OVERVIEW:

The IP is responsible for the facility’s activities aimed at preventing healthcare-associated infections
(HAIs) by ensuring that sources of infections are isolated to limit the spread of infectious organisms. The
IP systematically collects, analyzes, and interprets health data in order to plan, implement, evaluate, and
disseminate appropriate public health practices. The IP conducts educational and training activities for
healthcare workers through instruction and dissemination of information on healthcare practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Making recommendations regarding the prevention and control of infection in collaboration
with the Medical Director/Infections Disease physician on a 24-hour basis
• Providing advice for all staff members (all departments) regarding the management of infectious
patients/residents and other infection prevention issues
• Coordinating the annual infection control risk assessment in conjunction with the Director of
Nursing and the Infection Prevention Committee (IPC)
• Developing and implementing the annual infection prevention plan in conjunction with the IPC
• Evaluating the annual plan for goal achievement in conjunction with the IPC
• Conducting surveillance of infections-proper signage, wearing of PPE’s, hand hygiene practices,
point-of-care equipment cleaning etc.
• Ensuring the completion of audits regarding the implementation of and compliance with
selected policies
• Participating in the Water Management Team and educating staff on Legionnaires Disease
• Providing education and training for all staff members and independent practitioners regarding
the prevention and control of HAIs
• Liaise with the Director of Nursing regarding relevant staff member health issues
• Liaise with clinical teams regarding the development of standards, audits, and evidence base
research on infection control and prevention.
• Presenting/providing the infection prevention quarterly and annual report to the IPC, Director of
Nursing, Administrator, and the corporate clinical team.
• Providing infection control/prevention, surveillance, process outcomes reports to the corporate
clinical team and facility leadership as required
• Cooperating with the County, State and Federal department of health regarding infectious and
communicable disease reporting
• Lead clinician in the facility’s annual influenza program
• Completing and submitting influenza statistics for the facility to the New York State Department
of Health
• Assist in the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) process

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in an applied clinical science (Nursing, Medical Technology, Microbiology,
Public Health)
• 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.
• Master’s Degree in nursing, epidemiology, public health, or related field is helpful
• Current professional licensure in the state in which working
• Successful completion of CDC’s Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) is helpful
• Previous experience in surveillance, teaching, curriculum development, and instruction is
desired

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position manages the infection prevention and control activities of all employees of the
facility.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This job operates in a health care setting. This role requires frequent walking (ICP rounds) to
various locations around the care center.
• Incumbent may be exposed to virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in
working environment.
• Incumbent may be required to work extended periods of time at a video display terminal.
Incumbent may experience traumatic situations, including psychiatric, and deceased patients.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision,
peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• This position requires intermittent physical activity, including standing, walking, bending,
kneeling, stooping and crouching as well as lifting and supporting patients
• The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds
• The noise level is moderate to quiet

TRAVEL:

• Travel is not expected for this position