Infection Preventionist Place of Performance: Ramstein Air Base, Germany Specific Tasks: Implement the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) IPCP IAW, Infection Prevention and Control Program. Perform an annual self-inspection to determine if there is sufficient evidence of MTFs compliance or noncompliance with regulatory standards. Provides assessment of IPCP to the Infection Prevention and Control Function (IPCF) Chair and shares with IPCF at quarterly meetings. Guide the MTF on IPC-related accreditation preparation activities and regulatory readiness. Formulates corrective actions IAW current standards and guidelines. Conduct and develop the MTF Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) annually and when significant change to risk occurs; prioritize according to the level of probability and potential for harm. Coordinate ICRA development with other team members, including the IPCF Chair, IPCF members, Public Health (PH) and others as needed. Develop and coordinates the annual Infection Prevention and Control Program Plan (IPCPP) based upon the approved ICRA prioritized list. Submits the plan to ECOMS for review and approval. Updates the IPCPP as needed throughout the year. Develop and coordinates the IPCP Annual Summary that describes all activities in the IPCPP. Plan and develop the IPCF meeting agenda and minutes with the IPCF Chair based on activities outlined in the IPCPP; standard agenda items are included at least quarterly. Submits meeting slides to the ECOMS for review. Maintain active memberships in the following groups: Environment of Care Committee, Product Evaluation Committee, Patient Safety Committee, Facility Utilization Committee, Medical Readiness Staff Function, Nursing Executive Function, and the ECOMS. Collect, manages, and analyzes IPC-related surveillance data as defined by the annual ICRA and IPCPP as approved by MTF senior leadership (e.g. ECOMS) or as required by the Air Force Medical Service and the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Reports surveillance activities, findings, and analyses to the IPC Chair, IPC Function, ECOMS, and other related stakeholders, as applicable. Assist in reviewing and revising IPC relevant MTF Operating Instructions (OIs) every two years, or as required. Verifies current standards are implemented throughout the MTF (e.g., reprocessing of reusable medical devices (RMD), high level disinfection (HLD), instrument processing, environmental hygiene, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions. Participate in quality/performance improvement (PI) and patient safety (PS) activities related to IPC. Advise and collaborates on IPC-related issues with many various staff/groups that include, but are not limited to, IPCF, ECOMS, TJC Environment of Care program (EOC) Committee, Nurse Executive Council (NEC), and Performance Improvement Council. Assists with event analysis and development of correction actions. Liaise with installation Air Reserve Component (ARC), Air National Guard (ANG) Medical Units, and Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) Units in developing Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Agreement (MOU/MOA), or Host Tenant Agreement, as applicable. Informs the tenant units IP on IPCP management and serves as a conduit to elevate IPC-related issues to MTF leadership. Consult with other MTF IPs, AF/SG IP Consultant, and AFMRA IP on a regular basis regarding data, trends, and activities. Collaborate with AFMS and local area peers to advance awareness of current IPC news and trends. Participate in AF and DHA IPC forums, teleconferences, and meetings. Apply epidemiologic principles and statistical methods to break the chain of infection and improve IPC efforts. Utilize databases, graphs, and reports to track, trend, and monitor infectious processes and facilitate evidence-based practices. Use Government-provided Information Technology (IT) systems, e.g., Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR), GENESIS/CERNER, to identify infection occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the disease process. Interpret diagnostic and laboratory reports and advises clinicians on limitations and advantages of types of tests used to diagnose infectious processes. Collaborate with Aerospace Medicine and Public Health for the management of an influx of infection patients. Monitor infectious diseases and epidemiologically significant organisms occurring in the community via laboratory and public health reports. Identify epidemiologically significant organisms for immediate review and investigation and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, county/state public health departments, and when necessary, in consultation with the AF/SG IP Consultant, AFMRA IP and the CDC. Identify indications for environmental and microbiological monitoring. Collect and compiles surveillance data from patient care areas and applies current nationally recognized definitions and methodologies to interpret and explain Healthcare Acquired Infection (HAI) data (e.g., Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR). Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to institute outbreak investigations and implement control strategies to prevent HAI, and transmission of multi-drug-resistant organisms and other epidemiologically important organisms. Interpret and translates data from antibiograms and antibiotic utilization. Educate staff on Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) and on optimal and prudent use of antimicrobials. Coordinates inter-professional effort to improve antimicrobial stewardship through education, surveillance, and evidence-based practices. Consult on facility renovations, construction, repair projects, facility modifications, and facility relocations impacting patient care areas. Conduct on-site inspections throughout the project and a final walk-through of renovated areas prior to any unit occupying a new space to ensure readiness for personnel and patients upon project completion. Coordinate and consult on service contracts and plans that have IPC implications to include, but not limited to, the Hospital Aseptic Management System (HAMS) or equivalent housekeeping contract, linen/laundry contract, and waste management contract. Review and updates IPC-related MOU/MOA as needed. Evaluate products, devices, and equipment relating to IPC. Review all requests for new products and medical supplies, excluding pharmaceutical items and equipment requests IAW AFMAN 41-209, Medical Logistics Support. Consult with Aerospace Medicine on development of BBP-exposure control plans (ECP) and Respiratory Protection/Tuberculosis Prevention ECP. Collaborate with Public Health to determine occupational risk categories for personnel. Ensure the IPC Annual Plan reflects any updates on occupational risk categories, BBP, and medical employee health. Collaborate with PS and Risk Management (RM) on tracking and trending of IPC near misses, events and/or issues relating to PS and the TJC National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) pertaining to IPC. Develop and implements MTF-wide education and training program on IPC related topics and National Patient Safety Goals. Facilitates training for professional and ancillary support staff on IPC topics. Maintain knowledge of IPC issues occurring world-wide as provided through valid communication sources (e.g. DHA, CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), APIC). Advocate, influence, motivate, and persuade leadership and staff to consistently incorporate IPC guidelines and standards throughout the MTF. Monitor and evaluates the efficacy of IPC strategies. Maintain IPC-related files IAW Air Force Manual, Management of Records. Utilize the APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology on-line. Include emergency preparedness in Newcomers Orientation and Annual IPC Training. Identify required isolation and personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Participate in community-based and/or DoD exercises relevant to IPC disasters/emergencies. Mission/Emergency/Disaster Management Essential Duties. Shall travel in the local area outside Ramstein AB utilizing their privately owned vehicle to inspect the laundry/linen facility on an annual basis. You may be accompanied by military enlisted or officer assistant personnel. Mission/Emergency Essential. In the event of a biohazard or hazmat event (Ebola virus, emerging infectious disease, or potential outbreak, i.e., Influenza epidemic/pandemic) You will be designated mission/emergency essential. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in nursing, Public Health, Epidemiology, or Microbiology from a nationally recognized accredited college program. Minimum of five (3) years of current experience in infection prevention and control. Part of this 3-year minimum experience must be performed within the past four years. Shall complete a minimum of 10 continuing education units (CEUs) annually on IPC-relevant training in the areas of sterile processing/reprocessing reusable medical devices and is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) training and maintain BLS certification.