Overview

Nestled in the heart of East Sacramento Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital is a 313 bed acute care facility that provides a wide range of services with special advocacy for the poor and underserved. Mercy General is home to the nationally ranked Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Institute. Key achievements and recognitions include: from the Joint Commission; Advanced Joint Replacement Spine Center of Excellence Primary Stroke Center Ventricular Assist Device and Chest Pain Certification. Other accolades include CMS 5 stars Practice Green Health 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade "A" Level 4 Epilepsy Center and Opioid Stewardship Honor Roll. Mercy General Hospital is proud to foster inclusion and diversity as part of our mission vision and values.  

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Responsibilities

Coordinates all infection prevention related activities associated with surveillance, performance improvement, and education which are intended to ensure that the facility’s patients, personnel, and visitors will be protected from transmission of diseases and infection within the facility’s environment, as identified in the core competency model by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Responsible for the oversight of daily operations of the infection Prevention Department in regards to the facility compliance with Hospital Accreditation Standards, State and CMS regulations. Identifies and implements updates to the Infection Prevention Program when new regulations and/or professional guidelines are published. Serves as the content
expert in all infection prevention matters in support of clinical staff, performance improvement teams and hospital committeesOngoing assessment and development of programs, policies and procedures, and forms to address the infection prevention needs of employees, volunteers, contract workers, independent contractors, physicians, registry workers and students in accordance with the guidelines established by the regulatory agenciesWorks in collaboration with Hospital Administration to develop and manage an Infection Prevention Program that incorporates essential facility strategic plan elements that align with the goals, objectives, and risk assessments of the Infection Prevention ProgramProvides expert consultation and education, as needed, and as related to Infection Prevention. Develops and operationalizes the Infection Prevention Program’s annual risk assessment, annual plans, and annual evaluations. Identifies and implements updates to the Infection Prevention Program when new regulations and /or professional guidelines are published. Ensures all functions of the Infection Prevention Program are conducted including surveillance, rounds to inpatient and outpatient units including perioperative, procedural and ancillary departments, and mandatory reporting to local and state health departments, NHSN, CMS, etc. Maintains current knowledge of infection prevention professional society guidelines, best practices and regulatory requirements as demonstrated by attending infection prevention conferences and workshops, reviewing current infection prevention literature, guidelines and national standard and networking with Health System and external Infection Prevention Specialists

Qualifications

Required:

Bachelors degree in a healthcare-related field with (5) years of experience or an Associate’s degree in a healthcare-related field with seven (7) years of experience Three (3) years of experience as an Infection Preventionist in an acute care facilityCertification in Infection Prevention and Control by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) to be obtained during the first two (2) years of hire