ELIZABETH CHANDLER
Kahuku,HI
Summary
Dynamic Infection Preventionist with a proven track record at multiple health care facilities, specializing in infection prevention and control. Expert in NHSN reporting and Excel, with strong analytical and organizational skills. Achieved significant improvements in infection control protocols, leveraging strong communication skills and over 20 years of clinical nursing experience. Renowned for high-quality staff training and effective cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Coordinator Infection Prevention & Contro
Queen's Health Systems
04.2024 - Current
- Conducted thorough investigations of infection outbreaks, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
- Enhanced patient safety by implementing infection control policies and procedures.
- Created safe environment for patients by conducting regular environmental rounds to identify potential sources of infection transmission.
- Reduced hospital-acquired infection rates by conducting regular staff training sessions on hygiene practices.
- Ensured compliance with state and federal regulations by staying abreast of current legislation affecting infection prevention practices within the organization.
- Optimized resource utilization for infection prevention efforts by analyzing surveillance data and prioritizing interventions accordingly.
- Improved compliance with regulatory standards by monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of infection prevention programs.
- Provided comprehensive training for staff on proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment usage, and other infection control practices to minimize risks.
- Supported quality improvement initiatives by analyzing data trends over time to identify areas for potential enhancements in infection prevention efforts.
- Gathered, analyzed and reported on infection data.
- Coordinated successfully and with full compliance to prevent infections according to facility and Joint Commission standards.
- Surveilled ongoing infections to verify adequate data collection, control procedures and current staff interventions.
- Utilized surveillance software tools effectively for ongoing monitoring of infection rates and trends within the organization.
Acute Care Infection Prevention Coordinator
Wahiawa General Hospital
11.2020 - 01.2024
- In the effort to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, conduct infection control surveillance facility wide, maintains a log, and submits required reporting elements to Hawaii Department of Health, the CDC National Health and Safety Network repository, Quality Committee, and the Infection Control Committee
- Consult with managers in clinical and non-clinical areas and provides support, guidance, training, and continued learning related to infection prevention
- Continually worked with Quality department to improve quality measures for infection control compliance
- Evaluate Antibiotic Stewardship among all patients that are in-house
- Collaborate with MDs, pharmacist, and RNs to ensure antibiotic stewardship
- Collaborate with all departments facility wide to provide education to staff related to infection prevention practices in the effort to improve compliance
- Regularly develops, updates, and evaluates infection control policies
- Collaborates with Employee Health to ensure infection control practices with employees such a flu vaccination for all employees
- Prepares reports and presentations for quarterly Infection Control Committee Meeting
- Conducts and co-chairs the Infection Control Committee Meetings.
Infection Prevention Coordinator
Kuakini Geriatric Care (Long Term Care & Residential Care Home)
10.2019 - 11.2020
- In the effort to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, conduct infection control surveillance facility wide, maintains a log, and submits required reporting elements to Hawaii Department of Health, the CDC National Health and Safety Network repository, Quality Committee, and the Infection Control Committee
- Collaborate with all departments facility wide to provide education to staff related to infection prevention practices in the effort to improve compliance on a regular basis
- Continually worked with Quality department to improve quality measures for infection control compliance
- Evaluate Antibiotic Stewardship among all patients that are in-house
- Collaborate with MDs, pharmacist, and RNs to ensure antibiotic stewardship
- Consults with managers in clinical and non-clinical areas and provides support, guidance, training, and continued learning related to infection prevention
- Evaluate and update policies in regards to Infection Control on a regular basis
- Collaborate with Employee Health to ensure infection control practices with employees such a flu vaccination for all employees
- Prepares reports and presentations for quarterly Infection Control Committee Meeting
- Conducts and co-chairs the Infection Control Committee Meetings and Infection Control program.
Surveillance Data Analyst
Kahuku Medical Center
04.2019 - 08.2019
- Collected, managed, organized, and analyzed surveillance data for the Infection Control Program
- Reported surveillance data, findings, and analyses of data to appropriate committees, patient care units, personnel, and external agencies
- Trained and oriented new Infection Preventionist for facility.
Infusion RN
Option Care
04.2018 - 04.2019
- Served as home infusion nurse with strong assessment and IV therapy skills to patients with chronic conditions
- Communicated with patient's families and MD.'s about patients care in a caring empathetic manner
- Performed infusions and monitoring of patient's status throughout entire infusion as well as managed emergency reactions
- Assisted with callbacks to patients with questions
- Performed venipuncture, accessed implanted ports, maintained peripheral IV lines and peripherally inserted central catheter.
Infection Preventionist, Clinical, Quality, Risk Coordinator
Kahuku Medical Center
08.2015 - 04.2018
- In the effort to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, conduct infection control surveillance facility wide, maintains a log, and submits required reporting elements to Hawaii Department of Health, the CDC National Health and Safety Network repository, Quality Committee, and the Infection Control Committee
- Collaborate with all departments facility wide to provide education to staff related to infection prevention practices in the effort to improve compliance on a regular basis
- Continually worked with Quality department to improve quality measures for infection control compliance
- Created Antibiotic Stewardship program for KMC that was identified as one of the best programs by the Hawaii Department of Health
- Evaluate Antibiotic Stewardship among all patients that are in-house
- Collaborate with MDs, pharmacist, and RNs to ensure antibiotic stewardship
- Consults with managers in clinical and non-clinical areas and provides support, guidance, training, and continued learning related to infection prevention
- Evaluate and update policies in regards to Infection Control on a regular basis
- Prepares reports and presentations for quarterly Infection Control Committee Meeting
- Conducts and co-chairs the Infection Control Committee Meetings
- Collaborate with Employee Health to ensure infection control practices with employees such a flu vaccination for all employees
- Created flu vaccination program
- Kahuku Medical Center's flu vaccination program had the 2nd best flu vaccination rates in the state while I was the Infection Preventionist.
Pediatric Infusion R.N.
Westside Pharmacy
01.2015 - 02.2016
- Served as home infusion nurse with strong assessment and IV therapy skills to pediatric patients with hematologic conditions
- Orient and train new staff.
Med/Surg R.N.
Kahuku Medical Center
02.2014 - 05.2015
- Provided quality nursing care to diverse patient populations transferred from ER or directly admitted
- Initiated and assisted management in implementing new procedures for shift change reports to increase efficiency of RNs and safety of the patients
- Night Shift Charge R.N
- Supervised and monitored 3 C.N.A.’s each shift
- Assessed staffing / Acuity levels
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for comprehensive patient care plans, resulting in better health outcomes.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Utilized advanced clinical skills such as wound care management or IV therapy administration, leading to faster recovery times for patients treated under my supervision.
- Streamlined documentation processes to ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Stewardship of the unit’s budget in accordance to staffing utilization
- Acuity assessment and adjustment of staff as needed
- Delegation of tasks in crisis, and maintenance of a calm environment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Hawaii At Manoa
Honolulu, HI06.2002
Skills
- Proficient in NHSN reporting (8 years)
- Highly self-motivated
- Proficient in Excel
- Strong computer literacy and analytical skills
- Informatics Experience: Cerner, EPIC, Health Connect, CPSI
- Data Abstraction
- Strong organization skills, multitasking, time-management skills
- Proficiency in investigations, reports, and presentations
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all disciplines
- Strong Clinical Nursing Experience
- Developing training programs
- Process Improvements
Websites
Accomplishments
- Following a three-year period during which Kahuku Medical Center lacked an infection preventionist, I assumed the role and successfully introduced a revamped infection control program. As a result of these strategic initiatives, we achieved a noteworthy 50% reduction in the Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI) rate.
- Upon my appointment as the Infection Preventionist at Kuakini Geriatric Care, I undertook the crucial task of revamping their Infection Control Program, following three years of citations from both CMS and DOH, including the 'Immediate Jeopardy' status. Notably, during my tenure, the facility underwent surveys by both CMS and DOH. Within the challenging context of the pandemic, the institution successfully passed these surveys with no citations related to infection control within a commendable six-month timeframe from my commencement date.
- I significantly enhanced the performance in reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) at Wahiawa General through the strategic implementation of policies, educational initiatives, and updates in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system under my purview. Notably, the CAUTI rate has been effectively reduced to zero as a direct outcome of these comprehensive measures.
Personal Information
Title: R.N., B.S.N., CIC
Certification
- CIC, Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology - February 2024 - December 31, 2029
- Licensed RN-52641- State of Hawaii Department of Commerce Consumer Affairs - February 2003 - present
Timeline
Clinical Coordinator Infection Prevention & Contro
Queen's Health Systems
04.2024 - Current
Acute Care Infection Prevention Coordinator
Wahiawa General Hospital
11.2020 - 01.2024
Infection Prevention Coordinator
Kuakini Geriatric Care (Long Term Care & Residential Care Home)
10.2019 - 11.2020
Surveillance Data Analyst
Kahuku Medical Center
04.2019 - 08.2019
Infusion RN
Option Care
04.2018 - 04.2019
Infection Preventionist, Clinical, Quality, Risk Coordinator
Kahuku Medical Center
08.2015 - 04.2018
Pediatric Infusion R.N.
Westside Pharmacy
01.2015 - 02.2016
Med/Surg R.N.
Kahuku Medical Center
02.2014 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Hawaii At Manoa
- CIC, Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology - February 2024 - December 31, 2029
- Licensed RN-52641- State of Hawaii Department of Commerce Consumer Affairs - February 2003 - present
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