Infection Prevention Site Manager- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania- Cedar Avenue

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Penn Medicine is seeking a Full-Time Infection Prevention Site Manager for The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania- Cedar Avenue, located at 501 S. 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

Additional Information: On Call Rotation required (Includes -call for holidays, evenings, and weekends).

• The Infection Prevention Site Manager provides leadership in support of departmental and organizational missions at their respective site. The individual will be accountable for managing operations; developing department plans and goals using evidence-based best practices; and ensuring regulatory compliance. Lastly, the individual will demonstrate expertise in working with employees at all levels to ensure adherence to Infection Control and Penn Medicine values, policies, and procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Clinical Judgment and Decision Making: Maintains knowledge of medical terminology, Infectious Disease processes, and hospital operations. Able to make screening decisions regarding Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs). Presents HAI cases within the Infection Control HAI meeting and is able to cogently discuss findings to collaborate and make decisions. Communicates and understands the ethics, often complex, surrounding infection control decisions, patient and employee safety, and healthcare as outlined in the APIC professional and practice standards. Demonstrates understanding of the operations, expectations, services and goals of the department and the hospital and how his/her work is an integral part of those services. When necessary, consults with more experienced Infection Preventionists and benefits from feedback while demonstrating growth in the ability to monitor increasingly complex infections, clinical situations and HAI decisions.
• Surveillance and Data Collection: Conducts surveillance of culture results using Theradoc, Cerner, and emails/calls from the micro lab. Uses standardized investigation methodology utilizing NHSN definitions to research potential HAIs. This involves patient chart review, following microbiology reports, and discussions with direct care clinicians and/or clinical unit leadership. Coordinate with Occupational medicine to address any infectious disease exposures to employees at Cedar. Knowledge of EHR and electronics surveillance of microbiology results. Utilize several electronic data and charting systems including Theradoc, NHSN, EPIC, and RedCap. Knowledge of outbreak control and data analysis. Monitors HAI and microbiology data to assess for trends, as well as potential outbreaks. Provides second level validation to IPs when reviewing/submitting NHSN HAI documents. Assesses, monitors, and analyzes data. Identifies and communicates trends and opportunities for improvement. Uses and communicates data to assist with goal setting and decision making. Performs Hand Hygiene audits in all relevant areas. Maintains all expectations of HIPAA.
• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication skills to unit level stakeholders regarding infections, infectious processes, and HAI decisions. Provides a visible Infection Control presence throughout the hospital to provide Infection Control leadership and support. Collaborates with clinical teams by providing leadership of Infection Control precepts. Participates in all HUP Cedar CETs. Collaborates with clinical and non-clinical teams to develop short- and long-term Infection Control goals. Cooperates, coordinates, and communicates with all members of the Infection Control department, as well as many other departments and disciplines. Examples include EVS, Physical Plant and outside construction contractors, laboratory medicine, nursing, hospital quality and safety experts, physicians (internal and outside), other hospitals and healthcare entities. Works effectively with interdisciplinary teams daily. Consistent membership and /or leadership with interdepartmental committees at both HUP Cedar and HUP Main - examples include EOC Committee(s), Hand Hygiene, Who Cleans What (WCW), etc. Consistent membership and/or leadership with interdepartmental committees throughout UPHS, including UPHS Infection Control Alliance committees - sterilization or education as examples. Reports out on behalf of HUP Cedar Infection Control to department, hospital wide, and UPHS wide committees. Attends all meetings where Infection Control guidance and leadership is needed. Maintains communication with PHMC and CHOP partners, as needed.
• Regulatory Leadership: Assigned to all areas of HUP Cedar and is required to attain competence in these areas. Expert in state and national regulatory agencies and surveys - relevant to Infection Control Provides departmental leadership for the HUP licensed areas of HUP Cedar. Provides departmental support for the PHMC licensed areas of HUP Cedar. Participates in regulatory focused rounding to identify infection risks. Assesses and makes suggestions regarding process and other changes to meet infection control goals and standards. Continuously reviews Infection Control related policies, processes, and workflows relevant to HUP Cedar to ensure they remain relevant. Makes changes as needed. Develops and implements unit based, hospital based, department level, and UPHS level policies and processes to prevent transmission of infectious agents. Aligns HUP Cedar process to those at HUP Main whenever possible. Collaborates on the planning of projects to meet Infection Control goals. Starts to be involved in project management and CEQI initiatives. Provides an onsite presence during licensing surveys, complaint investigations, etc. - and participates when required. Communicates with regulatory surveyors when needed - for example TJC, PADOH, and OSHA.
• Safety Leadership: Able to respond to employee safety events and works with Occupational Medicine to set up employee or patient/family exposure plans. Maintains expertise in cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. Develops and implements relevant processes when necessary. Reviews equipment IFUs and provides cleaning and disinfection guidance to teams. Organizes and participates in EOC rounds for all HUP licensed areas. Organizes and participates in construction meetings and rounds. Collaborates with Physical Plant and outside contractors to develop, assess, communicate and review ICRA plans. Provides recommendations to reduce the risk of infection as part of the design, construction, and renovation process. Completes all required ICRA permits for HUP and PHMC. Schedules pre-construction meetings and walkthroughs, if needed. Schedules and/or participates in interdepartmental meetings - for example WCW, EOC Committee. Provides infection control leadership to the HUP Cedar Incident Command Team. Collaborates with Safety to provide emergency preparedness training to the Incident Command team. Participates in Emergency Management training on a local, state, and federal level. Provides COVID testing for employees, as needed. Provides N95 fit tests for employees, as needed.
• Educational Leadership: Identifies education needs and works collaboratively to address and implement them. Evaluates and integrates current best evidence with clinical expertise to provide education to employees. Reads and incorporates scientific evidence into Infection Control practice. Provides informal and formal education to clinical teams/nursing units - examples include orientation, unit education, just-in-time teaching, and huddle sheets. Provides education to non-clinical departments - examples include orientation and huddle sheets. Develops huddle sheets, brochures, signage etc. for clinician, employee, patient, and family education. Identifies patterns of non-compliance to established policies and procedures and works collaboratively to address and correct them. Maintains expertise by attending educational learning opportunities at the hospital as well as locally and nationally. Attends professional conferences locally or nationally, and builds clinical goals for HUP Cedar based on the learnings/education. Uses professional conferences as an opportunity to network with outside teams and experts. Maintains an active membership with APIC.
• Office Management: Communicates and collaborates with the Director to maintain oversight of all site specific activities. Formulates and distributes Infection Control related information to HUP Cedar employees. Steward of institutional financial resources. Able to communicate effectively the projected financial consequences of departmental programs and quality improvements. Supervises the Administrative Assistant. Able to delegate tasks, as needed. Supervises the Hand Hygiene Coordinator, Infection Control Assistant, and volunteers when onsite. Responds to DOH requests by phone or fax. Sends reports to DOH as required. Maintains the daily operation of the office by scheduling meetings, answering phone calls, sending faxes, ordering supplies, etc. Maintains and updates the HUP Cedar Infection Control SharePoint site to ensure all content remains relevant and current. Performs other duties as assigned to support the department, hospital, health system, and the community.

Credentials:

• PA RN License Required
• Basic Cardiac Life Support Required
• Certification in Infection Control preferred

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Bachelors of Science in Nursing and 3+ years of Acute Care Nursing experience required

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

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We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.