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Job Summary:
We are looking for an experienced Sr. Infection Prevention Coordinator to join our Centralized Surveillance team. This role involves overseeing surveillance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The successful candidate will conduct systematic reviews of infections, identify trends and deficiencies in infection prevention practices through chart reviews and in-person rounds on nursing units. This position ensures that all infection reporting activities comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), and other regulatory and accreditation bodies. The ideal candidate will possess skills that foster a culture of continuous improvement in reducing infections through Lean methodology, coaching, tools, data analysis, reliability, and sustainability.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
HAI Surveillance:
1. Performs HAI surveillance through collection, review, analysis and interpretation of data from various sources.
2. Assists in development of IP policies, procedures, and guidelines.
3. Identifies organisms of epidemiological significance and follows up with appropriate internal and external departments (department of public health, emerging infections program, etc.).
4. Provides assistance and expertise, which may include prevention and control of the transmission of infectious disease, management of isolation patients, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, safe injection practices, disinfection, sterilization, environmental cleaning, facilities management (maintenance, renovation and construction), and water management.
5. Validate and submit monthly HAI data for internal leadership and NHSN.
6. Reviews and updates facility survey in NHSN on annual basis. Update location information (such as bed counts and unit types) in NHSN on an as needed basis.
7. Submits HAI data to external organizations/programs as required (e.g. CMS IQR, Leapfrog, QHIP).
8. Participates in or leads hospital rounds in relation to HAI prevention.

Analysis:
1. Provides analyses for HAIs, epidemiological significant organisms, clusters of illness, and communicable diseases as well as any data reports upon request.
2. Provides guidance on ad hoc reports related to investigations and process improvement.
3. Collaborate with Clinical Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Emory Digital teams to develop and maintain surveillance and analysis tools.

Epidemiologic Interpretation:
1. Identifies organisms of epidemiological significance and follows up with appropriate internal and external departments (department of public health, emerging infections program, etc.).

Consultation:
1. Provides guidance to physicians, nurses, and healthcare personnel concerning identified infections and surveillance processes.
2. Assists and supports on IP related education, projects, and presentation activities.
3. Supports Division of Quality programs including but not limited to: Apparent Cause Analysis (ACA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Professional Practice Evaluation (PPE), and Performance Improvement (PI).

Collaboration:
1. Works collaboratively with Hospital Epidemiologists, infectious disease physician(s) and assigned facility IP team(s).
2. Participates in Hospital IP Committee Meetings.
3. Collaborate with employee health and safety to ensure best practice for employee health and exposures as needed.
4. Communicates effectively with executive and leadership teams at entities, and outside agencies regarding surveillance activities
5. Work with operational leaders to identify performance improvement opportunities within HAI trends.
6. Assists in the development and implementation of the annual infection control plan and risk assessment.


Travel: 30% of the time may be required.
Work Type: On-Site - working in the office.

Qualifications:
Minimum Required:
Education - Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing OR have a degree in a Health Care related fields (Public health, Clinical microbiology etc.). RNs must have a current licensure in the state of Georgia.
Experience - 4 years of recent health care experience (within the past 5 years) which includes 2 years of clinical infection control experience is required
Certification - Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) is required.

Preferred Qualifications:
Education - Master's Degree
Certification - Certification in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Lean Six Sigma Healthcare or QPI Certifications Green and/or Black Belt, Healthcare Accreditation Certification Program either CMS or Infection Prevention (HACP-CMS or HACP-IP)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (required):
- Knowledgeable of blood-borne pathogens and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, exposure control plan.
- Participates in IP on-call rotation and coverage assignments, which may include coverage of operational IP duties when needed.
- Demonstrated knowledge of basic principles of epidemiology, surveillance, data collection and analysis.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, leadership, facilitation, and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as, in a collaborative, team environment.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Skill and ability in Microsoft Office applications, surveillance system applications, and Electronic Medical Records (e.g. Epic).



PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally) Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.



ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

 

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.