Infection Control Preventionist Level III, MPA Healthcare Improvement

Empower Every New Yorker - Without Exception - to Live the Healthiest Life Possible

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the United States. We provide essential outpatient, inpatient and home-based services to more than one million New Yorkers every year across the city's five boroughs. Our large health system consists of ambulatory centers, acute care centers, post-acute care/long-term care, rehabilitation programs, Home Care, and Correctional Health Services. Our diverse workforce is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Job Description

Demonstrates understanding of high reliability principles through use of tools, and behaviors that promote patient safety. Utilizes improvement methodology to lead or support multiple projects. Works on a broad and diverse portfolio of System-wide infection prevention projects. In addition, collects and transforms large quantities of information into meaningful business requirements; develops and modifies documentation for the design and implementation of clinical information systems; critically evaluate information from various sources, distinguish user needs from actual business needs and partner with business users, project managers, programmers, consultants and IT leadership in optimizing the scope, benefits and risks of actual and proposed projects as well as assist in managing stakeholders expectations

Serves as a strategic thought partner to guide, direct, and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures directly related to the program and assists in the overall strategy of the program, representing the department.
Acts as subject matter expert on various committees as well as providing consultative services to internal and external customers when necessary.
Participates in creating educational goals, objectives and strategies for ongoing targeted infection prevention and control educational programs and initiatives by assessing and addressing learning needs of those served, evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs and learner outcomes, by using learning principles and available educational tools and technology and following evidence-based guidelines and regulatory requirements.
Acts as data management and analysis consultant for Central Office infection prevention data as well as subject matter expert for NHSN at each facility throughout NYC H+H.
Develop and produce on a regular basis moderately to advanced reports pertaining to NYC H+H infection prevention which is reportable internally (to the Board) as well as externally (CMS, NYSDOH, LeapFrog).
Knowledgeable of all new federal and state regulations pertaining to Infection Prevention and circulates updated information as needed. Develops extraction reports for annual NYSDOH NHSN surveillance surveys.
Keeps current with data abstraction specifications in Infection Prevention and Control and in Joint Commission Standards to address emerging trends, changes and reporting initiatives.
Integrates key concepts into work across system.
Oversee data functions, including designing aggregate reports and queries to drive improvements.
Works closely with Infection Prevention and Control Departments throughout the system to identify areas of need and opportunities for improvement related to program development based on data analysis.
Effectively collaborates with facilities to analyze and justify statistical methods selected for research articles.
Collaborate with various stakeholders within the department and organization, to design and construct clinical quality performance measures and electronic databases for custom recurrent and one-time data collection efforts, including custom research data requests.
Design and conduct regular and thorough assessments of data quality; collaborate with Quality and Patient Safety as needed.
Assess needs for additional software applications to improve efficiency of work within the Infection Prevention and Control Department and which supports the annual operating plan.
Work with NYC H+H Information Technology staff and others to facilitate automation of standard recurrent data acquisition, management, analysis and reporting.
Provides technical guidance to the staff in the development of specifications for new or revised infection prevention and EPIC systems.
Has full technical knowledge of EPIC applications analysis and has supervisory duties of instructing, assigning, directing and checking the work of the other IP EPIC system users.
Assists in planning, organizing and controlling the IP EPIC activities of the section.
May work with ID/IT management to identify and specify the complex business requirements and processes, and in the application design, testing and implementation process (e.g., diverse development platforms, software, hardware, technologies and tools, etc.)
Coordinates the activities of the IPaC section with other IT sections (e.g., database, telecommunications, operations, technical support, etc.).
Acts as an expert technical resource in all phases of the development and implementation process when mandatory reporting of COVID-19 (or other emerging pathogens) is required by the Federal Government.
Assists in the development of databases as mandated by CMS for reporting COVID-19 related data (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine entry, PPE availability, etc.).
Run SAS and other statistical programs to provide high level analysis of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and trending of results after implementation of interventions to Senior
Administration on a quarterly basis.
Provides feedback to regulatory, advisory, and accrediting agencies regarding opportunities for improvement in standards and guidelines. Consults on the development of policy, procedures, protocols and standard work.
Supports patients, families, administration, committees, healthcare providers and ancillary staff in infection prevention, control and epidemiology issues, as needed.
Assists in development of a new annual Infection Prevention Program Risk Assessment and standardization of an annual Infection Prevention Program Plan.
Contributes to knowledge of leading practice through research, publication, and presentation at conferences. Critically evaluates research and evidence-based practices and incorporates appropriate findings into routine practice, policies, protocols and educational strategies; develops and implements best practices throughout system.
Performs related duties, as assigned, which may include periodic responsibility for responding to urgent infection prevention questions after hours or on weekends.
Minimum Qualifications

For Appointment to Level I:
1. Holds and maintains or obtains within three (3) years of appointment to the position, a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) issued by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC); and
2. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Nursing or a related discipline; and
3. Two (2) years of satisfactory clinical experience or experience working in infection prevention and control, health care epidemiology or a related field in a hospital or a health care setting.
For Appointment to Level II:
1. Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Nursing or a related discipline and three (3) years of satisfactory clinical experience or experience working in infection prevention and control, health care epidemiology or a related field in a hospital or a health care setting; or
2. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in disciplines, as listed in #1 above and four (4) years of satisfactory experience, as described in #1 above.
3. Current CIC issued by CBIC can be substituted for two (2) years of qualifying experience. However, all candidates must obtain a CIC issued by CBIC within three (3) years of appointment to the position.
For Appointment to Level III:
1. Holds and maintains CIC issued by CBIC; and
2. Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Epidemiology, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Nursing or a related discipline and four (4) years of satisfactory clinical experience or experience working in infection prevention and control, health care epidemiology or a related field in a hospital or a health care setting; or
3. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in disciplines, as listed in #2 above; and five (5) years of satisfactory experience, as described in #2 above.

Department Preferences

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and other Requirements:

General Office Equipment: Computer, Fax, Copier, Scanner, Printer
Must be knowledgeable and have experience using the following programs:
EPIC
Redcap
NHSN
Statistical software - SAS
If applying online, please include your cover letter in the same file attachment with your uploaded resume.

NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
Multiple employee discounts programs