POSITION SUMMARY:

The Clinical Risk and Infection Control Coordinator develops and maintains the organization-wide clinical risk management program and coordinated resources for all phases of infection control. The Clinical Risk and Infection Control Coordinator develops and maintains systems within the organization to detect, monitor, prevent, organize, measure, investigate, report, and manage patient adverse events, incident reports, infection control issues and other indicators of potential patient harm. This position may require a varied work schedule as well as frequent travel between CMC sites. The Clinical Risk and Infection Control Coordinator reports to the Chief Nursing Officer.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Develop a clinical risk and infection control strategy in conjunction with leadership including objectives, identification of key risks, and controls that are aligned with policies, procedures and operating principles to ensure a culture of safety, timely capture of events, and initiation of risk analysis for appropriate events.
• Develops and coordinates in collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Quality Improvement, and General Counsel and other senior leadership the clinical risk management processes to

• Provides oversight of the incident reporting system and processes
• Review and evaluate related policies and procedures and recommend revisions as needed. Create new policies for approval, as needed.
• In conjunction with HR evaluates N-95 fit testing for new hires.
• Participates in monthly employee safety training for new and current employees
• Proactively evaluate areas of organizational risk based on internal assessment and external benchmarking and implement strategies and policies that promote patient and staff safety.

• Provide quarterly overall incident report and infection control updates to the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee (CQI) and the Environment of Care Committee; promote the incident reporting process including trending and reporting of results, identification of problem-prone areas, and facilitation of prevention initiatives.
• In conjunction with the Director of Environmental Safety, oversee and monitor the development and implementation of the Annual Clinical Risk Management and Infection Control Plans.
• Staff support of sharp injury response including:

-Investigates sharps injuries and blood borne pathogen exposure incidents; ensures completion of documentation as required by OSHA

- Conducts Annual Sharps Evaluation to enhance needle stick injury prevention efforts

• Supports CMC clinical sites on completing Quarterly Risk Assessments (safety checklists and daily opening /closing maintenance), and safety drills (fire drills and code blues drills) including collecting and analyzing data from the assessments.
• Works closely with clinical site leads to ensure quality assurance activities are conducted and completed in a timely manner
• Act as a consultant for development of clinical training programs as well as infection control outbreak response,
• Conduct immediate/appropriate response to any potential serious occurrence/complaint representing actual or potential patient, visitor, or employee injury. Monitor and take subsequent actions to ensure learning, compliance, and documentation
• Analyze for leadership all statistical reports and advisories that identify clinical risk management, infection control, and/or patient safety patterns and trends.
• Keep up to date with new and revised state and federal regulations and statutes related to hospitals and patient care.
• Serves as staff resource in remodeling/set-up activities to assure infection control measures are taken when developing and/or changing work environments
• Functions as Safety Officer in absence of Director of Environmental Safety
• Actively participate in a variety of committees as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• High-energy, organized, persistent, and creative individual with strong communications, interpersonal, and systems thinking skills.
• Proven management ability and experience including a thorough understanding of quality improvement (QI) processes, tools, and techniques; quality measurement and reporting; root cause analysis and preventive risk management strategies; accrediting bodies standards; and state and federal regulations.
• Highly effective collaboration skills, written and verbal communications skills.
• Computer competent and able to present key information in a succinct and clear manner.
• Ability to facilitate conflict resolution, competent in identification of risk situations and resolution.
• Ability to communicate well with families, patients, staff and physicians based on age, cultural beliefs and educational level.
• Attention to detail, meticulous development and maintenance of regulatory paperwork.
• Knowledge of organizational policies, procedures and systems
• Ability to maintain open dialogue with supervisors and management staff
• Ability to work independently, use good judgment, maintain excellent communication skills and self-initiative
• Ability to read, understand, and follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds (on wheels)
• Must be able to hear on the phone and those who are served in person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to staff
• Must have vision with or without lenses that is adequate to read memos, a computer screen, personnel forms and other documents
• Must have high manual dexterity
• Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, twist/turn, fingering and feeling

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an office environment within a clinic setting. Involves frequent contact with staff and the public. Work may be stressful at times. Contact may involve dealing with upset people.