Infection Preventionist

DEPARTMENT : Nursing

SUPERVISOR : Director of Nursing and / or Corporate Designee

POSITION SUMMARY : The purpose of the Infection Preventionist position is to minimize the risk and spread of infection throughout the facility.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : The following represents the essential functions of the Infection Preventionist's role. This list is intended to be a general description of duties and responsibilities; however, it is subject to change according to the needs of the facility determined by the Director of Nursing and / or Corporate Designee.

• The Infection Preventionist will implement measures throughout the facility by training residents, staff, and visitors on infection control practices to minimize the risk and spread of infections in our facility.
• The Infection Preventionist participates in Daily QA (morning) Meetings, Monthly / Quarterly QA, Safety Committee Meetings, Resident Council Meetings when requested, Care Plan Meetings, High Risk meetings, in-service trainings, continuing education programs, and all other meetings called by Legacy or licensing entities.
• The Infection Preventionist is a member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT Team).
• Oversight of the IPCP (Infection Prevention and Control Program), which includes, at a minimum, the following elements :
• A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement based upon the facility assessment and following accepted national standards.
• Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to :

o A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can spread to other persons in the facility.

o When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported. o Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent spread of infections.

o When and how isolation should be used for a resident.

o A system for recording incidents identified under the facility's IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility.

3. The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary.

• The Infection Preventionist will obtain consents for Flu vaccine, Pneumonia vaccine, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, and Tuberculosis testing for facility residents and staff.
• The Infection Preventionist will track resident and employee needs for the above mentioned and host clinics to administer them in an efficient manner and according to regulations.
• The Infection Preventionist will ensure paperwork (consents / declinations) are scanned into and administration record data is entered into PointClickCare.
• The Infection Preventionist will use PointClickCare as instructed by the Corporate Office Designee and facility policy to track and trend infections and run reports in PointClickCare as needed.
• The Infection Preventionist will conduct training and competencies upon hire and annually to include hand hygiene, isolation and contact precautions, donning and doffing of personal protective equipment, the purpose of each type of equipment, linen storage and distribution, environmental hazards, use of resident care products and equipment, resident and staff immunization programs, proper sanitation of items (cleaning sit times) meal pass, etc.
• The Infection Preventionist will provide guidance (in accordance to current CDC guidelines) to facility staff on resident isolation, visitation, group meals / activities, resident outings, employee isolation requirements, mask requirements, COVID-19 testing requirements, and COVID-19 vaccination / booster administration.
• The Infection Preventionist will report any infection control concerns to the Director of Nursing and / or Administrator and present viable solutions.
• The Infection Preventionist will ensure the resident hydration program is working effectively and train the staff on the importance of proper hydration to reduce infection and illness.
• The Infection Preventionist will enforce facility policies as well as regulation requirements regarding infection control throughout the facility.
• The Infection Preventionist will ensure proper signage regarding isolation, PPE, hand hygiene, visitation, testing, and best practices are up to date and placed in high-traffic areas of the facility.
• Collaborate with the facility leadership and the medical director to develop, implement, and evaluate the annual infection prevention goals and action plan.
• Partner with facility leaders, physicians, and local, state, and national agencies on activities related to infection prevention.
• Establish a facility-wide system for the prevention, identification, investigation, and control of infections of residents, staff, and visitors, including surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they spread.
• Conduct outbreak investigations.
• Maintain a system for reporting possible incidents of communicable diseases to local, state, or national agencies as required.
• Oversee the antibiotic stewardship program and monitor residents' antibiotic use. Train nurses on assessment skills and tools to complete before calling the doctor for antibiotics.
• Assess the need for, develop, and implement written policies and procedures for infection control, including those for standard precautions and for transmission-based precautions, including when these should be used, the duration of use, and the type of precautions needed for a particular infection or organism.
• Enforce policies prohibiting staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents and their food and enforce hand hygiene policies consistent with accepted standards of practices.
• Be accountable for surveillance of healthcare-acquired and community-acquired infections for residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and ensure that the facility leaders are informed of appropriate issues; understand and comply with infection control, safety, and OSHA procedures and regulations.
• Must act in ways that promote professional and positive representation of the facility to the community.
• Communicates in a professional and courteous manner using effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills with residents, their families, co-workers, and vendors.
• Maintains confidentiality of department, resident, employee information, communication, and documentation as well as compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
• Attends in-service training as required .
• Clocks in and out for all working / training hours. Working off the clock will not be permitted at any time or for any reason.
• Maintain compliance with Legacy's Compliance program and plan.
• Adhere to Legacy's Code of Conduct and Dress Code.
• These duties are not all-inclusive but provide minimum performance expectations which will be reviewed in the evaluation process. Supervisor may edit, alter, add to, or exclude duties and responsibilities based on the needs of the facility.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE / REQUIREMENTS : The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and / or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Freedom from illegal use of drugs.
• Freedom from use and effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
• Anyone found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting or mistreating individuals in a health care related setting are ineligible for employment in the position.

Education and / or Experience :

• primary training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other related field.
• LTC experience preferred
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations :
• current license to practice as a nurse
• enrolled or completed certification for Infection Preventionist
• current CPR certification preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations :

• current license to practice as a nurse
• enrolled or completed certification for Infection Preventionist
• current CPR certification preferred