Director Infection Prevention / Employee Health

System Director Infection Prevention / Employee Health

FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a nationally recognized health care system located in central North Carolina. Comprised of four hospitals with more than 600 beds, the system also offers leading-edge heart care in the Reid Heart Center, the area's only dedicated heart and vascular center. Our growing health system has more than 6,200 employees serving in more than 75 locations throughout a 15-county service area. In addition, FirstHealth has received numerous accolades for its patient care and outcomes, including recognitions from Healthgrades, U.S. News & World Report, and Becker's Healthcare.

The System Director Infection Prevention / Employee Health will be responsible for developing and implementing system-wide strategies to reduce the risk of health care associated infections and communicable diseases inpatient, staff, and visitors. This position will assess, develop, implement, and maintain a progressive and innovative infection prevention plan across the health system. This will include responsibility for departmental goals that coincide with organizational goals, performance improvement, as well as surveillance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of Hospital Acquired Infections and infection prevention education. The System Director Infection Prevention will report to our Chief Quality Officer.

Responsibilities

• Ensures development and implementation of system Infection Prevention Program and Employee Health Program.
• Coordinates with the Medical Director for Infectious Disease to develop, implement, and evaluate annual infection prevention goals, risk assessment, and action plans.
• Administratively responsible for the implementation and outcomes of the Infection Control Program including the prevention of infections.
• Responsible for overseeing compliance of the Exposure Control Plan and Infection Prevention / Control Practices of the organization utilizing the national standards / guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Association for Professional Infection Control (APIC), the Association of Peri-operative Registered Nurses (AORN), and North Carolina State Board of Health and Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA).
• Coordinates annual risk assessment and sets annual IP goals, priorities, and strategies in conjunction with the Infectious Disease Providers and Chairman of the Infection Control Committee.
• Has authority and responsibility for ensuring appropriate intervention and education occurs with staff, volunteers, and medical staff when healthcare infections occur or non-compliance to infection control / OSHA are identified.
• Serves as a resource on matters relevant to decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, and hospital environment to prevent spread of infections
• Responsible for monitoring and documenting infections, including tracking and analyzing outbreaks of infection as well as implementing and documenting action.
• Makes recommendations regarding construction, renovation, environmental rounds, and assures compliance with national and or professional standards and patient care infection control measures.
• Performs an annual assessment and develops action plans from the prior year activities.
• Responsible for surveillance, including process and outcomes surveillance, monitoring, data analysis, documentation and communicable disease reporting as required by State and Federal law and regulation.
• Develops and coordinates the infection prevention and control program throughout all FirstHealth facilities. Implements the program by formulating, establishing and evaluating policies and procedures related to patient care infection control measures. Performs an annual assessment and develops action plans from the prior year activities.
• Provides reports as directed by Chief Quality Officer.
• Collaborates and reports to appropriate regulatory organizations / state agencies such as, not limited to Public Health regarding communicable diseases, State reporting requirements and initiatives, CDC / NHSN Mandatory reporting.
• Responsible for supervision and management of Employee Health Nurses and Infection Control Nurses.
• Responsible for interviewing and selection of Employee Health and Infection Control staff.
• Responsible for staff coaching and counseling.

Qualifications

Graduate of an approved School of Nursing with a current North Carolina RN license or RN multi-state licensure privilege through the Nurse Licensure Compact required.

BSN required. Masters Degree may in nursing or related field required.

Minimum three years clinical experience and five years management experience required.

Certification in Infection Control Required.

Must have strong organizational skills, excellent group facilitation techniques and interactive personal skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills a must. Ability to work independently and collaboratively with multiple departments required. Must have ability to communicate with medical staff. Ability to critically think through issues are required. Must be familiar with DNV standards and other required accreditation standards. Extensive knowledge of CDC and OSHA regulations / guidelines required.