Our Ability Jobs

Department/Unit:

Epidemiology

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

The Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator in coordination with the Director is responsible for development, planning, organization and supervision of the infection prevention and control program within the hospital, Faculty Practice, South Clinical Campus, and the Medical College. The Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator has direct oversite of the management of Epidemiology data, verifying performing data analysis, maintaining data integrity, and providing the annual infection control risk assessment and plans for hospital, practice, South Clinical Campus, Faculty Practice, and the medical college. They assists in the management of department staff along with the Director of Epidemiology. The individual is responsible for assuring that the infection prevention and control program is maintained throughout the center as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Joint Commission (TJC), New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and other professional societies and for providing education in infection prevention and control standards of practice.

The Infection Control Coordinator is expected to have advanced knowledge in infection control and epidemiology and functions independently. Requires little or no direction from the Medical Director or Hospital Epidemiologist. This position has a significant impact on the organization and patient safety by providing guidance and recommendations for infection prevention and control program and prevention strategies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the Director with providing high-level guidance to executive management related to all aspects of the infection prevention and control program within the hospital, practice, South Clinical Campus and the medical college. Assures that the infection prevention and control program as defined by national and state regulations/guidelines is maintained throughout the organization.

• In conjunction with administration, recommends and institutes appropriate emergency or urgent control measures in any situation in which there are imminent dangers to patients, visitors, or employees from infectious agents.

• Covers for Director in their absence.

• Provides leadership and direction for the department. Develops and directs a system of routine surveillance of epidemiologically significant infections or microorganisms. Assures development of annual surveillance schedule including mandatory NYSDOH Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI) program. Provides adequate technological support for the department. Assists with works schedules, assignments, and on-call schedule. Assures department function and direction are in alignment with the strategic planning. Promotes professional growth and development of staff. Promotes a team environment and interdependence with team members. Encourages staff motivation and engagement. Recognizes staff accomplishments. Assists with resolution of conflict. Validates that the department work is of a high quality. Provides educational opportunities for the staff.

• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of NYSDOH codes, CDC guidelines, OSHA regulations and other standards Acts a resource in interpretation and dissemination of regulatory requirements and external benchmarking results.

• Analyzes and interprets data, utilizes data to determine department priorities and direction of infection prevention measures and strategic planning. Creates, reviews and approves reports prepared by epidemiology staff for presentation to the Infection Control Committee, QITs, AMC committees, administration and regulatory and public health agencies. Institutes appropriate emergency or urgent control measures in any situation in which there are imminent dangers to patients, visitors or employees from infectious agents. Provide expertise and guidance to ICPs in solving complicated infection related issues

• Independently apply appropriate statistical testing to data sets and determine appropriate way to present the data and can interpret the departments data and make recommendations.

• Establishes cooperative relationships with others at all levels of the organization. Shares information, resources, and ideas. Demonstrates flexibility in work practices, procedures, or processes. Works effectively with others to accomplish tasks and goals. Seeks solutions to problems. Supports group decisions through active participation. Resolves conflict to a positive outcome.

• Contributes ideas and suggestions to improve procedures, methods and productivity. Works to continuously improve processes and methods that will better meet and exceed customers’ expectations.

• Identifies methods and approaches to simplify work processes, decrease waste, and increase the quality of services provided. Demonstrates effective time management to promote productivity and cost efficiency. Utilizes resources in a prudent manner.

• Makes recommendations to administration regarding integration of important infection control initiatives into the hospital goals. Represents the AMC epidemiology department and the infection prevention program to local, state and national authorities and regulators as the occasion may require. Assures proper reporting and communication with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI) division. Functions as a liaison between AMC administration and NYSDOH HAI program regarding concerns and annual NYSDOH audits. Serves on other infection prevention-related committees as needed or as appointed. Participates on other AMC committees as needed to assure that infection prevention and control issues are communicated and addressed.

• Develops the annual infection prevention risk assessment and infection prevention and control plan and approves final version. Assures the annual IC plan is implemented followed, revised as necessary and evaluated. Communicates annual infection prevention plan to the Infection Control Committee, administration, and other appropriate committees

• Assures that epidemiology is represented, as needed, on hospital or center wide quality or patient safety committees.

• Assures there is a system in place for the recognition, coordination, response, management, and evaluation of emerging drug resistance. Assures reporting to and collaboration with the New York State Department of Health. Coordinates with the microbiology laboratory and pharmacy in recognition and prevention efforts. Serves as a representative to the Antibiotic stewardship program.

• Maintains advanced knowledge of computer hardware and software. Demonstrates proficiency in database management, and statistical software applications. Demonstrates proficiency in conversion and creating computer programs to manage, manipulate and analyze infection control related data. Creates and manages translation programs for the importation of microbiology data. Designs, develops, and manages databases. Reviews and assesses the integrity of data entered the databases. Pulls periodic reports to validate the accuracy of data. Develops appropriate programming and translation as needed. Enters and retrieves data in appropriate fashion. Manages, validates, and extracts Infection Control related data from various third-party software implemented to streamline work practices and reduce manual data entry. This may include minor manipulations for uploading to other third-party software required for use in the public reporting process or preparation for data analysis and reporting.

• Works closely with Data Analytics to assure that processes for data compilation and extraction of infection control data are valid.

• Serves as the liaison with the New York State HAI Program in the submission and validation of public reporting data.

• Supports quality improvement initiatives by submitting appropriate infection control related data to approved programs initiated by the institution through outside agencies.

• Assists Infection Preventionists in defining outbreaks and identifies outbreak situations. Assists with chart review to identify risk factors. Utilizing outbreak data, makes recommendations for interventions and monitors data to evaluate effectiveness of interventions.

• Utilizes data to assess situations and develops recommendations. Serves on selected committees and on complex, infection control committees or subgroups. Serves as a consultant to the organization and community in matters related to interpretation and usage of epidemiologically significant infection prevention and control data. Provides guidance and support to the Infection Preventionists in complex problem solving using valid epidemiologic methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in nursing, medical technology, public health or Epidemiology - required

• 5 years of Infection Control and Prevention experience - required

• Management Experience - preferred

• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.

• Statistical analysis and methodology skills required.

• Advanced knowledge in identification of infectious disease processes, surveillance and epidemiologic investigations, preventing and controlling the transmission of infectious agents, program management and communication, education and research, and infection control aspects of employee health.

• Advanced computer skills

• Strong leadership, organizational and customer service skills

• Ability to lead, teach and be able to collaborate with people with various educational and social backgrounds.

• Ability to work independently and organize work with others.

• Ability to recognize potential errors and the need for follow up.

• Ability to design and implement systems to organize and track department data.

• Ability to recognize issues that can be independently resolved, and which issues need to be discussed with the hospital epidemiologist or medical director. Demonstrates advanced reasoning in complex, interdisciplinary and critical problem-solving Responds to acute, critical, complex infection control issues that have the potential to jeopardize patient safety or facility operations.

• Ability to develop the workforce.

• Independently organize work independently and organize work of others.

• Ability to meet established guidelines, gather data from appropriate resources. Verbalizes understanding of who the primary customers are and what they require. Focuses on customers’ needs, expectations, and satisfaction. Relates to people in an open, friendly, and caring manner. Serves customers with respect, tolerance, sensitivity, and consideration for cultural, ethnic, and/or religious beliefs. Uses customer feedback as a basis for taking actions which solve customer problems quickly and effectively. Advocates for patients’ rights and responsibilities.

• CIC - Certified in Infection Control obtained from the national Certification Board in Infection Control (CBIC) Upon Hire - required

• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Salary Range: $43.14/hr - $71.18/hrPhysical Demands

• Standing - Constantly

• Walking - Constantly

• Sitting - Rarely

• Lifting - Frequently

• Carrying - Frequently

• Pushing - Occasionally

• Pulling - Occasionally

• Climbing - Occasionally

• Balancing - Occasionally

• Stooping - Frequently

• Kneeling - Frequently

• Crouching - Frequently

• Crawling - Occasionally

• Reaching - Frequently

• Handling - Frequently

• Grasping - Frequently

• Feeling - Constantly

• Talking - Constantly

• Hearing - Constantly

• Repetitive Motions - Constantly

• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination - Constantly

Working Conditions

• Extreme cold - Rarely

• Extreme heat - Rarely

• Humidity - Rarely

• Wet - Rarely

• Noise - Constantly

• Hazards - Frequently

• Temperature Change - Rarely

• Atmospheric Conditions - Rarely

• Vibration - Rarely

Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!Albany Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Medical Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.

Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!​

Albany Medical is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.

Albany Med is the centerpiece of medicine, research, and medical education in New York’s CapitalRegion and is the area's largest private employer with more than 10,000 employees.

Albany Med offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of roles in both patient care andadministration. We value all our staff members and offer outstanding employee benefits including:

• Excellent health care coverage (http://albanymedcareers.com/benefits/employee-health-%20benefits/) with lower copays at most Albany Med providers.

• A wide array of services and programs to support emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing (http://albanymedcareers.com/benefits/employee-advantages/)

Anchored in the state’s historic capital city, Albany Med offers a full range outpatient and inpatient careand is home to the region’s largest hospital, only Level 1 trauma center, and only children’s hospital. Thedowntown campus also offers opportunities at Albany Medical College.

Albany Med partners with Columbia Memorial Health, Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital to form the Albany Med Health System, serving more than three million people over 25 counties.