Chief of Epidemiology and VP Infection Prevention; Nashville, TN

Overview

Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and practices to prevent infection, stewarded antimicrobials, fostering evidence-based practices, and exploring and intervening to resolve potential and actual infectious outbreaks and respond to environmental threats. The role is the senior authority for epidemiology policy and infectious disease prevention and practice. As the VP Infection Prevention, you will be responsible for supporting and overseeing the development and success of the organization’s infection prevention and control program including the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and ensuring compliance with infection control standards.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Metrics:
  Monitor infection rates, report trends to leadership and as required to regulatory agencies.
• Policies:
  Lead the creation and support the implementation of policies to align with CDC, CMS, Joint Commission, and local regulatory requirements.
• Surveillance & Monitoring:
  Develop and support the implementation of systems to track healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and emerging pathogens.
• Outbreak Investigation & Response:
  Lead investigations of infection clusters or outbreaks as well as develop containment measures and support their implementation
• Education & Training:
  Provide guidance and support for the ongoing education for clinical and non-clinical staff on infection prevention practices
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation:
  Conduct regular risk assessments for infection control vulnerabilities working closely with clinical leadership, quality, pharmacy, and environmental services teams.

Additional Responsibilities:
Across both roles this individual will play a key part in:

• Patient Safety Systems and PSO:
  Will collaborate with the Chief Quality Officer and Chief Patient Safety Officer in supporting the development, advancement, and compliance of our clinical safety systems and PSO
• Field Implementation:
  Will collaborate with and support Group, Division, and Facility Nursing, Quality, CMO and other clinical leaders in the implementation of safety and infection prevention initiatives and priorities as required.
• Field Leadership:
  Will provide “dotted line” leadership to division and field professionals related to Infection Prevention
• Corporate Leadership:
  Will function as a key organizational leader and, as such, establish and maintain effective working relationships other leaders within the Clinical Services Group, including the Chief Quality Officer, the Chief Nurse Executive, and Chief Medical Officer. Additionally, the incumbent will establish and maintain strong working relationships with enterprise executives comprising the senior leadership team, including but not limited to Group, Division, Facility and non-hospital clinical, financial, operational, and other key leaders.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide support for development and oversight activities related to patient safety and the Patient Safety Organization as required
• Provide leadership, strategic prioritization, project execution and oversight of personnel for epidemiology and infectious disease management and prevention
• Provide support for interconnected work with and laboratory services
• Provide leadership, strategic prioritization, project execution and oversight for infection prevention and epidemiological activities related to CMS compliance
• Provide clinical support and assistance to enterprise Nursing and CMO teams as it relates to implementation of infection prevention initiatives and priorities
• Provide education, leadership and engagement with physicians, other clinicians and administrative leaders, as requested from divisions/facilities, etc., related to areas of expertise and responsibility.
• Communicate/build capabilities with Group, Division, and Facility clinical and non-clinical leaders as related to areas of responsibility and expertise
• Serve as consultant across nursing and quality teams, providing guidance and direction related to areas of responsibility
• Ensures the proactive identification of risks, issues, cross-project dependencies, and reporting on…