Career Center

GLFHC is currently seeking an Infection Control Nurse to be responsible for the development, direction, implementation, management, and operation of infection prevention at Greater Lawrence Family Community Health Center in collaboration with the Infection Prevention Clinical Committee and Site Nurse Managers. The incumbent will work to identify, investigate, monitor, and report healthcare-associated infections and communicable diseases. They collaborate with teams and individuals to create, educate, and sustain infection prevention strategies, as well as provide feedback. They conduct ongoing staff development, training, and quality assurance performance improvement monitoring to insure adherence with the organizational standards, professional guidelines, and state, and federal regulations.

Program Management:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the organizational infection prevention program to include policies and procedures for surveillance, pandemic preparedness, hand hygiene, standard precautions employee and resident infection control education, employee health, outbreak management, and transmission-based precautions.
• Establish a routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data to identify infections, infection risks, and communicable disease outbreaks and to maintain or improve resident health status.
• Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
• Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan and infection prevention policies and procedures no less than annually and as needed.
• Prepares the agenda for the Infection Control Committee and actively participates in or facilitates committee work related to risk management, safety, and quality improvement.

Design and Deliver Education

• Provide infection prevention education at the time of hire, no less than annually, and when lapses in adherence occur.
• Acts as subject matter expert and resource within the healthcare center to residents/families, partners, providers, visitors, community, and public health regarding infection prevention and control measures, including the identification of infectious disease processes.
• Create a process for demonstrating competencies following each training activity.
• Serves as a resource for all departments and personnel for infection control issues.

Occupational Health

• Reviews the risk of blood-borne pathogens, OSHA standards, and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practices for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposure to infectious diseases.
• Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. i.e. needle stick injuries.
• Develop (or assist with) immunization and screening programs i.e. Influenza and TB.
• Apply work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following exposure consistent with CDC and public health guidance.

Participates and guides in the monthly Site Safety environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, plumbing/ventilation, food preparation/storage, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning. Initiates follow-up on employee/patient exposures to communicable diseases.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a basic training program for infection control and risk management.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations and accreditation standards.
• Certification in Infection Control is desired.
• Ability to develop policies and procedures.
• Ability to teach and evaluate clinical performance.
• Collaboration, leadership, and conflict resolution.
• Communication skills oral and written.
• Ability to implement evidence-based guidelines.
• Knowledge of and ability to conduct data collection and analysis, report writing, and data presentation.
• Must read, write, and speak English fluently.

About Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

Established in 1980, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) is a multi-site mission-driven non-profit organization employing over 700 staff whose primary focus is providing the highest quality patient care to residents throughout the Merrimack Valley. Nationally recognized as a leader in community medicine (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, and geriatrics), GLFHC has clinical sites throughout the service area and is the sponsoring organization for the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program.

Connections working at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center