as Infection Control Committee and Care Center Performance Improvement Committees. Participate in meetings with different disciplines to problem solve, plan programs or establish standards of practice for performance improvement.
• Maintains ongoing communication with all level leadership such as clinical nurse managers, medical director and supervisory personnel in other departments. Communicate effectively with patients, nursing and physician staff, and outside agencies.
• Performs other duties as required by the department.

Administration:

• Assists with implementation of the philosophy, objectives, and standards for Infection Prevention and Control
• Coordinates program function with hospital departments, nursing divisions, and support services.
• Represents Infection Control at Medical Center Committees (Environment of Care, Emergency Preparedness, Performance Improvement, Patient Safety, Nursing Leadership, Critical Care, and product evaluation committee, etc.)
• Supports the concept of participatory management, whereby Infection Control personnel can work with other disciplines to interpret the objectives of the hospital
• Provides consultation on the use of products and devices and on the use of antiseptics and disinfectants.
• Monitors the activities of the Infection Control program to ensure consistency with the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the Infection Control Program and the mission of Interfaith Medical Center.
• Maintains an effective clinical and administrative records and reports.
• Participates in the Risk Management program in collaboration with Risk Management Manager and the Vice President, Hospital Operations. Identifies and report risk issues timely and maintains preventative program.
• Monitors clinical documentation to assure adherence to institutional standards.
• Serves as educator in OSHA, JCAHO, and New York State-required and unit-based education and collaborates with education specialists regarding orientation of staff and ongoing staff development.
• Performs other duties as required by the department.

Quality Inititiative Project Manager (Sepsis) Responsibilities:

• Hospital sepsis protocol development, and submission.
• Sepsis protocol implementation.
• Streamlines current Meditech system to incorporate sepsis required data elements.
• Monitors sepsis practices.
• Ongoing dissemination of the new requirements from NYSDOH to hospital sepsis team members.
• Reviews all sepsis diagnosis medical charts and collect data per NYSDOH required variables as per the NYSDOH data collection dictionary.
• Sepsis outcome analysis.
• Sepsis performance improvement reports and meetings.
• Responsible for data submissions to NYSDOH.
• Responsible for all regulatory agencies requests and audit activities.
• Performs other duties as required by the department.

Education:

• Requires a Bachelors Degree in Health Science Related Disciplines. 
• Requires Masters degree of Public Health [MPH], or Masters degree in Science [MS]  

Experience:

• Requires a minimum of two to five years (2-5) working in a healthcare system.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Analytical ability in order to participate in the strategic planning of data resources.

• Medical recorder review, collect, analyze and report data.

• Analyzed, and interpreted discrepancies, issues or problems to ensure data accuracy/integrity.

• Identified appropriate sampling techniques.

• Obtained advice when precedents were unclear or unavailable, and determined methods for ensuring compliance with functional/organizational/service policies and procedures.

• Communication and/or interpersonal skills for contact with internal and external customers/stakeholders to discuss and interpret technical information and department or function policy.

• Provided discretionary judgement with deciding what and how to communicate. Conflict resolution skills are exercised within the unit or function and occasionally on an interdepartmental or inter-functional basis. Diplomacy, tact and listening skills are required.

• Project management skills including the ability to define programs, projects, or process objectives, identify stakeholders and their interests, plan steps, coordinate and allocate human, technological and fiscal resources to accomplish goals and objectives in a resourceful yet timely manner.

• Technical knowledge of and ability to utilize spreadsheets, databases, and statistical analysis software programs.

• Familiarity with the extraction and manipulation of data from disparate sources to support the study of clinical, functional, service and cost outcomes.

• Technical knowledge of health-related data involved in clinical improvement, including medical record and administrative data. Working knowledge of public health and other external data sources.

• Ability to work in a team environment to identify sources of data and methodology for collection.

• Proficiency with Office PC's, Desktops, and Laptop software in addition to familiarity with Microsoft Office softwares to include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Good interpersonal skills a must.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Position may require prolonged periods of standing, walking, talking, sitting, hearing, and bending throughout the work day. 
• May include some repetitive motions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions without compromising patient care.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of One Brooklyn Health System (OBHS), and Interfaith Medical Center (IMC).

One Brooklyn Health System (OBHS), and Interfaith Medical Center are an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.