Provides education and consultation to hospital and clinic staff regarding the prevention and spread of infection Investigates infection control problems and arranges follow-up care for persons exposed to infection or disease Instructs staff in universal and specific infection control procedures Reports infections/communicable diseases to the appropriate health authority May assist in writing and updating organization’s policies and procedures on infection control Consistently demonstrates ability to identify/detect nosocomial infections in a prospective manner, utilizing patient and laboratory based systems; recognition may be passive and/or active. Consistently demonstrated the ability to utilize the help of the hospital epidemiologist to analyze nosocomial infections and investigate all significant clusters of infections.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to investigate and keep records and logs of nosocomial infections.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to investigate and keep records and logs of all antibiotic-resistant or otherwise epidemiologically important organisms.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to report all antibiotic-resistant or otherwise epidemiologically important organisms to the Infection Control Committee.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to prepare a monthly report for the Quality Assessment and Improvement Committee and a bimonthly report for the Infection Control Committee defining the current nosocomial infections by type of organism and site of infection as well as department location(s) and physician for tracking purposes.
Consistently demonstrates ability to calculate overall organizational nosocomial infection rates as well as by site of infection and department location.
Consistently ensures that appropriate and timely actions are taken to prevent, control, and reduce nosocomial infections and the transmission of infections between staff and patients Consistently monitors the performance of the staff in infection control/exposure control process and reports this performance to the Infection Control Committee on a bimonthly basis. Consistently serves as a consultation on infection control matters and is available to all organization staff.
Responsible for in-service training programs related to infection prevention and control. Provides initial, annual, on-going and as needed staff training in the infection control process. Participates in new employee orientation on a monthly basis, conducts a relevant infection control in-service yearly in each clinical area, ensures that all employees receive Standard Precautions training every year, and that Tuberculosis training is provided to all at-risk employees.
Consistently evaluates the needs of the staff for protective equipment and ensures that an appropriate and adequate supply of protective equipment is readily available to all staff members.
Consistently evaluates and recommends items, equipment, etc. which would prevent or reduce risk of infection or employee exposure.
Consistently provides patient education materials and/or patient/family teaching on infectious diseases and infection control practices.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to investigate all exposure incidents in collaboration with the Occupational Health Officer and to maintain a log of all exposure incidents.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to prepare a bi-monthly report for the Infection Control Committee and monthly report for the Environment of Care Committee in collaboration with the Occupational Health Officer defining all exposure incidents.
Consistently demonstrates the ability to investigate and keep records and logs of all communicable diseases or other reportable infections among patients.
Consistently demonstrated the prompt and accurate reporting to the Arkansas State Department of Health or appropriate agency of all reportable infections Consistently demonstrates the ability to report communicable diseases and other reportable infections among patients to the Infection Control Committee.
Consistently demonstrates collaboration with the Occupational Health Officer in investigating and keeping records and logs of all communicable diseases among employees and ensuring that these are reported to the Infection Control Committee and Environment of Care Committee.
Consistently evaluates compliance with infection control practices.
Conducts targeted surveillance and outcome assessments as indicated. Consistently demonstrates the ability to review in collaboration with the Infection Control Committee all organizational Infection Control policies and procedures and other similar documents annually and to assist the Infection Control Committee as needed with updates.
Consistently demonstrates ability to assist in the development and/or implementation of improved infection control measures.
Department Directors or Managers with reviewing, updating, and/or formulating department infection control policies, procedures and other similar documents.
Age Specific Knowledge and Competencies:
Demonstrates and applies knowledge of human development and of the potential for human growth.
Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span to assess age-specific needs of the patient and provide for the appropriate care.
General
Able to recognize indicators of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, child neglect and sexual assault and makes appropriate referrals.
Able to counsel the patient and family members, as appropriate, regarding infectious diseases or prevention of them
Neonate and Infant
Demonstrates understanding of infection risk factors in neonatal/infant care units
Demonstrates understanding of maternal factors that increase infection risk and interventions to decrease that risk
Demonstrates understanding of host factors that increase risk of infection
Identifies interventions to reduce risk of infection/colonization in neonatal/infant
Identifies personnel practices, procedures/devices and environmental factors that may increase risk of infection Demonstrates understanding of monitoring and isolation techniques specific to neonates/infants
Correctly verbalizes immunization recommendations by CDC and potential adverse reactions
Correctly interprets test results related to infection control for neonates/infants
Pediatrics
Demonstrates understanding of infection risks in children
Can identify host characteristics of pediatric patients that have high risk of infection and interventions to reduce to risk
Identifies procedures/devices that may increase risk of infection and interventions to reduce risk
Describes personnel factors that may increase infection risks and interventions to reduce those risks
Identifies isolation problems specific to pediatric patients Demonstrates ability to identify specific outbreak situations and implements control measures
Verbalizes understanding of immunization recommendations by CDC and potential adverse reactions
Correctly interprets test results related to infection control for pediatric patients
Adolescent
Demonstrates understanding of infection risks in adolescents
Knowledgeable of infection control issues and isolation problems common to this age group and interventions appropriate for age group
Demonstrates ability to identify specific outbreak situations and implements control measures
Able to interpret results of tests related to infection control for adolescents
Verbalizes understanding of immunization recommendations by CDC and potential adverse reactions
Provides for a safe environment from an infectious disease standpoint for adolescents
Adults Knowledgeable of infection control issues common to this age group and interventions appropriate for age group
Able to correctly interpret results of tests related to infection control for adults
Demonstrates ability to identify specific outbreak situations and implements control measures
Verbalizes understanding of immunization recommendations by CDC and potential adverse reactions
Geriatrics
Verbalizes understanding of increased risks of nosocomial infections of geriatric patients
Verbalizes understanding of major infections common to geriatric patients and appropriate infection control policies
Identifies personnel practices, procedures/devices, and environmental factors that may increase risk of infection and takes appropriate action to minimize those risks
Identifies/implements methods of reducing risk of infections in geriatric patients
Demonstrates ability to identify specific outbreak situations and implements control measures
Able to correctly interpret test results related to infection control in geriatric patients
Verbalizes understanding of immunization recommendations by CDC and potential adverse reactions | 
