Posted: 09-Mar-23
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type: Full Time
Sector:
Internal Number: 00130703
CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION CONTROL
Applicants may apply for this position by submitting a resume/ CV to the following email
address: mgmtrecruit@cookcountyhhs.org
When submitting a resume/CV by email, you must include the job title and posting number in the subject
line of your email. An application or resume/CV must be filed for each position which interests you.
To receive Veteran Preference, appropriate discharge papers must be attached to the online application or must
be included with your emailed resume/CV. Please refer to Veteran Preference document requirements listed on
the bottom of this posting.
JOB SUMMARY
The Chief of Epidemiology and Infection Control is responsible for developing, implementing and
supervising infection prevention, control, surveillance and intervention programs intended to minimize
the risks of healthcare-associated and occupational infection or injury for patients, visitors and
healthcare providers (HCPs) throughout Cook County Health (CCH). The Chief is responsible for
ensuring that CCH facilities comply with infection control-related standards and infection reporting
requirements established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (currently monitored at
CCH by the Joint Commission), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Chicago Department of
Public Health (CDPH), United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other
regulatory bodies. The Chief will coordinate these activities through regular inter-facility and
interdepartmental interactions as reported in monthly meetings of the CCH Infection Control
Committees and for supervising Infection Prevention Nurses (IPN)s and infection prevention
extenders staffing each of the CCH facilities. The Chief will supervise the infection control programs
of each of the clinical care facilities in CCH, including Stroger and Provident Hospitals, Cermak
Health Services, and those of the Ambulatory & Community Healthcare Network (ACHN).
General Administrative Responsibilities
Collective Bargaining
• Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to
generate management proposals
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings
Discipline
• Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels
• Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable
Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies,
procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements
Supervision
• Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices
• Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information
necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements
Management
• Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH’ systemic development and success
• Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure
• Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and
perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote,
discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining
Agreements
• Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary
Typical Duties
• Develops and implements system-wide infection surveillance, prevention, and control policies
and procedures that adhere to nationally recognized guidelines and regulations.
• Documents the infection prevention and control program surveillance, prevention, and control
activities in the form of the infection control risk assessment and the infection control plan.
• Communicates, reports to, and collaborates with the quality assessment and performance
improvement program on infection prevention and control matters.
• Trains and educates nursing, medical and ancillary staff on the practical applications of
infection prevention and control guidelines, and policies, including training for the prevention
of hospital spread of, and protection against acquisition of novel infections such as COVID19, Ebola and Monkeypox.
• Prevents and controls healthcare associated infections, including audits of adherence to
infection prevention and control policies and procedures by hospital staff, including medical
staff.
• Communicates and collaborates with the antibiotic stewardship program.
• Promotes awareness of and compliance with infection control and prevention policies and
procedures among CCH employees, patients, and visitors via dissemination of information
throughout CCH facilities, the CCH intranet including Learning Management System (LMS)
and other communications as needed.
• Utilizes queries of computerized laboratory, medical, and administrative data supplemented by
manual review.
• Develops and implements surveillance measures for Clostridium difficile and multi-drug
resistant organisms (MDRO)s including MRSA, device related infections, surgical site
infections and communicable diseases.
• Analyzes these data to stratify infection risk and inform changes in policy and procedure based
on hospital location or community environment; patient or population characteristics;
treatment and services provided; and impact of previous Infection Prevention and Control
interventions.
• Develops and implements tools by which appropriate infection control measurements (e.g.,
central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), ventilator associated pneumonia
(VAP), surgical site infections (SSI)s, C.difficile infections and MRSA) are reported to IDPH.,
CDC (e.g., to its National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)) and other regulatory bodies as
required by law and/or consistent with prevailing public health standards.
• Monitors and oversees documentation of hand hygiene adherence and reporting.
• Oversees the detection and investigation of infection epidemics within CCH facilities or
affecting populations served by the CCH.
• Coordinates system wide response to emerging pathogen threats including H1N1, SARS,
MERS, COVID-19, EBOLA and Monkeypox.
• Collaborates with colleagues in the CDPH, the Cook County Department of Public Health
(CCDPH), the IDPH and the CDC in surveillance, reporting and intervening in community
infection epidemics.
• Collaborates with leadership in the CCDPH, Division of Infectious Diseases (ID), Employee
Health Service (EHS), Emergency Department and CCH administration to coordinate CCH
response, including coordination of vaccination campaigns and escalation of infection control
procedures, to epidemics and pandemics of influenza and other respiratory pathogens.
• Provides consultation as needed to intra- and extramural incident command structures
established in response to staged or actual regional disasters.
• Collaborates with EHS leadership in developing and implementing policies and procedures to
prevent occupational infection or needle-stick injury; and, in the event of relevant employee
exposures, to deploy post-exposure prophylaxis to minimize occupational infection risk; and,
in the event of occupational infection, to guide effective infection treatment.
• Collaborate with environmental service providers across the CCH to ensure that cleaning and
disinfection procedures are thorough and effective.
• Collaborate with appropriate CCH staff to ensure that demolition or construction projects on or
near CCH facilities pose minimal risk of transmission of airborne particulates or infectious
agents to CCH patients, visitors and employees.
• Collaborates with appropriate CCH supply chain staff to ensure that all equipment obtained for
caring for CCH patients and for use in CCH facilities is designed to minimize risk of
employee, patient or environment contamination.
• Monitors and enforces the use of appropriate sterilization procedures for equipment used in
patient procedures and maintenance of sterilizers.
• Collaborates with CCH clinical leaders in the control, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis •
Chairs monthly CCH Infection Control Committee meetings held at Stroger and Provident
Hospitals and Cermak Health Services.
• Attends or provides representation for infection control meetings held at other CCH facilities.
• Prepares and presents regular reports on infection control activities and measures to
appropriate CCH Oversight bodies such as the Stroger Hospital Quality Assurance committee
and the Stroger Hospital Executive Medical Staff.
• Maintains an active clinical load (patient care) of approximately 40% time.
• Participates in the teaching activities of the Division of Infectious Diseases, including regular
attendance at teaching conferences and supervision of trainees.
• Participates in clinical research related to infection control as appropriate.
• Functions as a leader and resource among medical, nursing and support service personnel for
infection control-related issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from an accredited medical
school.
• Licensed as a physician in the State of Illinois or have the ability to obtain Illinois physician
licensure before starting employment.
• Completion of an accredited fellowship program in Infectious Diseases.
• Certification in Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
• Completion of a training program in hospital epidemiology offered by the CDC or by an
accredited graduate program in public health.
• At least five (5) years of experience as a Hospital Epidemiologist in a United States acute care
hospital.
• At least two (2) years of work experience in administrating clinical, educational, quality
assurance or research program related to Epidemiology.
• Current and valid Illinois Controlled Substances License or have the ability to obtain license
prior to starting employment.
• Current and valid licensure with the Federal DEA or have the ability to obtain license prior to
starting employment.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Must be accessible to CCH leadership at all times.
• Must have valid driver's license and be able to travel to all CCH sites.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics
• Knowledge of infection prevention, control, surveillance and intervention practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of
staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups.
• Strong customer service and empathy skills.
• Ability to recommend and oversee the management of staff.
• Ability to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects.
• Ability to participate in the activities and educational programs appropriate to the specialty.
• Ability to adhere to department policies and standards utilizing best practices incorporating the
use of electronic health record (EHR).
Physical and Environmental Demands
This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for
adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited
to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment
requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering
and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide
policy and departmental procedures.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being
performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as
an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.
For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.
VETERAN PREFERENCE
PLEASE READ
When applying for employment with Cook County Health, preference is given to honorably
discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than
6 months of continuous service
To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:
• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by
answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application
filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one
with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from
either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security
(After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge
papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable
OR
A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a
Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.
If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference
VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR
APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.
MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING
“Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of
the United States’ territories and Canada muse be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential
evaluation service belongings to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
(NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original
credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview”.
*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions:
satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background
checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and
pre-employment drug screen.
*CCH
is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term
or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.
COOK COUNTY HEALTH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
