Careers in Quality

This position, in the Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention, supports the organization’s mission of protecting the public’s health through its responsibility for providing consultative, scientific, and technical expertise in the supervision of the analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic data to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as part of the Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Division.  This is a supervisory position.

This position will supervise a multidisciplinary team comprised of epidemiologists, epidemiology research associates, infection preventionists, nursing consultants, data analysts, program and project managers, and ancillary staff working within the Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Division. This position will supervise staff evaluating information and producing reports using data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), and other sources, reviewing healthcare facility infection control plans for compliance, leading antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, overseeing HAI related projects (e.g., ICAR assessment, performance improvement projects), and supervise project management and administrative staff overseeing activities related to the Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention Division.

Supervises epidemiologic data analysis and interpretation of HAIs, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, and antibiotic use data including the identification of trends and emerging issues.

Maintains basic understanding of NHSN, PA-PSRS, and other relevant data systems (e.g., insurance company data, publicly available data, data directly from healthcare facilities) including content, data input, and analysis, and any other system used to collect data related to HAIs, community-associated MDROs, and antibiotic use. Understands HAI reporting systems and methods used to capture antibiotic use data in healthcare facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

Supervises staff conducting analysis of NHSN data, PA-PSRS data, and case data from the electronic lab reporting surveillance system (e.g., PA-NEDSS).

Supervises the preparation and dissemination of quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc reports on the occurrence of HAIs, antimicrobial resistance, and measures of antibiotic use throughout a variety of healthcare settings in Pennsylvania. This includes an annual report on the status of HAIs in the Commonwealth.

Supervises the monitoring and evaluation of data submitted to NHSN and PA-PSRS for timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and adherence to regulatory mandates for reporting.

Supervises staff conducting data validation activities which ensure accurate and consistent reporting of HAIs to NHSN and PA-PSRS, and analysis of antibiotic use data from available data sources.

Supervises the distribution of quarterly data integrity and validation reports to provide data quality feedback to reporting facilities.

Maintains knowledge of analysis conducted on surveillance data and works with staff to develop and recommend solutions. Oversees the analysis of NHSN and PA-PSRS data according to team objectives to create special reports, assist with the HAI Annual Report, and inform prevention and response activities. Use available statistical software including Excel, SAS, R, and Epi-info.

Uses epidemiologic surveillance data to prioritize, direct, supervise, and track progress of prevention and quality improvement activities.

Maintains knowledge of Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship and supports staff in the development of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. Develops collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to bolster antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

Works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders on management of assessments and quality improvement projects. Supervises staff working on these projects.

About Pennsylvania Dept of Health - Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvania State Government position

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