GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Infection Preventionist is responsible for the daily management and oversight of Gila Regional Medical Center’s facility-wide Infection Prevention and Control and Employee Health Programs. The Infection Preventionist conducts surveillance; analyzes and reports infection data; and coordinates activities to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections, communicable diseases, occupational exposures, and other identified infection risks.

The Infection Preventionist monitors for potential outbreaks, investigates infection-related events and exposures, implements appropriate control measures, and coordinates required reporting and follow-up with local and state public health authorities. In collaboration with medical staff, Pharmacy, nursing leadership, and other departments, the Infection Preventionist supports antimicrobial stewardship activities designed to promote the appropriate use of 

antibiotics.

Employee Health responsibilities include pre-employment and ongoing health assessments, vaccination and immunity review, communicable disease screening, occupational exposure evaluation and follow-up, work-related health requirements, and completion of onboarding and annual employee health requirements. The Infection Preventionist maintains confidential employee health records and provides ongoing education related to infection prevention, exposure prevention, and employee health requirements.

The Infection Preventionist collaborates with organizational leaders and department managers to identify infection prevention and occupational health risks, establish measurable goals, implement corrective actions, and monitor outcomes. The Infection Preventionist serves as a subject-matter resource to employees, providers, leaders, and committees and ensures that Infection Prevention, Employee Health, and antimicrobial stewardship activities are integrated with GRMC’s Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops, implements, evaluates, and maintains infection prevention, communicable disease, occupational exposure, and Employee Health policies, plans, procedures, risk assessments, and annual program goals.
• Conducts facility-wide infection surveillance through medical record, laboratory, and other data review to identify healthcare-associated infections, communicable diseases, exposure risks, trends, and potential outbreaks.
• Investigates suspected outbreaks and patient or employee exposures, implements appropriate control measures, coordinates follow-up, and communicates significant findings to leadership and public health authorities.
• Completes accurate and timely reporting of communicable diseases, healthcare-associated infections, outbreaks, vaccination data, and other required information to the New Mexico Department of Health, National Healthcare Safety Network, and other applicable local, state, and federal agencies.  
• Analyzes infection prevention and Employee Health data and reports findings, trends, goals, and improvement activities to the Infection Prevention and Control Committee, QAPI, leadership, and other applicable committees.
• Coordinates Infection Prevention and Control Committee meetings, recommendations, reports, and corrective-action follow-up. The Infectious Disease Physician Sponsor communicates applicable information to medical staff committees.
• Leads the hand-hygiene program, including surveillance, compliance monitoring, education, staff feedback, corrective actions, and process improvement.
• Collaborates with medical staff, Pharmacy, nursing leadership, Environmental Services, Laboratory, Facilities, and other departments to reduce infection risks and support antimicrobial stewardship.
• Coordinates Employee Health services, including pre-employment and annual health requirements, communicable disease and tuberculosis screening, vaccination and immunity review, employee appointments, and confidential record maintenance.
• Investigates employee bloodborne pathogen and infectious disease exposures and coordinates timely evaluation, testing, treatment referral, work restrictions, return-to-work guidance, documentation, and follow-up.
• Coordinates Employee Health services with an approved third-party agency when utilized and provides required services when third-party support is unavailable.
• Provides infection prevention and Employee Health education during new-hire orientation, annual education, and in response to identified risks, outbreaks, exposure trends, regulatory changes, or performance gaps.
• Maintains current knowledge of infection prevention standards, evidence-based practices, public health guidance, and reporting requirements and updates organizational processes as necessary.
• Integrates infection prevention, Employee Health, and antimicrobial stewardship findings and improvement activities with GRMC’s QAPI Program.
• Protects confidential patient, Employee Health, infection surveillance, quality, patient safety, peer review, and other privileged information in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies. 

EDUCATION & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate of an accredited registered nursing program required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
• Current, unrestricted New Mexico Registered Nurse license or a current multistate RN license with privilege to practice in New Mexico required and maintained throughout employment.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) required within three years of appointment to the position, provided the employee meets current Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology eligibility requirements. Certification must be maintained throughout employment.
• Newly appointed Infection Preventionists must complete formal foundational infection prevention education, such as the APIC EPI Intensive Program or an equivalent approved program, within the first year of employment unless comparable training or CIC certification has already been completed.   
• Minimum of three years of clinical nursing experience required; acute-care hospital experience preferred.
• Previous experience in infection prevention, Employee Health, quality improvement, public health, occupational health, or communicable disease surveillance preferred.