Job Opportunities

Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors.

Bargaining Unit:

UUP

Job Summary:

The Department of Infection Control and Epidemiology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full time Infection Preventionist. The successful candidate will:

• Collect, review, analyze and interpret surveillance data to recommend appropriate actions to targeted clinicians and administrators, to reduce or eliminate infectious risks in patients and staff.
• Conduct investigations of suspected infectious outbreaks; conduct activities related to exposure of patients and employees to communicable diseases; assess all positive cultures; properly classify results as hospital acquired or community acquired through concurrent retrospective review of the patient charts.
• Develop, review, evaluate, and implement infection control policies and procedures to improve quality of care and meet current recommended guidelines.
• Educate specific patient population and their families regarding health promotion/infectious disease prevention and management of their care.
• Function as an educational resource in the areas related to infection control; plan, develop, and conduct in-service education programs for University Hospital of Brooklyn employees; participate in hospital orientation program to educate new staff about their role in infection control; instruct hospital personnel in standard and specific infection control procedures.
• Consult with department and administrative staff on infection control issues; initiate and participate in quality improvement projects; provide for the integration with the hospital’s Performance Improvement Program through the performance of PI related functions and reporting mechanisms.
• Plan, organize, develop, coordinate, and direct a hospital-wide plan for the prevention, surveillance, and control of infection.
• Facilitate Infection Control Committee meetings in conjunction with IC Director (i.e. agenda, minutes).
• Inspect hospital construction projects for infection control issues during all stages of the project.
• Participate in periodic surveys of patient care areas; provide consultative services on product and equipment evaluation.
• Review monthly surgical reports; prepare special and routine reports, and perform special projects, including research studies.
• Serve as an active member of the assigned committees and/or departmental PI working groups.
• Act as the liaison to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Center for Disease Control.
• Demonstrate the knowledge of adult education principles and the ability to develop and maintain effective interpersonal relationships. 
• Demonstrate effective communication with patients, visitors, hospital staff, and physicians.
• Demonstrate the ability to be an effective team member, offering input, willingness to trust the skills and expertise of other team members; share in group decision making and refer to appropriate sources of support as needed.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintains a balance, focused, calm approach when faced with emergency situations.
• Demonstrate appropriate coordination of tasks and duties using effective organizational and priority-setting skills. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Nursing, Epidemiology or a related health field.
• Experience in structured patient education and/or design of patient education programs.
• Proven experience in developing policies and procedures.
• Certification with Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIQ preferred).
• Basic math ability, including the understanding of basic statistical principles. 

Preferred Qualifications:

Work Schedule:

Monday to Friday; 9:00am to 5:00pm

Weekend hours required

Salary Grade/Rank:

Salary Range:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Executive Order:

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation.  If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at 718-270-3025.