The mission of the Tennessee Center for Patient Safety (TCPS) is to advance Tennessee hospitals’ adoption of proven strategies that enhance the reliability, safety and quality of care received by patients. The TCPS provides extensive education, resources and direct support to hospitals to accomplish the mission of better outcomes for patients.

JOB SUMMARY:

 The Infection Preventionist (IP) is responsible for developing and implementing quality improvement strategies and interventions related to the TCPS initiatives and the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) contract to meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) harm reduction goals. The IP provides education and facilitates member collaboratives that focus on preventing infections and improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. The IP develops topic-specific project plans and is responsible for the efficient and effective execution of interventions with hospital teams. The IP is responsible for leading the TCPS project work on healthcare associated infections (HAI), which may include:

• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI)
• Clostridium difficile (C. diff)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Multi drug-resistant organisms (MDRO)
• Sepsis
• Surgical-site infections (SSI)
• Ventilator-associated events (VAE)
• Other emerging infections

The IP uses clinical judgment and leadership skills to provide direct support to hospital teams to assist with development and implementation of strategies, identify and overcome barriers to success and facilitate the capture and dissemination of best practices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB: (listed in order of importance) Principal accountabilities; identify what you do, what end results you are accountable for, and how you measure your success.

1. Ability to adapt to a changing work environment and meet challenges presented throughout the day.
2. Assist with the planning, development, coordination and implementation of quality improvement strategies and interventions to address the TCPS priority topics.
3. Serve as lead for specified healthcare associated infection topics and coach hospital teams to apply interventions to prevent/reduce harm.
4. Develop educational opportunities and facilitate member collaboratives that focus on preventing infections and improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.
5. Master expert resources on HAIs from Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET), Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and others and disseminate best practices and resources to hospitals for education and adoption.
6. Work with member hospitals to hardwire and sustain infection prevention processes.
7. Monitor and act on data in a timely manner.
8. Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to provide tools related to infection prevention, transparency and culture of safety.
9. Review monthly submission of each target facility’s clinical measures and facilitate identification of individual opportunities for improvement and the design and implementation of interventions to reach targeted goals.
10. Work with the HRET and other organizations to supply hospitals with the tools and resources necessary to achieve quality improvement.
11. Represent THA on the Tennessee Department of Health Multi-Disciplinary Advisory Group (MDAG).
12. Assist in the development, implementation and evaluation of THA quality improvement initiatives and activities, including clinical databases.
13. Provide timely submission of project reports.
14. Provide direct assistance to hospitals with challenges and opportunities to improve.
15. Identify strategies to engage member hospital IPs and frontline staff in relevant safety initiatives.
16. Work with other team members to ensure that all project tasks under the HIIN contract and other projects are complete and timely.
17. Communicate and work cooperatively with other team members, partner agencies and subcontractors.
18. Foster strategic partnerships and collaborations with the Tennessee Department of Health, Quality Improvement Network (QIN), affiliate organizations and other stakeholders.
19. Must be available for out-of-town travel, be able to drive an automobile and maintain a valid driver’s license. Regular in-state travel expected for onsite visits to hospitals at approximately 25 percent of time.
20. Must be available in the office during regular office hours, unless job responsibilities require otherwise.

MARGINAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

None

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race; color; creed; religion; sex; age; national origin; citizenship status; ancestry; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic information; or past, present or future membership in a U. S. Uniformed Service.  In addition, THA does not discriminate against qualified individuals with physical, visual or mental disabilities.  Also, THA does not discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, however, an exception exists where the employee or applicant makes the disclosure based on information obtained in the course of performing their essential job functions.