Infection Preventionist
Location:
Operations and Patient Administration Flight
86th Medical Group (MDG) TRICARE
Unit 3215
Ramstein Air Base, APO AE Germany
* Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship Required
* Clearance Requirements: Tier 1 Background Investigation, National Agency Check with Law and Credit Check, and fingerprints. (Standard Form 85).
* Estimate Pay: $75,000 - $80,000 per year (Negotiable)
* Type of Employment: 40 hours per week.
* Period of Performance: 30 September 2025 to 39 September 2030.
* Paid Time Off per Year: 80 hours per year, occurring on day one.
* Sick Leave per Year: 56 hours per year, occurring on day one.
* Paid Federal Holidays: Eleven (11) Paid Federal Holidays.
* Travel: Travel is authorized.
* Relocation Cost: Relocation cost is authorized.
Working Hours:
The Infection Preventionist services may be scheduled between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There may be times when the Infection Preventionist exceeds 40 hours in one week due to performing duties requested by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), or the Functional Requirements Evaluator Designee [FRED] (for example, working past their regular duty hours for patient hospitalization) In addition, an adjusted work schedule for one week will be authorized and used within three pay periods after the pay period in which the overage was incurred.
Summary of Duties:
The Infection Preventionist (IP) will support the 86th Medical Group's Infection Prevention and Control program. The Infection Preventionist will develop, evaluate, and revise mission and vision statements, goals, measurable objectives, and action plans. The IP will align Infection Control (IC) goals with the Military Treatment Facilities' organizational strategic priorities. The IP will recommend specific equipment, personnel, and resources for the IC program. Participate in cost-benefit assessments, efficacy studies, and product evaluations.
Mandatory Qualifications:
* Bachelor's 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 (2) years.
* Attend all such government-provided training in a paid status as part of regular duties.
* Attend a 46-week Epidemiology, Prevention and Infection Control (EPIC) course at the Medical Education and Training Campus on JBSA-Fort Sam, Houston, TX, no later than 6 months from the start of services.
* Complete a minimum of 10 continuing education units (CEUs) annually on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)-relevant training in the areas of sterile processing, reprocessing, and reusable medical devices.
* Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS).
Duties/Responsibilities:
* Implement the Infection Control and Prevention program in accordance with the medical treatment facilities' policies and procedures.
* Perform an annual self-inspection to determine if there is sufficient evidence of Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) compliance or noncompliance with the regulatory standards below.
* Provides assessment of Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) to the Infection Prevention and Control Function (IPCF) Chair and shares with IPCF at quarterly meetings. Standards and guidelines used to determine compliance include, but are not limited to:
* Conduct and develop the MTF Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) annually and when a 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.
* Develops 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 coordinate the IPCP Annual Summary that describes all activities in the IPCP.
* The summary shall include a general discussion, actions taken, and resolution.
* Unresolved items must be carried over to the next IPCP Annual Summary.
* Submits the summary to the ECOMS for review and approval.
* All program documents shall be completed promptly; clear suspense for the completion of each document.
* IPCPP shall be signed by the Commander or designee and shall be in place 30 calendar days following the close-out of the reporting year.
* 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 Executive Committee (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.
* Collects, 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 reusable medical devices (RMD), high-level disinfection (HLD), instrument processing, environmental hygiene, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, etc.).
* Participate in quality/performance improvement (PI) and patient safety (PS) activities related to IPC.
* Advise and collaborate on IPC-related issues with 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 the development of corrective 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, Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG) IP Consultant, and Air Force Medical Readiness Agency (AFMRA) IP regularly regarding data, trends, and activities.
* Collaborate with Air Force Medical Services (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, etc., 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 advise 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 infectious 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 collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, county/state public health departments, and, when necessary, in consultation with the Air Force, Surgeon General, Infectious Preventionist Consultant, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency (AFMRA) IP, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
* Identify indications for environmental and microbiological monitoring.
* Collects 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), etc.).
* 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.
* Interprets 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.
* Develop a focused ICRA during the construction planning phase to preplan IPC efforts requiring coordination before any new construction or renovation begins.
* Post an IPC construction permit at the entry way and/or exits of the construction area, to promote safety and awareness of personnel, patients, contractors, and visitors.
* 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.Engage in proactive and reactive analyses regarding IPC related events, e.g., Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), or other PS initiatives.
* Advise leadership and staff on identifying relevant improvement opportunities and utilizes Performance Improvement (PI) tools, e.g., Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA), Lean Six Sigma, to improve performance and outcomes.
* 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.
* Assess needs, develop goals and measurable objectives, and prepare lesson plans, power point slides, handouts and other materials for IPC educational in-services and briefings as needed.
* Prepare and provide IPC briefings, including, but not limited to, Newcomers Orientation, annual training, executive staff meetings, in-services, unit-based training, and other programs as requested.
* Ensure in-person IPC Newcomers and annual training includes all requirements listed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 29, Standard, Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP), and Standard, Respiratory Protection.
* Utilize principles of adult learning in educational strategies and delivery of in-services and briefings. Prepare, present, and coordinate educational workshops, lectures, discussions, simulations, or one-on-one instruction on a variety of IPC topics.
* Evaluate the effectiveness of education and learner outcomes.
* Instruct patients, families, and visitors about methods to prevent and control infections.
* Maintain knowledge of IPC issues occurring worldwide 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 evaluate the efficacy of IPC strategies.
* Maintain IPC-related files IAW Air Force Manual (AFMAN, Management of Records.
* Utilize the APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology online ).
* 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 disaster and emergencies
* Include emergency preparation and management in the annual ICRA and IPCPP.
* Identify how an influx of infectious patients will be triaged and quarantined.
* travel in the local area outside Ramstein AB utilizing their privately owned vehicle to inspect the laundry/linen facility on an annual basis. The contractor may be accompanied by military enlisted or officer assistant personnel.
* In the event of a biohazard or hazmat event (Ebola virus, emerging infectious disease, or potential outbreak, i.e., Influenza epidemic/pandemic), the IP would be designated mission/emergency essential.
* Review existing contingency plans for those tasks that have been identified as mission essential and, when/if the need arises, develop new contingency plans to provide reasonable assurance of continuation during crisis conditions. Any changes of contingency plans will be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECOMS) for review and approval.
* Establish administrative controls to ensure that all information on mission essential Contractor employees is handled as sensitive data and released only to authorized personnel.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
* Competitive Compensation package
* Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision options.
* Outstanding career growth potential.
ABOUT US:
Fidelity Partners is an Inc. 5000, USA company thatprovides medical, technical, logistical, and administrative services to thefederal government and commercial Clients across the country. Fidelity offerscompetitive salaries and benefits packages.
Qualified applicants are encouraged tolearn more about us at or call us at or join our Team.
Fidelity Partners provides equalemployment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,disability, or in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws(EoE).