Overview

The Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner is responsible for facility-wide surveillance, analysis, interpretation, reporting and managing infection risks to patients and caregivers. The position functions as the clinical expert in the prevention and control of infection and implements, promotes, and maintains an active infection prevention program through surveillance, investigative activities, consultation, education, policy development and research.

Responsibilities

• Applies the principles of microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology to designing and implementing strategies to prevent and control infection.
• Designs, implements and utilizes existing effective surveillance systems based on epidemiologic principles to inform infection prevention and control practice.
• Conducts annual and regular risk assessments to identifies infection control risks and develops appropriate plan and strategies to manage, mitigate and contain them.
• Recognizes and appropriately escalates significant incidents and outbreaks, and identify the evidence required to determine the nature, scale, and prevention strategies.
• Assess any IPC-related risks and provides advice on their prevention and control in the design, construction, modification, and maintenance of facilities and the built environment
• Ensures key services supporting the IPC agenda i.e., cleaning and waste management are meeting the needs, requirements, and specifications of the service, assessing, and identifying any risks or gaps in provision.
• Provides specialist advice in relation to the planning, costing, and purchasing of equipment.
• Utilizes and promotes up to date evidence-based practice in the provision of patient & family-centered care.
• Participates in environmental rounds and monitors environmental concerns to include water supply and air quality, provides consultation of preventive/corrective measures, provides recommendations to construction projects, product recommendations and coordinates trials of new products to reduce risk of infection.
• Conducts departmental monitoring and compliance audits to ensure consistent and safe practices.
• Identifies, investigates, and monitors infections and hazardous practice/procedures which could pose health risks to patients, staff, or the public, reporting findings and outlining actions to the line manager and relevant others.
• Interprets microbiological data and other information and communicates effectively to healthcare workers, highlighting the implications for infection prevention and control, giving advice and reassurance appropriate to the clinical situation.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of infection control and prevention policies and procedures to ensure all relevant requirements are fulfilled.
• Utilizes current literature, professional organization recommendations and national experts to ensure that best practices are implemented throughout the program.
• Assists in the distribution of timely and relevant infection prevention and control information.
• Ensures regular evaluation of ward/department procedures and practices, to ensure they comply with agreed Infection Prevention and Control policies.
• Actively participates in quality improvement activities which are interdisciplinary and based on identified causes of risk.
• Oversees compliance with quality control, clinical practice and health, and safety guidelines.
• Identifies opportunities for improving quality and safety of patient care; Uses improvement methodologies to enhance and sustain infection prevention and control.
• Evaluates, reviews, and refines improvement initiatives.
• Develops and implements a champions program to assist in the professional development and succession planning.
• Identifies and measures appropriate performance indicators.
• Develops action plans based on performance indicators which do not meet defined targets.
• Critically evaluates research and applies findings to inform evidence-based practice.
• Reviews, analyzes, and implements regulations, standards, and/or guidelines of the DOH/DHA, JCI, other accreditation bodies, and professional organizations. Conducts activities to maintain continuous preparedness for survey.
• Collects, validates, and reports key performance indicators related to annual key performance indicators, hospital accreditation, specialty certification and DOH/DHA regulatory requirements (i.e., Jawda reporting).
• Represents IPC team for accreditation, certification, and Tasneef Business Assurance audits.
• Generate reports from surveillance and other sources of infection-related information and feedback appropriately to key stakeholders and relevant committees (i.e QSC, IPC, MSE, OSHMS)
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports on the KPIs selected to represent infection control practices that show evidence of good practice. Ensure proper data collection, validation, and analysis in preparing reports.
• Ensures that Infection Control KPIs are completed and shared with leadership team monthly. Implement action plans based on performance.
• Reviews existing operations, clinical practices, conditions, and assessments used for their potential impact upon the facilities Infection Prevention and Control requirements and practices.
• Participates in the hazard identification and risk assessments to define the opportunities for improvement of existing processes to comply with infection prevention and control requirements.
• Participates in incident investigations and Root Cause Analysis related to infection prevention and control issues.
• Provides Infection Control training to all staff based on training needs analysis and review of incidents.
• Supports the goals and objectives for infection control and prevention; ensure technological advances in infection control and prevention are incorporated in a safe and cost-effective manner.
• Liaises with staff in the Human Capital Department in relation to the prevention and control of infection amongst staff.
• Ensures Caregivers at all levels are educated on the infection control and prevention plan, policies, and evidence-based practices.
• Supports IPC practitioners and champions in their roles in areas across the facility to ensure IPC is an integrated part of patient care.
• Mentors and audits the work of infection control champions.
• Assists in the implementation of educational programs on infection prevention and control for orientees and annual updates for physicians and other Caregivers.
• Promotes a progressive attitude to the continual improvement of patient care through contemporary evidenced-based research.
• Uses scoping exercises to identify emerging IPC risks and related learning needs.
• Designs communication strategies, learning resources/information and educational events that are appropriate to the needs of the target audience.
• Delivers flexible and creative education and training that supports effective learning.
• Precepts students and mentors team members who provide preceptorship to students and junior staff.
• Engages in health promotion activities within the organization and community.
• Conducts New Caregiver and Annual Caregiver orientation/training
• Participates in the development and implementation an annual IPC program in partnership with key stakeholders and in line with organizational objectives and available resources.
• Coordinates infection prevention committee meetings and other related activities.
• Maintains regular updates to organization leadership of infection prevention and control activities through the annual Infection Control Risk Assessment, Infection Control Plan, and the Infection Control Committee and its minutes.
• Liaises with external parties such as DOH/DHA, JCI, and other relevant accreditation and Government bodies on all matters related to infection control and prevention, including outbreaks and control of communicable diseases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to a variety of audiences throughout the organization.
• Communicates clearly and impactfully to achieve high productivity and to maintain strong relationships with external/internal stakeholders and team members.
• Maintains good interdivisional liaison to ensure smooth implementation of strategic and operational activities.
• Uses information technologies to become more efficient and effective in educating a large audience.
• Collaborates with external organizations and educational institutions on education opportunities.
• Presents at conferences nationally or internationally.
• Facilitates a climate of mutual understanding, and appreciation of cross-cultural differences inherent in a multicultural society.
• Maintains professional license as required by DOH/DHA.
• Maintains Infection Prevention and Control Certification.
• Develops and sustains own knowledge, clinical skills, and professional awareness in accordance with IPC certificate requirements.
• Completes competencies relevant to area of work.
• Maintains and promotes professionalism and confidentiality as per the organization\'s standard code of conduct.
• Demonstrates accountability for own professional judgment, actions, outcomes of care and continued competence; Recognizes the boundaries of their scope of practice and limits of own competence.
• Demonstrates service excellence and advocacy to always support the patient/patient rights and dignity.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s Degree in Nursing or health-related field required.
• Associate degree in Nursing from USA or Canada (minimum 2 years course duration) and successful completion of the national exam (USA: NCLEX-RN, Canada: Licensing Exam).

Experience

• Minimum of three years\xe2\x80\x99 experience in Infection Control and Prevention in any patient care environment.
• Minimum two years in direct patient care.

Certification and Licensure

• Infection, Prevention, and Control Qualification or Certification required.
• DOH/DHA nursing license.
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• APIC Certification in infection control preferred

Mubadala Health