The Infection Control and Occupational Health Program Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of Infection Control and Safety, as well as for compliance with JCAHO, OSHA (MOSH), CLIA, and infection control regulations. Responsible for outpatient epidemiology. Works closely with the Occupational Health Coordinator and all clinical staff to provide education, feedback, and support related to infection control and safety activities. Communication skills are required to persuade or gain cooperation and accept ideas. Responsibility exists to ensure that internal customers are satisfied with service. Communicates with external contacts frequently and is responsible for ensuring ongoing service. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with Baltimore for ensuring System Core Values, policies/ procedures, and applicable civil laws. Is accountable for efficient use of resources and support of the BMS mission.
Essential Job Functions
Infection Control
- Leads the infection prevention and control program; develops, evaluates, and revises evidence-based policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Monitors compliance with standard and transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, sterilizations, and disinfection practices.
- Conducts ongoing disease surveillance and tracks emerging trends and unusual symptoms; coordinates with public health agencies and local providers.
- Designs and delivers annual infection prevention monitoring training (i.e, bloodborne pathogens, TB, and respirator programs); maintains training documentation and monitors compliance across departments.
- Advises dental processing staff on best practices in sterilization and high-level disinfection; audits compliance.
- Conducts ongoing surveillance using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) infection criteria for outpatient facilities; proactively reports trends and educates staff on prevention and care strategies.
- Trains staff on appropriate instrument preparation, inspection, and transport for external sterile processing. Documents all training for required competencies.
- Ensures compliance with infection control standards in instrument handling.
- Serve as a clinical resource regarding infection-related concerns; provide consultation on appropriate testing, treatment, and isolation protocols.
- Conduct onboarding infection control and occupational health training for all new staff; develop, maintain, and conduct annual or other periodic training as needed based on risk assessment and surveillance.
- Maintains documentation and data tracking for infection control activities; develops reports and dashboards for quality committee, risk committees, and all required infection control plans and presentations.
- Support vaccination programs and other preventative health initiatives.
- Stay up to date on emerging infectious diseases and recommend appropriate response strategies.
- Designs, coordinates, and implements programs, policies, and/or procedures pertinent to infection control and assures compliance with APIC, MOSH, JCAHO, CDC, DHMH, and other regulatory agency standards. Responsible for implementation, evaluation, and education of all staff on these policies and procedures.
- Performs on-site audits and inspections on centers monthly.
- Tracks and reports IC self-inspection programs.
- Provides system-wide oversight of point of care testing to ensure compliance with CLIA, Joint Commission, and other regulatory standards.
- Responsible for external proficiency testing and CLIA waiver updates and renewals.
- Develop and maintain POCT policies, procedures, and training materials/programs.
- Coordinate training, competency assessment, and certification of all staff performing POCT.
- Monitor quality control, proficiency testing, and testing accuracy; identify and resolve performance issues.
- Performs initial training for new hires as well as annual competency training.
Occupational Health
- Reports confirmed communicable diseases for staff or center outbreaks to appropriate county agencies. Ensures center staff are reporting patient cases as appropriate.
- Conducts N-96 respirator fit testing.
- Maintains confidential employee health records in accordance with regulatory and privacy requirements
- Conducts annual staff flu vaccination program requirements and overall compliance tracking.
- Completes mandatory reporting to any external agencies for communicable disease or injuries by State and Federal agencies (e.g., Dept of Health, etc.)
- Lead and execute occupational health programs including immunizations, respirator fit testing, and exposure follow-up (e.g., bloodborne pathogens).
- Investigate workplace exposures and incidents; perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
- Conduct workplace safety audits and infection control risk assessments; recommend mitigation strategies.
- Conduct Stop the Bleed training for all new hires.
- Conduct pre-employment, annual, and as-needed employee healthy assessment and medical clearances.
- Monitors, assesses, and tracks employee health status related to communicable diseases and workplace exposures.
- Maintain confidential employee health records in accordance with regulatory and privacy requirements.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing. Should have evidence of training/education in the IC field.
- Master’s degree in nursing or related field (biology, public health, etc.) preferred
Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:
- Current CPR certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
- Maryland (or Compact state) Board of Nursing Registered Nurse
- Certification in Infection Control, Infection Prevention and Control, or Advanced Leadership in Infection Control required within the first six months of hire
Experience:
- Minimum of five years of relevant clinical experience
- 2 years of experience in infection control/prevention.
- Working knowledge of OSHA and Occupational Health, and National Guidelines of Infection Control and Epidemiology required.
- Familiarization with waived/point of care testing.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
Supervision received from:
