Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Infection Prevention and Control Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

As an Infection Prevention and Control Assistant, you are the backbone of our patient safety initiatives. You will work closely with Infection Preventionists and clinical leadership to support the surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Your primary focus will be on data collection, management, and analysis, transforming raw clinical data into actionable insights that drive quality improvement. This role requires a meticulous, detail-oriented professional who is passionate about healthcare quality and is adept at navigating clinical information systems to protect our patients and community.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Medical Assistant (MA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Healthcare Administrative Assistant or Unit Secretary
Public Health Intern or recent graduate in a health-related field

Advancement To:

Infection Preventionist / Infection Control Practitioner (ICP)
Healthcare Quality Improvement Specialist
Clinical Data Analyst or Epidemiologist

Lateral Moves:

Patient Safety Coordinator
Quality Assurance Analyst (Healthcare)
Clinical Research Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct systematic surveillance for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across the facility by applying established criteria from the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Perform daily, meticulous review of microbiology and laboratory results to identify significant organisms, potential outbreaks, and multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs).
Abstract relevant clinical data from patient electronic health records (EHR) to investigate potential infections and complete surveillance worksheets.
Collect, compile, and accurately enter infection, colonization, and procedure data into specialized infection control software and databases.
Assist in the timely and accurate submission of mandatory infection data to public health agencies, including the CDC (NHSN), state, and local health departments.
Generate and maintain detailed line lists of patients with specific infections, MDROs, or communicable diseases for tracking and follow-up.
Prepare and distribute routine and ad-hoc reports, dashboards, charts, and graphs illustrating infection rates, trends, and compliance with prevention measures for various committees and leadership.
Conduct direct observational audits of staff adherence to infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and isolation precautions.
Provide real-time feedback and coaching to clinical staff based on observations to promote compliance and a culture of safety.
Participate in environmental rounds in patient care areas to assess compliance with standards for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
Assist in the investigation and monitoring of potential communicable disease outbreaks and exposure events within the facility.
Help manage the facility's exposure control plan by tracking employee exposures to infectious diseases and coordinating follow-up with Employee Health.
Support the Infection Control Committee by preparing meeting agendas, gathering materials, recording minutes, and tracking action items.
Serve as an initial point of contact and resource for hospital staff regarding routine infection control policies, procedures, and inquiries.
Assist in the development, review, and revision of infection prevention policies, procedures, and educational materials.
Maintain and manage inventory for the Infection Prevention department, including supplies for isolation carts and outbreak response.
Support the onboarding and annual training of hospital staff on essential infection prevention topics like hand hygiene and standard precautions.
Monitor and track data related to device utilization (e.g., central lines, urinary catheters) to calculate standardized infection ratios (SIRs).
Collaborate effectively with key departments, including Laboratory, Environmental Services, Employee Health, and clinical units, to coordinate infection control activities.
Review construction and renovation projects for Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) compliance and conduct monitoring of containment measures.

Secondary Functions

Provide administrative support to the Infection Prevention team, including scheduling meetings, managing correspondence, and organizing files.
Assist in the preparation and coordination for regulatory surveys and inspections by agencies such as The Joint Commission, CMS, and the Department of Health.
Participate in hospital-wide patient safety and quality improvement committees as a representative of the Infection Prevention department.
Contribute to the maintenance of the department's internal website or resource pages with up-to-date guidelines, policies, and educational tools.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

High proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data manipulation, charting, and analysis.
Experience navigating and abstracting data from Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems such as Epic or Cerner.
Strong knowledge of medical terminology, basic anatomy, and physiology.
Accurate and efficient data entry skills with experience in database management.
Familiarity with CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions and reporting protocols is highly desirable.
Basic understanding of microbiology, epidemiology, and statistical principles.
Ability to create clear data visualizations, such as graphs and charts, to communicate trends.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all tasks.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple competing tasks effectively.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with diverse clinical and non-clinical staff.
Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities to identify trends and anomalies in data.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while also functioning as a collaborative team member.
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and respect for patient confidentiality (HIPAA).
Proactive problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED with significant experience in a healthcare setting. An Associate's Degree is often preferred.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a health-related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Public Health
Nursing (LPN or RN)
Biology or Microbiology
Health Sciences or Healthcare Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1-3 years of experience in a direct patient care, clinical support, or healthcare data role within a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Preferred:

Prior experience in a clinical setting such as a hospital or large clinic.
Previous work in quality improvement, data collection, or a public health-related role.
Experience as a Medical Assistant, LPN, or Unit Secretary is highly advantageous.