Epidemiology Epi Surveillance Specialist RN

Contributes to the provision of high-quality patient care by promoting and implementing infection prevention and control practices and compliance with regulatory agency requirements. Defines and provides collaborative actions, evaluates occupational health exposures/issues and assists with the determination of proper care and planning related to infection prevention and control; participates in the identification, prevention and control of infections by data collection, surveillance and analysis, development of verbal and written reports, educational programs for personnel and patients as needed. Serves as a liaison across department(s) and/or service line(s) and reports communicable diseases as required.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs manual chart review and consistent application of the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) National Health & Safety Network (NHSN) definitions to identify and report healthcare associated infections. Reports communicable diseases and supporting laboratory data to the local, state and national health departments as required.
• Monitors data and notifies department leadership of gaps in processes or trends that require intervention. Assists with planning, development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and revision of Infection Prevention and Control Program goals, standards, policies and procedures. 
• Monitors and advises staff of isolation precautions and infection control practices in patient care areas. Participates in epidemiological investigations of significant clusters of infection above established standards and of unusual isolates as directed by the Infection and Control leadership
• Conducts infection control and prevention education to healthcare workers in coordination with unit/department leadership and follows up as needed.  Provides in-service education for the medical center staff, general orientation, annual review, and as needed. Maintains confidentiality of patient information and sensitive data.
• Participates in chart review, data collection, and observations for department focused studies, research, and test of change initiatives. Participates in the development and review of Infection Prevention and Control Standards of Care, Policy and Procedures for assigned areas.
• Conducts rounding on unit/departments to perform direct observations of infection prevention measures & compliance among healthcare workers and physicians. Facilitates meeting applicable regulatory requirements through monitoring and reporting infection trends in the acute, ambulatory and other care settings. 
• Maintains on-going communications and cooperative relationships with medical center committees and external agencies.

Education

Associate degree in nursing required

Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing preferred 

Work Experience

Minimum of 3 years nursing experience in acute or clinical setting required 

Licenses and Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) Required 

RN State License, California State RN License Required

: 2210

: Epidemiology Epi Surveillance Specialist RN

: Epidemiology

: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

: Compliance / Quality

: Patient Safety

: EXEMPT

: Day

: 8 hour

: $49.04 - $78.46

Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19. For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through April each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment, subject to medical exemption or religious accommodation. For the same reason, you may also be required to receive other vaccines such as COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Cedars-Sinai reserves the right to make modifications to its required list of vaccines as required by law and/or policy. Cedars - Sinai's EEO and AA Policy Statement