Infection Preventionist / Public Health Nurse - CDC Foundation / Washington State Department of Health
Description:
The Infection Preventionist (IP) supports the Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Program with a focus on COVID-19 prevention and response to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) located in Shoreline, Washington (just outside of Seattle). The COVID-19 IP provides expertise regarding infection prevention practices, outbreak management, preparation, and response efforts for highly pathogenic infections (e.g. COVID-19, Ebola, measles), and surveillance of HAIs in healthcare settings. The IP assists in formulating policy in association with healthcare facility administrators, infection preventionists, epidemiologists, state associations, local health jurisdictions, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This position supports the programs and mandates established in RCW 43.70.056 – a law that established reporting of infections associated with health care facilities. This work directly supports DOH’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC) Grant with the CDC.
Some teleworking may be possible. Substantial in-state travel is required.
- In coordination with the HAI & AR Program, Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs), conduct on-site infection prevention assessments in hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout Washington State. Tasks include:
- Conduct infection prevention site visits at various types of healthcare facilities, primarily long-term care facilities.
- The site visits will be focused on assessing readiness and management for COVID-19
- Conduct infection prevention trainings on a variety of infection prevention topics including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and surveillance methods
- Educate and train facilities on current COVID-19 guidance from reputable sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health.
- Review survey reports from the Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
- Based on stakeholder input, facility interest, and HAI reporting results prioritize the locations of the infection prevention site visits accordingly.
- Site visits will include a review of healthcare facility’s infection prevention plans, risk assessments, surveillance capacity, and ability to respond to high-risk pathogens.
- Document and compile findings from on-site visits and summarize them in a report, which will be provided to the participating healthcare facility and other key stakeholders.
- Conduct follow-up site assessments to ensure that the healthcare facility has implemented mitigation recommendations based on report findings.
- Act as a liaison to Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) Tasks include:
- Participate in regular meetings with LHJ partners to facilitate communication and streamline work processes
- Provide LHJs with the resources needed to perform a quality site assessment for multiple types of healthcare facilities (e.g. hospital, long-term care, ambulatory care).
- Accompany LHJs on site-visits as necessary to assure that the LHJ and state-level assessments are consistent.
- Strategize with LHJ to prioritize the healthcare site visits.
- Answer questions and concerns that the LHJ IPs have regarding site assessments.
- In collaboration with the HAI Program and LHJ partners participate in COVID outbreak investigations. Tasks include:
- Provide clinical and public health expertise on COVID outbreak investigations, especially those associated with healthcare facilities.
- Communicate investigation updates and public health actions to stakeholders (e.g., HAI Program Manager, DOH Leadership, LHJs, CDC, healthcare facilities).
- Review clinical information associated with investigation.
- Coordinate and perform specimen collection.
- Track relevant case information (e.g, line list or tracking log).
- Interview healthcare facilities about risk factors associated with outbreak or exposure situations to ensure community practices are safe and meet CDC guidelines.
- In collaboration with the HAI Program and LHJ partners participate in COVID outbreak investigations. Tasks include:
- Provide clinical and public health expertise on COVID outbreak investigations, especially those associated with healthcare facilities.
- Communicate investigation updates and public health actions to stakeholders (e.g., HAI Program Manager, DOH Leadership, LHJs, CDC, healthcare facilities).
- Review clinical information associated with investigation.
- Coordinate and perform specimen collection.
- Track relevant case information (e.g, line list or tracking log).
- Interview healthcare facilities about risk factors associated with outbreak or exposure situations to ensure community practices are safe and meet CDC guidelines.
- Assist in the development and dissemination of COVID-19 educational resources for healthcare facilities. Tasks include:
- Conduct a literature review for evidence-based infection prevention educational tools.
- Based on site visits and feedback from infection prevention partners, determine what educational topics and tools are most needed for healthcare facilities.
- Provide infection prevention perspective in drafting, reviewing and editing, technical reports and quality educational materials on a diverse spectrum of infection prevention topics, from risk assessment to transmission-based precautions.
- Present educational materials to healthcare facilities in a variety of educational formats (e.g. oral presentation, webinars, quick guides, templates).
- Other duties as assigned
- Required
- Bachelor’s Degree in an applied clinical science (Nursing, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Public Health)
- At least three years’ experience in healthcare and/or public health infection prevention role
- Five years of relevant clinical experience for non-nurse applicants; Registered Nurses should have a broad level of experience including critical care, emergency medicine, and medical/surgical nursing.
- Current Certification in Infection Control (CIC)
- Desired
- Master’s Degree in nursing, epidemiology, public health, or related field
- Current professional licensure if appropriate to the primary discipline (e.g., registered nurse)
- Membership in either APIC (Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) or SHEA (Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America)
- Computer skills, research and basic statistical knowledge is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience effectively communicating with others, verbally and in writing, including the use of e-mail systems and the development of complex, clinical, or technical documents