Clinical Safety Director at Primary Health Care Inc – Des Moines, Iowa

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Primary Health Care (PHC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Bery Engebretsen in Des Moines, IA. Our mission has remained unchanged since that time, to provide healthcare and supportive services to all, regardless of insurance, immigration status, or ability to pay.

Based on the needs of the communities we serve, PHC offers a spectrum of medical and dental services including family practice, behavioral health, HIV care and services, and pharmacy. PHC’s Homeless Support Services is the entry point for serving people experiencing homelessness in Polk County. Enabling services are available to help patients with benefits enrollment, case management, transportation, translation, and patient education. We currently have locations in Ames, Des Moines, & Marshalltown.

As a Clinical Safety Director, you will plan, coordinate, implement, evaluate and direct the infection control, immunization, radiation safety and other clinical safety programs at PHC. Oversight includes the preventative, operational, and administrative components of the programs to ensure high quality patient care and safety. Responsible for organizational compliance with health and safety regulations and standards, reduction or prevention of events, hazards, and risks in the areas of blood and body fluid exposure, infectious disease, sharps injury, instrument processing and sterilization, immunization safety, radiation safety, and environment of care. Work is completed in collaboration with impacted departments. The role ensures safety to PHC patients, visitors, and staff by serving as the organization’s Infection Control Officer, Radiation Safety Officer, Patient Safety Officer, and immunization program manager. The position demonstrates PHC’s iCare values in daily work.

What's Great About this Position?

• Earn 4 weeks of PTO throughout your first year of employment and enjoy paid holidays as well.

• Continue to develop your skills and grow your career through PHC’s training opportunities including: PHC University, Emerging Leaders, and medical and dental assistant training programs.

• This position offers a unique opportunity to lead and shape comprehensive clinical safety programs that directly protect patients, staff, and visitors while ensuring the highest standards of care. It combines strategic oversight with meaningful collaboration across departments and provides influential leadership roles as the organization’s Infection Control, Radiation Safety, and Safety Officer. The role makes a tangible impact by driving regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and a culture of safety across the entire organization.

What You Will Do

1. Manages assigned programs to identify, prevent, and control healthcare-associated infections and environmental safety risks consistent with PHC Infection Control Standards and Environment of Care Standards. Communicates best practices within the scope of responsibility to relevant staff.

2. Analyzes and reports surveillance findings and trends to leadership, utilizing the risk management reporting system. Promotes a culture of safety. Updates and effectively implements safety plans and policies.

3. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams related to the scope of responsibility to maximize safety across the organization. Employs Lean process improvement principles and various tools to improve system efficiency.

4. Educates staff on principles and techniques of infection prevention. Serves as the Infection Control Officer.

5. Educates and guides staff on life safety and emergency management procedures, hazardous waste management, and radiation safety. Serves as the Radiation Safety Officer.

6. Provides oversight of PHC’s immunization program. Serves as the chief point of contact for PHC’s Vaccines for Children program, ensuring compliance with all program regulations. Collaborates with stakeholders to create processes and systems that ensure safe stewardship of vaccine inventory. Oversees the vaccine champion program within the clinics.

7. Performs quality assurance, rounding, and staff tracers ensuring compliance with infection control and safety expectations.

8. Ensures compliance with all regulatory agency requirements related to infection control and safety management along with other applicable requirements as required by local, state, and federal agencies and accrediting organizations.

9. Chairs the Infection Control and the Safety Committees, responsible for committee deliverables. Participates in PHC risk management activities.

10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications You Need to Bring

Required:

• Current RN License recognized by the State of Iowa Board of Nursing.

• A minimum of 5 years healthcare related experience with a minimum of 1 year infection prevention experience.

• Knowledge of infection control, prevention, and safety regulations along with safety hazards and precautionary measures for a safe work environment in medical and dental clinics.

• Proficient with computers, electronic health records, and Microsoft office applications.

• Training development and facilitation skills incorporating adult learning principals.

• Excellent organization and time management skills with good detail orientation and high degree of accuracy.

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.

• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills with ability to adapt and maintain composure in all situations.

• Excellent team orientation with ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of people.

• Good problem solving and decision-making skills with ability to use creativity and imagination for situational insights and solutions.

• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Licenses/Certifications: Current Infection Control Certification (CIC) or ability to obtain CIC within 2 years of hire if novice Infection Prevention experience; Valid RN License with the State of Iowa; current Basic Life Support for HealthCare Providers*; current Mandatory Reporter approved for the State of Iowa*. * Must be obtained with Introductory Period if not current.

Preferred:

• 1 year of Infection Control experience

• Relevant safety and emergency management experience in a healthcare setting.

• Community Health Center experience

• Experience with Joint Commission Accreditation and OSHA Safety related codes and regulatory compliance

• Licenses/Certifications: Lean Healthcare Certification

We Take Care of Our People

Your experience and skills determine your base pay. The hiring range for this position is typically $78,144 - $97,680 annually. Candidates with extensive work experience related to this position may be considered for additional compensation up to the pay grade maximum of $117,216 annually. PHC also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous PTO accrual (equal to 4 weeks at end of 1st year) plus paid holidays

• License/certification fee reimbursement

• Paid time off for continuing education & continuing education reimbursement

• Tuition reimbursement program

• 401k with company match

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Life & disability insurance

• Flexible spending & health savings accounts

• Supplemental accident & critical illness insurance

• Discounts on pet insurance

Visit https://phciowa.org/careers for a summary of PHC’s benefits.

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