General Information

Job Title: Infection Preventionist

Date Posted: 04/19/2024

Location: Health Administration Office

Compensation and Hours

Minimum Salary: $38.34/Bi-Weekly

Maximum Salary: $57.52/Bi-Weekly

Type of Job: Full Time

Benefits: Health/Dental/Vision/401K

Anticipated Job Duration: Year Round

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Job Description

Indian Preference: Consistent with Public Law 93-638 and other federal laws recognizing the inherent right of the Tribe to exercise Indian Preference.

Purpose

Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) job descriptions are a management tool to help organize duties and provide employees with the employer’s expectations with regard to a specific job classification. The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is a reasonable assignment for the position. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

A full-time staffing position with responsibilities assigned as follows: fifty percent (50%) FTE for staff education and development, thirty percent (30%) FTE for employee health coordination, and twenty percent (20%) FTE for vaccine coordination.

JOB SUMMARY

The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for effective direction, management, and operation of the Infection Prevention Program, including staff education, leadership, membership, and consulting with Alaska Department of Health and Alaska Native THC teams.

Collaborates with leaders, teams, and individuals to create education and ensure rigorous infection prevention and control program. Provides feedback, and sustain infection prevention strategies across the KIC continuum of care.

Systematically collects, analyzes, and interprets health data in order to plan, implement, evaluate, and disseminate appropriate public health practices to staff, leadership, and membership.Performs other duties as assigned.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Program Management

Utilizes evidence-based practices such as those published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviews, updates, and implements Infection Prevention policies and procedures. Maintains a systemized surveillance program that identifies, investigates, and reports Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI).

Responsible to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies including accreditation bodies such as: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), State Epidemiology, Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Develops a risk assessment and Infection Prevention and Control Plan based on population(s) served, services provided, and complete surveillance data analysis.Interpret and assist with implementation of infection prevention and control policies and protocols. Responsible for the facility’s activities aimed at preventing healthcare-associated infections by ensuring that sources of infections are isolated to limit the spread of infectious organisms.

Develops a Surveillance Program that identifies patients who have health acquired infections and communicable disease.Utilize epidemiologic principles to conduct surveillance and investigations.

Participate in the professional organization APIC to ensure evidence-based standards are followed.

Co-ordinate, Manage and Implement the healthcare recovery efforts of the Tribe in responding to the current and long-term effects of the pandemic. This requires the management and implementation of testing, monitoring, and mitigation efforts to address the causes and Healthcare impacts of Covid-19 infections, including Vaccine planning efforts (distribution, administration and tracking), and to co-ordinate this and other related activities of the organization with the Tribe’s public health workforce.

Employee Health

Create educational goals, objectives, and strategies using learning principles and available educational tools and technology. Provide education to healthcare team members on current infection prevention practices.Provide expert resources on topics relating to infection prevention and control.Conducts new and annual employee IPC orientation and training.

Identifies and implements infection prevention and control programs, such as hand hygiene program, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, risk associated with therapies and diagnostic procedures ad devices, recalls, precautions, patient products and equipment.Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes.

Participate in the development/review of occupational health policies and procedures related to IPC. Assess risk of occupational exposures to infectious disease. Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. Develop (or assist with) immunization and screening programs. Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following an exposure.

Collaborate with architect and facilities leaders for remodeling and construction projections to assure designs meet infection prevention requirements and standards and ensure Infection and Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is completed.

Report infection prevention and control information and data to various committees and healthcare workers across the organization as assigned.

Vaccine Coordination

Provides guidance to leadership, staff, and membership of infectious diseases; prevention, effects, and the co-ordination, management and tracking of vaccine(s) and changes.Ensures contractual agreements are maintained.

Collaborates with IT Department to complete transition of bi-directional exchange with the State vaccination depot.Complete monthly inventories and reconciliation. Place orders as needed to maintain appropriate stock.

Additional Job Expectations

Professional Accountability – pursue professional growth and development of required knowledge and skills. Establish at least one (1) annual professional goal. Advocate for patient safety, health worker safety, and safe practices.

Collaboration – Consult and collaborate, as needed, with local, state, and federal public officials, and community health organizers. Involve multidisciplinary teams to ensure proposed clinical practice changes.

Leadership – Utilize principles of influence, leadership and change management. Bring enthusiasm, creativity and innovation to practice. Work collaboratively with others, providing direction when necessary. Readily share knowledge and expertise. Contribute to the development of less-experienced staff through education and mentorship. Co-ordinate public health workforce efforts as necessary.

KIC COMPETENCIES

Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive (https://www.samhsa.gov/capt/applying-strategic-prevention-framework/cultural-competence/cultural-competence-spf#be-respectful-and-responsive) to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum (https://www.samhsa.gov/capt/applying-strategic-prevention-framework/cultural-competence/cultural-competence-spf#cultural-competence-continuum) .

Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers, always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependence among various medical and administrative services and programs;

• Knowledge and ability to carry out rules of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient rights;

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and electronic health record computer application skills;

• Skill in writing as would be required for reports, plans, grants proposals, program justifications, etc.

• Ability to interpret and assist with mitigation plans and emergency preparedness plan in relation to infection control.

• Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts, draw conclusions and devise solutions to ICM problems;

• Ability to communicate professionally over the telephone and in person in a positive and clear manner;

• Ability to prepare and deliver infection prevention presentations to various audiences;

• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously including telephone, computer operations and in-person visits;

• Ability to be flexible in order to perform at the highest level as a team player;

• Ability to utilize maximum degree of professionalism and diplomacy with those who may be experiencing a high degree of stress both mentally and/or physically;

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and able to prioritize assignments;

• Knowledge of Accreditation AAAHC and CARF.

  Physical Activities

Must be able to hear. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to use hands to finger, handle or operate objects tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, and taste or smell. Each of the listed activities also requires standing, sitting, walking, bending, and stooping, climbing on stools and ladders, and routinely lifting and carrying items and boxes up to forty (40) pounds.

Writing by hand and using a personal computer. Long hours in front of computer screen. Traveling occasionally, to out-of-town meetings and functions.

Working Environment

Employee may be exposed to communicable diseases. Safety precautions for employees such as blood drawing for screening of various diseases such as hepatitis, required immunizations, etc. are necessary. The employee is occasionally subject to verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence from angry, hostile, or disgruntled patients and/or family members.

QUALIFICATIONS

License(s)

Certificate in Infection Control (CIC) required or attainment of an IPC within one (1) year. Attainment of CIC within three (3) years after hire date or when qualified to take the exam.

Possess a current CPR and/or ACLS Certificate. Possess current valid State of Alaska driver's license with a record acceptable to KIC’s Insurance carrier to access company vehicles.

Education

Bachelor degree in public health, epidemiology, clinical laboratory science, nursing, or related field. Master’s degree in healthcare-related filed (MPH, MSN, MHA) preferred.

Experience

Minimum three (3) years’ experience in related field preferable.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Required Job Qualifications

1 Can you pass a drug test?

Are you 18 or older?

Do you have a pending charge or past conviction for DWI/DUI?

Do you have any pending charge(s) or past conviction(s) for possession of a controlled substance?

Has a driver's license, permit, or privilege ever been suspended or revoked?

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