Infection Preventionist I/II/III - RUHS - Infection Control



Infection Preventionist I/II/III - RUHS - Infection Control

Salary

$99,840.00 - $155,542.40 Annually

Location

Moreno Valley

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

22-78760-01ST

Department

RUHS-Medical Center

Division

Infection Control

Opening Date

10/04/2022

Closing Date

10/23/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

ABOUT THE POSITION

Riverside University Health System seeks an Infection Preventionist I/II/III position for the Medical Center located in Moreno Valley, CA.

Under general supervision, the Infection Preventionist coordinates, implements, maintains, and oversees the hospital wide infection prevention and control program to prevent and control infection among patients and employees, and  ensures compliance with requirements and regulations from various public health and safety organizations, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in biology, nursing, bacteriology, microbiology, epidemiology, education, communicable diseases, or public health  and at least one year of experience performing infection prevention and control duties  in a comparable healthcare setting. Possession of a valid Certification in Infection Control (CIC) issued by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology is highly desirable.   

The Infection Preventionist I is the first professional level classification in the Infection Preventionist series.  The Infection Preventionist II is the journey level classification and the the Infection Preventionist III is the advanced journey level classification in the  series.    The Infection Preventionist I is a natural progression underfill for the Infection Preventionist II, and Infection Preventionist II is a natural progression underfill  for the  Infection Preventionist III.  Incumbents are eligible to promote to the next level in the series after meeting the educational and/or experience requirements, and receiving a satisfactory performance evaluation. Possession of a valid Certification in Infection Control (CIC) issued by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology is a requirement of the Infection Preventionist III level.  All levels report to the Infection Control Manager.

Riverside University Health System consistently receives national recognition for its progressive and innovative care, and is one of the top employers in the Inland Empire.   
Meet the Team!


EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Depending on level of responsibility:  

• Monitor and evaluate high risk volume and problem prone areas of infection prevention and control activities.
 
• Monitor all positive microbiology and serology reports for possible infection in patients and employees in accordance with the recommendation of the infection control committee; conduct extensive research to determine the incidence or prevalence of infection in certain populations.

•  Identify appropriate practices for specimen collection, transportation, handling, and storage.  
 
• Manage and organize data sets and conduct statistical analysis; write reports on research findings; determine causes and prevalence of infection outbreaks and provide recommendations for reducing outbreaks.

Create policies and procedures on infection prevention and control within hospital facilities; determine relevant factors for calculating outcome rates and developing processes.

• Identify/Investigate epidemiologically significant infectious diseases that require immediate review; identify and define components comprising the chain of infection. 

• Monitor cleaning, sterilization, high level disinfection, and antisepsis in various hospital facilities. 

• Collect, analyze, and interpret illness trends in healthcare worker and patient data; write reports on findings.
 
• Perform specific calculations in order to determine infection rates and investigate cluster outbreaks within various hospital facilities; calculate risk stratified rates on hospital populations.
 
• Provide quality infection control services to ensure patient and staff safety within various hospital facilities and out-patient clinics.
 
• Develop education material and facilitate trainings for supervisors, department managers, medical staff, and patients regarding infection prevention and control issues; assist with reviewing and revising the Infection Prevention and Control Manual.

• Communicate with local health departments, home health agencies, extended care facilities, physician offices, and other agencies to prevent the spread of infection within the community. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Infection Preventionist I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in biology, nursing, bacteriology, microbiology, epidemiology, education, communicable diseases, public health, or a related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 60 semester or 90 quarter units of the required education). 
 
Experience: One year of professional experience performing infection prevention and control duties in an acute care hospital or other healthcare facility.  

Infection Preventionist II

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in biology, nursing, bacteriology, microbiology, epidemiology, education, communicable diseases, public health, or a related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 60 semester or 90 quarter units of the required education.) 

Experience: Two years of professional experience performing infection prevention and control duties in an acute care hospital or other healthcare facility. 

 Infection Preventionist III:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree, preferably with a major in biology, nursing, bacteriology, microbiology, epidemiology, education, communicable diseases, public health, or a related field to the assignment (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 60 semester or 90 quarter units of the required education). 

Experience: Three years of professional experience performing infection prevention and control duties in an acute care hospital or other healthcare facility. 

Other Requirements for Infection Preventionist III:

  • License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

  • Possession of a valid Certification in Infection Control (CIC) issued by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.


Knowledge of: Advanced Infection control practices, methods, and procedures; patient care practices; epidemiology, microbiology, and public health principles and terminology; hospital operations and practices; research methods, practices, and statistical analysis.

Ability to: Review research methods, procedures, and regulations, and evaluate their effectiveness; analyze and interpret health statistics and reports; speak effectively before large groups, and write and review reports, manuals, and guides; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Condition of Employment
In accordance with the California Department of Public Health Order dated August 5, 2021, and amended December 22, 2021, health care facility workers who work in indoor settings where care is provided to patients or where patients have access for any purpose must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as follows: first dose of a one-dose regimen or second dose of a two-dose regimen, by September 30, 2021.  Effective March 1, 2022, all healthcare facility workers must have their booster, obtain the booster within 15 days of becoming eligible for one, or a declination form on file for the booster. Consideration may be given to candidates who are in the process of completing their vaccination regimen.
 
The Order allows for workers to be exempt from the vaccination requirements by providing the facility with a declination form signed by the individual stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs; or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reasons.  Workers who are exempted from the vaccination requirements must observe all other infection control requirements, including face coverings and regular COVID testing at the frequency required by their work site.
 
A requirement of employment is to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a completed COVID-19 Vaccination Declination form (filled out by the candidate and their medical provider as appropriate), during the pre-employment process.  Failure to submit the required documentation may render a candidate ineligible to move forward in the process.
 
 Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).  If you are a qualified individual and need a reasonable accommodation to take this exam, contact the recruiter before taking the exam. For additional information and the accommodation form, visit the Disability Access Office web page at: http://dao.rc-hr.com
 
 Veterans’ Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse’s) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse’s letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans’ preference. See the policy here (Download PDF reader).
 
 Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment).
 
 Probationary Period
 As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
 
 What’s Next?
 

 Open to All Applicants
 This recruitment is open to all applicants. 
Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of The Riverside University Health System may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
 
 Application Period
 BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.

 Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted.  Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. All applicants must submit a complete application by the closing date of this recruitment. No late applications will be permitted.
 Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.
 Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
 
 Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
 
For questions regarding this recruitment contact the recruiter, Sarah Teegarden :
Steegarden@rivco.org / 951-955-5577.
 

GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com. A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT:  County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

  • Tier I (Classic Member – Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
  • Tier II (Classic Member – Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
  • Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

  1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
  2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
  3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

 

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law.  The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change.  If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01
How familiar are you with CDC and OSHA regulatory requirements as they relate to infection control and prevention within medical and healthcare facilities?
  • Not very familiar with the regulatory requirements.
  • Somewhat familiar with the regulatory requirements.
  • Very familiar with the regulatory requirements.
02
What is your highest level of education completed from an accredited college with major coursework in biology, nursing, bacteriology, microbiology, epidemiology, education, communicable diseases, public health?
  • None
  • Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units
  • At least 30 semester or 45 quarter units
  • At least 60 semester or 90 quarter units
  • At least 90 semester or 135 quarter units
  • At least 120 semester or 180 units
  • I have my Associates degree
  • I have my Bachelors degree
  • I have my Masters degree
  • I have my Doctorate degree
03
How many years of experience do you have managing data sets, conducting statistical analysis and writing reports?
  • Less than one year of experience.
  • One year of experience but less than two.
  • Two years of experience but less than three.
  • Over three years of experience.
04
Do you have a valid Certification in Infection Control (CIC) issued by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology?
  • Yes.
  • No.
05
Select the answer that best describes your current driver license status:
  • I have a valid California Class C license.
  • I am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
  • I currently have a valid out-of-state driver license, and am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
  • I do not have and/or I am not able to obtain a California driver license.
06
How many years of experience do you have performing infection prevention and control duties in an acute care hospital or other healthcare facility?
  • None
  • Less than 6 months
  • 6 months or more, less than 1 year
  • 1 year, but less than 2 years
  • 2 years, but less than 3 years
  • 3 years, but less than 4 years
  • 4 years, but less than 5 years
  • 5 years or more
07
Are you a current regular, temporary, or per diem employee with the Riverside University Health System (RUHS)?
  • Yes
  • No
08
What is your Spanish bilingual level?
  • I am not bilingual in Spanish
  • I speak Spanish, but cannot read or write
  • I can speak, read, and write in Spanish

Required Question

Agency
County of Riverside
Address
County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569
4080 Lemon St., 7th floor
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Phone
(951) 955-3500