Infection Preventionist
Salary Range: $81,120.00 To $81,120.00 Annually
The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the sole entity authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched approximately 1,000 programs and has served as a strategic partner to CDC during public health emergencies. This is an outstanding opportunity to work with the nation’s lead agency charged with protecting the public's health.
Overview
This position exists in the Health Care Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance (HAI&AR) Section of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (IDEPC) Division.
The purpose of this position is to provide technical assistance to strengthen the infection prevention knowledge and practice within healthcare facilities and systems. The position will assess and evaluate COVID-19-related infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities including but not limited to long-term care, acute care hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and long-term acute care hospitals. The position will also assess and evaluate COVID-19 prevention practices in other congregate care settings such as assisted living, licensed home care, and group homes. The purpose of this work is to ensure the infrastructure and capacity of facilities and settings to provide appropriate patient or resident care and prevent transmission of COVID-19 infections along with other multi-drug resistant organisms and serious emerging infectious diseases.
Responsibilities:
• Conduct CDC EIP surveys on HAIs and AU via detailed medical chart audits
• Participate in survey trainings and conference calls, and independently review and study training materials including the survey manual.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of healthcare-associated infections.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge about the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), including associated definitions for HAIs. Implement the survey protocol, including medical record reviews using NHSN definitions.
• Maintain data collection instruments; Adhere to data practices.
• Consult with Survey Coordinator as necessary.
• Perform data entry and/or data entry oversight for survey data.
• Participate in preparing data summaries and reports for participating facilities.
• Consult with other professionals on infectious disease topics as needed. This may include colleagues, the State Epidemiologist, Division Medical Director, CDC staff, other outside experts, and also unit, section and division leadership.
• Assist in infectious disease case investigations, including assisting in outbreak investigations of emerging infectious diseases.
• As assigned, participate in emergency planning and emergency response activities focused on the control of epidemics, and on disease prevention during and following an emergency response.
• As assigned, assist with conducting epidemiologic investigations of clusters and outbreaks of infectious diseases.
• Collect detailed epidemiologic and clinical data systematically as assigned, through telephone interviews of ill individuals and/or their contacts, clinicians, and through review of medical records.
• For outbreak investigations, utilize ad-hoc databases and/or Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System (MEDSS) modifications to accommodate the collection of data elements.
• Draft investigation reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and 2 years’ experience as a public health nurse, public health school nurse, public health nurse educator or equivalent public health experience OR Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and 3 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse or professional nursing experience
• Three years of experience in the clinical and epidemiologic aspects of infectious diseases, including infection prevention and control best practices, modes of transmission, and factors affecting disease transmission, prevention, and treatment.
• Minnesota registration/certification as a Public Health Nurse
• Certified in Infection Control (CIC)
• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in Minnesota
• Clinical knowledge in the area of healthcare-associated infections
• Ability to pay close attention to clinical detail in review of medical charts.
• Ability to communicate effectively with physicians, infection preventionists, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals.
• Working knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics to establish databases and conduct appropriate statistical analyses.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Flexibility is necessary, as this is a new and developing field, which is subject to frequent and substantial change.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.
The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.
Relocation expenses are not included.