Agency: Health Department
Job #: ELT-HD-240065
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (40-hrs per week)
Grade: 24
Salary: Starting at $31.7807/hour, commensurate with experience
Location: Fairfax County Location
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) is recruiting an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Coordinator and Epidemiologist to coordinate the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) funded Strength Antimicrobial Stewardship at Skilled Nursing Facilities (SASS) program to improve antimicrobial stewardship (AS) at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) across the Fairfax Health District.
Fairfax County is the largest health jurisdiction in Virginia and in the National Capital Region. The County’s 1.2 million people are demographically diverse, with over 30% of residents being foreign born. The FCHD Division of Epidemiology and Population Health includes over 40 epidemiologists, public health nurses, disease investigation specialists, and environmental health specialists, in health department and contract positions. Division foci include communicable diseases (including healthcare associated and drug resistant infections) and population health.
The objective of the SASS program is to reduce unnecessary use of antimicrobial agents increasing patient safety and decreasing the spread of antibiotic resistant pathogens at SNFs in Fairfax County. Key components of the program are:
- Improving implementation of CDC’s seven Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship for long-term care facilities providing support to each facility tailored to their specific needs.
- Leading a Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative in which a common set of interventions will be implemented across each facility in ways that best meet each facility’s needs. Successes will be shared and, using QI methods, programs will be iteratively improved.
- Measuring antibiotic use rates overall and by diagnosis to support QI and track program impacts.
- Disseminating program approaches and materials, and supporting antimicrobial stewardship implementation at other SNFs in Northern Virginia and throughout the Commonwealth.
As SASS Program Coordinator and Epidemiologist, this position serves as the point-of-contact for Fairfax County SNFs and has primary responsibility for coordinating and providing support to participating facilities. Specific duties include the following:
- Lead regular antimicrobial stewardship AS Program Planning Meetings, developing agendas, facilitating discussions, and documenting notes and action items.
- Regularly communicate with SASS program participants, delivering reminders about impending deadlines, upcoming webinars, and other pertinent information.
- Accompany Public Health Nurse (PHN) Liaisons on monthly site visits to facilities, engaging in discussions about the SASS program activities, challenges, barriers, and successes.
- Monitor program participation, maintaining an activity tracker and providing regular summaries to PHN Liaisons and the program team.
- Act as a liaison between the SASS Program and other divisions and programs within the health department and external agencies.
- Lead the planning of meetings, presentations, and webinars, including managing follow-up tasks such as sharing materials and recordings.
- Present program materials to facility staff in meetings, webinars, and visits to individual facilities.
- Prepare and track program deliverables for the Virginia Department of Health and CDC.
- Support and monitor facility AS program strengthening activities related to CDC’s 7 Core Elements of AS.
- Contribute to database management, cleaning, and analysis for antibiotic use and diagnostic practices at participating facilities.
- Support application of QI methods at facilities, including using data for decision-making, to iteratively improve performance.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Advanced degree in epidemiology: Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or Master of Science (MS) degree with graduate work in epidemiology and/or biostatistics
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, an Office of the Inspector General check, a check of the Child Protective Services Registry, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Two years of experience in epidemiology-related work. Experience in program management. Understanding of QI methods. Clear and concise oral and written communication skills. Experience in data management, analysis, and presentation.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature, however, job entails walking, standing, sitting, climbing stairs, reaching, and bending; uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer. Ability to lift or carry up to 25 pounds. Generally, works in an office environment yet may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
Note: This is a grant-funded, non-merit E-status position. An E-status position may not exceed 1560 hours per calendar year. An appointee is eligible for limited employee benefits (including medical, vision and dental insurance coverage) and participation in flexible spending programs, but not eligible to earn leave, holiday pay or retirement benefits. This appointee will work 40-hours per week.
Selection Procedure: Interview
To apply: Please complete the FCHD Non-merit application and submit this form and a resume to HDjobs@fairfaxcounty.gov, or fax to 703-653-9441, referencing the position title and job number.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: From $31.78 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Medical specialties:
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person