Nurse Epidemiologist - Cermak

PLEASE BE ADVISED that this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants. Cook County is assembling a list of qualified candidates for this position that will be considered should the position not be filled with internal eligible applicants.

LOCATION: Cermak Health Services, 2800 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

DEPARTMENT: Medical Administration

SHIFT: 8\:00AM - 4\:00PM

***Salary is commensurate with years of RN experience.

JOB SUMMARY                                                  NNOC MEMBERS ONLY

The Nurse Epidemiologist (NE), also known as an Infection Prevention and Control Professional, is responsible for implementing, coordinating and monitoring the Infection Control Program which protects our patients, visitors and staff from healthcare acquired infections as well as understanding the center's population and associated health risks. Some of the specific duties of the NE include surveillance for multi-drug resistant organisms; device related infections; surgical site infections and communicable diseases; reporting to the Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) Infection Control Committee; regulatory reporting to city, state and federal organizations; development and implementation of interventions and policies; identification of appropriate equipment and products for ambulatory care use; infection control education for staff and visitors; employee health service assistance with post exposure measures; monitoring and advising on sterilization and disinfection practices; outbreak investigations; reacting to recall information; creation of infection control risk assessment for construction and demolition; monitoring and enforcing a hand hygiene program; and tuberculosis control. 

The NE focuses on improving outcomes by defining goals and time-specific improvement targets and functions as a liaison between medical, nursing and support service personnel and the infection control program. The NE consults regularly with the CCHHS Director of Infection Control and Epidemiology on all of these tasks. The NE must be able to enter and analyze computerized data, generate reports and communicate the information to appropriate committees and staff in conjunction with the CCHHS Infection Control Committee.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Evaluates and assists healthcare workers (HCW) in performing appropriate infection control and prevention practices.
• Assists in development, implementation and interpretation of general infection control policies and procedures for the hospital.
• Utilizes systems for reporting communicable diseases and monitors reporting of laboratory-generated communicable diseases to appropriate public health authorities in accordance with law and regulation.
• Reports surgical site infections (SSI), device related infections, e.g., central line, urinary catheter, and ventilator associate infections, and multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDRO) via the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) based on Illinois Department of Public Health Acts.
• Reports all clusters of unusual infections identified through lab and/or clinical surveillance to the Director of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
• Investigates and submits reports for all outbreaks as directed by the Director of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
• Interfaces with employee health service as indicated for employee-related infectious disease exposures.
• Develops and monitors isolation policies and procedures; provides immediate interventions when necessary.
• Performs risk assessments on the following factors\: geographic location and community environment; characteristics of the population served; results of analysis of Infection Prevention and Control data; and care, treatment and services provided.
• Prioritizes goals and develops action plans with consideration of the issues which are high risk, high volume, and problem prone, new techniques, related to emerging or re-emerging trends and other issues.
• Monitors and enforces hand hygiene programs.
• Implements comprehensive interventions to prevent and control multidrug resistant organisms.
• Attends the weekly Nurse Epidemiologist meeting at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County.
• Attends scheduled CCHHS Infection Control Committee meetings. Attends continuing education programs applicable to performance in the infection control program.
• Maintains high visibility and interfaces with administration and personnel.
• Participates in quality assurance activities.
• Maintains effective communication with peers, staff, and administrators in the Infection Control programs.
• Provides opportunities for improving the delivery of patient care through encouragement of effective infection prevention and control practices.
• Maintains current knowledge of infection control standards.
• Provides educational programs in infection prevention and control based on the needs of the department and/or individual HCW.
• Presents infection control orientation for new employees.
• Assists in maintaining compliance with infection control standards and expectations from licensing and accreditation bodies.
• Participates in infection prevention and control research projects in collaboration with the Director of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
• Reports to the department designee