Job Description

Temporary assignment - approximately 20 weeks

POSITION SUMMARY
Responsible to Manager, Infection Prevention and Control, the Infection Control Professional will participate in the mission, vision and goals of the St. Joseph's Healthcare/Infection Prevention and Control Program by maintaining records of all significant infections, interpretation of diagnostic tests and data to identify risks and trends, educating staff, patients, families, physicians and other associates in Infection Prevention and Control Practices, identifying, monitoring and analyzing outbreaks, preparing reports on possible causes and interventions, preparing and interpreting outcome indicator data for all programs and departments, and supporting all Infection Prevention and Control activities as required. The ICP will be required to develop and maintain a personal education program that supports continuing improvement in the role.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Supports the Infection Prevention and Control Program for St. Joseph's Healthcare at all sites by:

• Follows national guidelines /best practices for the surveillance of nosocomial infections
• Follows the Public Health Act (HPPA) for the reporting of communicable infectious diseases
• Reviews patient records to ascertain clinical signs and symptoms for infection, clinical interventions and requirements for transmission-based precautions. Completes patient specific information.
• Reviews and interprets significant clinical laboratory reports on a daily basis for the purpose of ongoing surveillance/ trends
• Interviews hospital patients or out-patients as necessary to complete the patient-specific data
• Gathers and calculates infection control statistics such as averages, percentages and rates in support of the infection prevention and control program.
• Investigates all infection clusters and outbreaks with interventions directed at infection prevention
• Consults for infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies to departments
• Participates or consults in the development and maintenance of Infection Prevention and Control protocols/ standards/policy and procedures
• Provides after hours and weekend on-call services as required and occasional week ends on site coverage
• Assists in research projects with bibliographic searches, statistical computations, drafting of reports/ papers and publications

Supports Program activities as requested by the Infection Control Officer/Manager, which may include:

• responding to inquiries from hospital staff, patient, visitors, associates and community partners
• acting as a resource/consultant for infection prevention and control issues
• participating in the preparation and implementation of educational programs that the support the goals of the department
• implementing changes mandated by regulatory and licensing agencies
• consulting on product evaluation and recommendations for infection prevention and control implications

Attends and participates in hospital-related committees as directed by the Infection Control Officer/Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a recognized basic training course in Infection Control
• Two years experience in Infection Prevention and Control
• Certificates in Infection Control (CIC) by the Certification Board of Infection Control
• Regulated Health Care Professional with current registration in the Province of Ontario with their professional body
• Baccalaureate preferred
• Knowledge of acute, mental health and ambulatory care programs an asset
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the complexities of the delivery of patient care
• Ability to communicate successfully with staff, families and community partners
• Computer proficiencies: MS Word, MS Excel and PowerPoint, familiarity with statistical software preferred
• Demonstrated experience in adult education techniques
• Effective research skills including ability to construct effective studies involving statistical measures an asset
• Self-motivated and flexible

HOURS OF WORK: Some weekends and on-call may be required.

NOTE: SHOULD THE VACANCY BE FILLED BY A REGISTERED NURSE, THE POSITION WILL BE DEEMED TO BE ONA REPRESENTED, AND SHOULD THE VACANCY BE FILLED BY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OTHER THAN A REGISTERED NURSE, THE POSITION WILL BE DEEMED TO BE OPSEU REPRESENTED.

St. Joseph's Nursing Vision is to make a difference in the lives of those we care for, our organization, and the future of our community through achievement of excellence in nursing and commitment to a culture of nursing innovation, empowerment, leadership and accountability.