General Epidemiologist – Hemodialysis and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Coordinator

Summary

The CDC Foundation collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to support public health programs. This role supports Nevada’s Healthcare Associated Infection Program by conducting hemodialysis infection prevention assessments, NHSN surveillance and data analysis, outbreak investigations, facility training, and infection prevention improvement activities.

Responsibilities

• Use available data (e.g., National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data, survey data, and/or other facility characteristics) to identify outpatient hemodialysis facilities for Infection Prevention Assessments and Response (ICAR)
• Perform statewide surveillance and analysis of NHSN aggregate reported data on HAIs and antimicrobial resistance to monitor trends and spot emerging outbreaks on a regional level
• Assist local healthcare facilities with NHSN enrollment, training, and complying with state-mandated or CMS-mandated reporting requirements
• Perform outbreak investigations including COVID-19 and other infectious disease within state licensed healthcare facilities, and other duties as needed for the program
• Establish and maintain active relationships with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) funded End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network
• Improve infection prevention and control capacity and competency within outpatient hemodialysis facilities through education, prevention practices improvements, surveillance, outbreak reporting, and outbreak monitoring
• Join and actively participate in CDC's Making Dialysis Safer (MDS) for Patients Coalition
• Perform landscape analysis of locations where outpatient dialysis services are being provided with a particular focus on home dialysis (including dialysis that occurs in nursing homes)
• Participate in the outbreak team through management of outbreaks in healthcare facilities
• This position may require travel throughout the state of Nevada

Skills

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a nursing, health science, behavioral science or closely related field applicable to the program area and two years of public health related experience which included at least two of the following areas: collecting and analyzing data and statistics, developing objectives, protocols and procedures; providing health education services to healthcare personnel and medical providers; evaluating program effectiveness and accomplishment of desired outcomes to meet federal, agency, or other standards and guidelines; providing prevention, identification or treatment services to individuals or populations who have been diagnosed or are at risk of contracting life and health threatening diseases and/or conditions; and/or investigation and prevention of communicable or chronic diseases; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above
• Experience using CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) as an Administrator
• 2-year minimum experience working with hemodialysis facilities and patients
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in their state of residence
• Nevada residency is preferred
• Certification in Infection Control recommended but not required

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a nursing, health science, behavioral science or closely related field applicable to the program area and two years of public health related experience which included at least two of the following areas: collecting and analyzing data and statistics, developing objectives, protocols and procedures; providing health education services to healthcare personnel and medical providers; evaluating program effectiveness and accomplishment of desired outcomes to meet federal, agency, or other standards and guidelines; providing prevention, identification or treatment services to individuals or populations who have been diagnosed or are at risk of contracting life and health threatening diseases and/or conditions; and/or investigation and prevention of communicable or chronic diseases; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above
• Experience using CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) as an Administrator
• 2-year minimum experience working with hemodialysis facilities and patients
• must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in their state of residence

Nice to Haves

• Nevada residency is preferred
• Certification in Infection Control recommended but not required

Benefits

• Benefits
• Remote position
• Hybrid work model