Director Of Infection Prevention

The Director of Infection Prevention provides strategic direction for infection prevention across the entire Advocate Enterprise and serves as the primary leader for clinical and environmental infection prevention, infection control, and epidemiology. Creates and applies consistent operational and system policies, procedures, and processes to limit or eliminate practice variances. Researches and determines guidelines and best practice methodologies. Ensures system-wide infection prevention areas are in compliance with regulatory, accrediting and advisory body requirements.
The focus of this role is on our Pediatric hospitals and NICUs throughout the enterprise. Including our Advocate Children's Hospitals at our Christ and Lutheran General Hospitals, our Brenner Children's in Winston-Salem, our Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, and our Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital in Macon, GA as well as our NICUs at adult hospitals throughout the enterprise.
Major Responsibilities: Works in collaboration with Hospital Administration to implement and manage the Infection Prevention strategic plan elements that align with the goals, objectives, and risk assessments identified. Provides expert consultation and education, as needed, and as related Infection Prevention. Responsible for ongoing assessment and development of programs, policies & procedures and forms to address the Infection Prevention needs of employees, volunteers, contract workers, independent contractors, physicians, registry workers and students in accordance with the guidelines established by the regulatory agencies. In addition to the Infection Prevention Program's annual risk assessment, annual plans, and annual evaluations, designs, implements, and performs an annual review of the facility TB Control Plan and TB Risk Assessment, the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, and program evaluation to meet the needs of the site. Assists the site based IP to operationalizes the Infection Prevention Program's annual risk assessment, annual plans, and annual evaluations.
Assists with developing and implementing annual program goals/objectives. Provides site direction to ensure that surveillance programs and interventions to reduce infections and occupational exposures are supported by scientific research, or are innovative, but based on sound principles of epidemiology and knowledge of disease transmission, and demonstrate potential for improving clinical outcomes and decreasing costs where possible. Identifies and implements updates to the Infection Prevention Program when new regulations and/or Professional guidelines are published. Provides expert consultation and program direction while working collaboratively with site Infection preventionist. Receives and provides feedback to corporate infection surveillance program analyst on HAI identified through the surveillance program.
Designs, with key stakeholders, data-driven, cost-effective interventions to reduce healthcare associated infections and occupational exposures, and facilitates the implementation of interventions system-wide. Integrates infection prevention and control measures into newly developed services across the continuum of care.
Consults with Infectious Disease Physician Champion regarding complex infections, organisms of significance, exposures, outbreaks and other infection prevention issues. Collaborates with system & site leaders to determine the effectiveness of the infection prevention plan and programs and to recommends changes as needed. Collaborates with the Employee Occupational Health Service in following up on employee infections, exposures to infectious patients, and in developing and implementing policies related to infection prevention and management of healthcare personnel with infectious conditions.
Identifies and facilitates the development and implementation of Infection Prevention staff competency and training needs.
Responsible for oversight of the Infection Prevention Program directing compliance with both acute care facility/ambulatory and corporate policies.
Provides stewardship of the Infection Prevention Department resources while promoting maximum patient outcomes, costs, and quality of care for all served.
Works collaboratively with local Departments of Public Health on infectious and other diseases for compliance with regulatory requirements and community health. Works collaboratively with the Medical Staff to facilitate an active and integrated Infection Prevention Committee. This may include but is not limited to expert consultation, communication of and routine reporting of surveillance data and analysis, communication of infection prevention interventions, evaluation of advances in technology, regulatory changes, and health alert interventions. Provides expert consultation for infection prevention new associate training and ongoing training for Advocate-Aurora associates. Provides expert consultation and evaluation of safety products.
Utilizes facility based clinical and administrative databases to retrieve necessary information for analysis, presentation, and communication with healthcare workers. Collaborates with System data analyst, utilizing standardized analytical evaluation to which then drive surveillance and performance improvement activities. Utilizes applications that have capabilities to assist in identifying clusters of epidemiologically important pathogens, creating alerts of newly detected multi-drug resistant organisms, and improve efficiency and scope of review and analysis of large quantities of data. Participates in operational aspects of the department/ambulatory site, and maintains/participates in performance improvement (PI) activities within the department and house-wide.
Assists the site IP in utilizing basic team facilitation techniques, including managing meetings to ensure productive outcomes, promoting creative problem-solving through brain-storming and multidisciplinary staff involvement and applying conflict resolution techniques as needed. Evaluates the effectiveness of infection prevention measures, by initiating and/or participating in appropriate studies designed to identify, evaluate, control and/or prevent problems related to infection prevention.
Performs human resources responsibilities for staff which include interviewing and selection of new employees, promotions, staff development, performance evaluations, compensation changes, resolution of employee concerns, corrective actions, terminations, and overall employee morale.
Develops and recommends operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures within approved budget objectives.
Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and for ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations and laws applicable to the organization's business.
Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: Infection Control (CIC) certification issued by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) or obtained within 2 years.
Education Required: Bachelor's Degree in Allied Health or related field, or
Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related field.
Experience Required: Typically requires 7 years of experience in Infection Prevention. Includes 3 years of management experience in management of staff.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: Demonstrated ability to lead others through influence and impact the culture of the organization.
Effective communication skills sufficient to interact with all levels of associates and medical staff, front line through executives.
Demonstrated self-directed, results-oriented and creative approach to organizational change.
Effective presentation skills in small and large group settings, internal and external to the organization.
Ability to succeed in responding to change and handling multiple priorities.
Demonstrated ability to problem solve and analyze procedure and process changes.
Experience in group process and facilitation.
Information management skills, including data analysis, flowcharting, and report preparation.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Exposed to a normal office environment.
Must be able to sit, stand, and walk throughout the workday.
Must lift up to 10 lbs. occasionally.
May be exposed to chemical and hazardous waste as well as blood and body fluids and communicable disease. Therefore, protective clothing and equipment must be worn as necessary.
Must have functional vision, speech, and hearing.
Position requires travel, may be exposed to road and weather hazards.
Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.