Job Description

Description

SUMMARY - Enterprise Chief Epidemiologist, Medical Director, Infection Prevention

Under the direction of the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) / Yale Medicine (YM) Chief Quality Officer, the incumbent is responsible for planning, directing, and administering the Enterprise-wide Infection Prevention Program for the Delivery Networks, YM, and Northeast Medical Group. S/he works extensively with the YNHHS Director of the Infection Prevention program, delivery network Infection Control Committee chairs, Infection Prevention Site Leads, and senior executives to facilitate and oversee the strategic direction and management of the Infection Prevention program. The Infection Prevention program includes, but is not limited to, all aspects of healthcare associated infections, efforts to reduce risk for healthcare associated infections, the prevention of transmission of communicable pathogens in the YNHHS and YM clinical environments, the operational management of a surge of patients with communicable diseases, the safe care of patients who may be infected by a high impact pathogen, and performance improvement activities related to these areas of focus. The incumbent works closely with senior executives from all departments and divisions of the health system to support progress in limiting healthcare associated infections.

Adheres to the "I Am YNHH" service excellence pledge and promotes a positive work environment. EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. With general direction from the YNHHS/YM Chief Quality Officer, and in collaboration with the YNHHS Director of Infection

Prevention, the incumbent has overall responsibility for all aspects of the YNHHS Infection Prevention program. As a

YNHHS entity, this program includes components at each delivery network.

2. Serves as the principal consultant to YM, the Northeast Medical Group and YNHHS for risks and control measures

germane to infectious diseases.

3. Annually develops and controls the Infection Prevention departmental budget in collaboration with the YNHHS Director of

Infection Prevention.

4. Directs and guides the efforts of the YNHHS/YM Associate Medical Directors, Infection Prevention and the chairs of the

delivery network Infection Control Committees.

5. Develops, reviews and updates all YNHHS policies as necessary.

6. Chairs the YNHH Infection Control Committee and Co-Chairs the System Infection Prevention Sub-Committee.

7. Directs and participates in all efforts to assess and control the risk of infections to patients, YNHHS staff and visitors.

8. Provides leadership and consultation to all YNHHS clinical departments, Nursing units, laboratories, operating rooms,

ambulatory areas, and support services concerning issues relevant to infection prevention.

9. Oversees the development of appropriate orientation, in-servicing and other educational updates of curricula in infection

prevention for all classes of YNHHS employees and staff.

10. Develops, implements and oversees the infection prevention surveillance which will accurately identify relevant infections in

a timely manner and report such infections, where applicable. The surveillance program will also effectively identify and

evaluate potential clusters of infection.

11. Oversees the Infection Prevention program's response efforts to clusters or outbreaks of communicable infectious

diseases. Oversees the development and implementation of surveillance and response to resolve clusters/outbreaks of

communicable infectious diseases.

12. Oversees the development and use of data management and analysis to ensure efficient, complete and accurate analysis

of surveillance data and other data relevant to infection prevention. Ensures that data is always managed in a secure

manner consistent with YNHHS policies, practices and any applicable laws.

13. Oversees the training, competency and validation of practices resulting in the submission of surveillance and other data to

external organizations including the CDC NHSN program and CT Department of Public Health.

14. Maintains consistent standards of infection prevention practices throughout the organization and ensures that all relevant

regulatory and accreditation requirements (e.g., DPH, CMS, TJC, OSHA) are met. Serves as a liaison to and participant in

any regulatory, accreditation or other inspection or investigation relevant to infection prevention.

15. Participates in or leads the design of investigations to evaluate the effectiveness of the Infection Prevention program and consider potential actions to improve the effectiveness of the program, prevent or resolve issues related to infection

prevention.

16. Serves as a member of committees and other groups to represent infection prevention including the YNHHS System

Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and YNHHS/YM Quality and Safety Committees. Oversees the assessment of and provides guidance to principal investigators performing experimental human research involving human gene or other

therapies utilizing microbes.

17. Engages in research and/or educational activities not to exceed 0.1FTE and subject to approval by the Chief Quality

Officer. These activities may include some of the following activities provided these activities do not exceed 0.1FTE in total

time:

a. Directing the curriculum and operation of the YNHH epidemiology and infection prevention training experience of

YSM Internal Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases fellows.

b. Engaging in funded research and enhancing knowledge in infection prevention, infectious diseases, and

healthcare quality improvement through research and self-motivated learning resulting in publications in peerreviewed medical journals.

c. Mentoring trainees in research.

d. Participating in the weekly ID clinical and research conferences, providing didactic lectures to fellows as

requested, participating in Section journal club meetings and other Section meetings and conferences.

e. Participating in the interviewing and selection of internal Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases fellows and

faculty members.

18. Attends on the inpatient internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases consult service and Donaldson Service for no more than 4

weeks (if hired at the level of Professor) and no more than 6 weeks (if hired at the Associate or Assistant Professor level) at

the direction of the Section Chief, Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases.

19. When appropriate to the advancement of YNHHS or YM Infection Prevention goals, engages outside consultants, vendors,

negotiating and preparing contracts and monitoring budget and progress.

20. Develops and maintains strong working relationships with YNHHS and YM senior leadership, advancing the Infection

Prevention agenda through relevant committees and performance improvement teams.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION Successfully completes an allopathic or osteopathic medical degree or foreign equivalent, residency training in an accredited internal medicine or pediatrics program and post-graduate training in infectious diseases resulting board certification in infectious diseases.

EXPERIENCE (number of years and type required to meet an acceptable level of performance):

Ten (10) or more years of experience relevant to infection prevention, including clinical practice experience in Infectious Diseases. Five (5) or more years of demonstrated leadership/supervisory/management experience is required.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

Demonstrated ability to direct a diverse work force in a fast-paced environment and located across geographically distant sites.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities. Excellent communication skills. Knowledge of and proficiency in the operation and use of computer-based information systems to facilitate all aspects of care delivery.

Knowledgeable in budgeting and financing of operational units (salaried and non-salaried).

Knowledgeable of Quality Improvement processes and methods. Demonstrated ability to implement and support change.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The incumbent is accountable to the YNHHS/YM Chief Quality Officer for effort related to infection prevention and to the YSM/Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases Section Chief for academic, teaching and clinical effort.

COMPLEXITY

The position is highly complex, requiring a substantial knowledge base, significant problem solving and decision making skills, creative abilities and expertise in highly effective verbal and written communications.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

Current Connecticut medical licensure required

ABIM or ABP certification in Infectious Diseases

INFORMATIONAL:

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMAND : Twenty-four hour a day, year-round accountability for all operational aspects. Potential exposure to biohazards blood and body fluids. Prolonged standing, walking, and lifting required. Frequent travel to other YM and YNHHS delivery networks and care locations. Occasional travel for national and international meetings

Application Instructions

Please use the following link to formally apply to this position:

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled.

Job Tags

Full time, Traineeship, Immediate start,

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