Infection Prevention Specialist

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Duke Health Integrated Practice

Duke Health Integrated Practice comprises more than 110 primary and specialty outpatient clinics, extending the reach of Duke Health's mission across the state of North Carolina.

JOB LOCATION

DHIP Administrative Offices RTP - 4825 Creekstone Dr

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking an Infection Prevention Specialistwithin the Department of Quality and Safety is trained in ambulatory epidemiology principles and is responsible for surveillance, analysis, interpretation and educating employees about infection prevention along with developing policies and procedures consistent with program objectives to ensure rigorous infection control standards meeting Joint Commission, OSHA, Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other nationally recognized recommendations and requirements.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as content expert in low level cleaning, high level disinfection, and sterilizations to support clinical staff, performance improvement teams and committees in ambulatory care setting.
• Review clinical processes and SRS to review and identify any potential healthcare acquired infections and other adverse outcomes to ensure safe patient care in ambulatory care setting.
• Uses the electronic medical record and surveillance system, to review clinical and laboratory findings to identify infections conditions that may require reporting or further action such as the implementation of precautions to prevent organism transmission.
• Review current regulatory and professional society guidelines. Performs literature reviews to support performance improvement and practice changes.
• Regularly conducts rounds in outpatient ambulatory clinics to identify infection risks, assess compliance with established prevention protocols, and review clinical workflows and laboratory findings for signs of infection or outbreaks. When issues are found, the specialist provides immediate feedback and recommends corrective actions, such as enhanced cleaning procedures or isolation precautions, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards from agencies like Joint Commission, OSHA, CMS, and CDC. Findings are documented, followed up for sustained improvement, and shared with relevant committees, while targeted education and training are provided to staff to address gaps and reinforce best practices.
• Recognizes need, develops and provides educational programs on infection prevention for all levels of personnel to improve their infection prevention knowledge base and practice.
• Conducts new employee education providing basic information prevention principles and practices.
• Uses information technology to analyze and disseminate data and ensure data integrity. Assists in assembling agenda, graphs and materials presented and distributed to the Infection Control Committee, performance improvement teams and others as requested.

JOB ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor degree in Nursing, Biology, Microbiology, Medical Technology, Epidemiology, or Master of Public Health (MPH) required.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in acute care hospital or similar, outpatient ambulatory setting preferred. One year of Infection Prevention experience, preferred.
• RNs -current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina required
• MTs - current generalist/specialty certification by a nationally recognized board/agency required.
• MUST obtain CIC within 3 years of hire if not currently certified, and maintain.
• Comfortable leading with influence and managing complex conversations with clinicians regarding patient safety and accreditation
• Energized by continuously learning about current evidence related to quality and safety in an ambulatory environment
• Proven success at making timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward
• Experience with implementation of quality and safety programs within fast moving ambulatory clinics
• Experience with multispecialty physician practices
• Experience with HLD, sterilization
• Experience with root cause analysis and data analysis to identify meaningful trends and issues
• Accountability
• Planning, prioritization and time management
• Problem solving and innovation
• Initiative
• Active Listening
• Resilient in recovering from setbacks and skilled at finding alternate solutions to align with patient safety
• Effective communication skills
• Showing support
• Teambuilding
• Conflict prevention and management
• Motivating and influencing
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements including North Carolina
• Computer skills (Excel/PowerPoint/Word), applied knowledge of biostatistics, written and graphical presentation skills.

JOB HOURS

The schedule for this position is day shifts, Monday-Friday, with no weekends or holidays.