JESSICA RG SCOTT
Columbia,MO
Summary
Improvement-driven, CIC-certified infection control professional. Seven years of clinical experience within 13 years of professional experience in risk assessment, regulatory auditing, project management, and quality improvement. Graduate education in Epidemiology. Solid technical and analytical problem-solving skills, excellent soft skills, and professional attitude. Experience developing and delivering projects, policies, and protocols to enhance patient and staff safety, improve patient care, optimize workflows, and improve operational efficiency and efficacy using Lean principles, tools and methods.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Infection Control Practitioner
Harry S. Truman VA
01.2024 - Current
- Using Lean principles for process improvement, transformed time-intensive, passive infection control surveillance measures into a more robust and active surveillance system that saves four VA facilities each up to four hours per day, a soft savings of up to $140,000 per year.
- Provide facilitation, change management, and subject matter expertise for unit, facility and regional Lean Yellow, Green, and Black Belt quality improvement and process improvement projects. Champion for research and evidence-based practice.
- Develop and deliver training that is engaging, increases interest and understanding, and improves safety for patients and staff. Education is delivered in a variety of settings and formats, including as CEU-eligible courses.
- Perform research-based risk assessments and pragmatic interventions that address patient needs.
- Audits and evaluation of bundles and evidence-based practices implemented in patient care to decrease HAIs and increase safety.
- Identified risks proactively, preparing teams for likely infections based on seasonal changes or current epidemiological trends.
- Actively participated in professional development opportunities, staying abreast with latest research findings and advancements in the field of infection prevention and control.
Infection Control Professional
MU Health Care
10.2020 - 12.2023
- Led infection control surveillance for select units and worked in collaboration with unit leadership to measure and improve practices and performance measures.
- Reduced call volume for Infection Control department while facilitating patient flow in and out of the Covid unit during the pandemic using continuous rounding and active participation at twice daily unit multi-disciplinary huddles.
- Promoted policy best practice for Infection Control, Facilities and Engineering departments. Created, improved, and retired policies to ensure clear requirements to ensure infection control-related compliance and safety.
- Developed brief and persuasive educational presentations on infectious diseases, precautions, and related bundles and evidence-based practices.
- Implemented facility maintenance protocols to reduce the amount of time the Infection Control department spent on Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRAs) for maintenance projects by over 50% annually.
- MU Health Care YES Moment Award, Spring 2023, for taking staff nurse shifts in addition to infection control duties during the Covid pandemic.
Staff Nurse
MU Health Care
09.2018 - 09.2020
- Direct patient care, education, and care coordination for patients generally presenting with acute-on-chronic and complex health problems. Served as charge nurse and preceptor for nursing students and graduate nurses.
- Proposed nursing order connecting volunteers to patients in need of extra support in response to findings of Root Cause Analysis of patient fall.
- Palliative Care Champion and Skin and Wound Care Champion for Family Medicine Unit. Developed expertise in caring for patients with Parkinsons, dementia, and delirium. Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses nomination, Spring 2019.
Project Scientist
Lyle Engineering
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Reduced energy loads in commercial buildings, moving Columbia Water and Light clients from large general service to small general service, saving clients significant cost in monthly utility billing rates.
- Increased LEED green building scores through design and finish selection resulting in credits for significant reductions in energy use and significantly reduced cost of ownership for new construction and renovation projects.
- Purposeful selection of site, orientation, materials and methods for demolition and construction reduced construction waste on some projects up to 90%.
- Quality auditing and data collection completed through facility and site inspections, owner and occupant reviews, and detailed utility bill review.
Extension Research Associate, Project Manager
MU Department of Rural Sociology
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Coordinated research activities for a three-part, three-year USDA grand-funded Local Food Linkages Project.
- Surveyed local food producers in three geographic areas in Missouri and Nebraska about motivations and challenges to participating in local food systems. Language and distribution strategy changes increased response rate over 44%.
- Assisted in facilitation of 12 focus groups to understand consumer food buying behaviors. Recruited in person and using snowballing. Transcribed, created coding scheme and summarized themes for statistical analysis.
- Economic survey of local food producers to determine local impact of sales and input purchases. Edited survey feel minimally invasive and provided multiple ways to respond, increasing response rate to over 35%.
Education
Graduate Certificate - Epidemiology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO07.2024
BS - Nursing
Columbia College
Columbia, MO04.2024
AS - Nursing
Columbia College
Columbia, MO04.2018
MA - Geography
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO05.2012
BS - Environmental Science
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO08.2004
BS - University Studies
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND05.2001
Skills
- Evidence-Based Infection Control
- Hospital Epidemiology & Surveillance
- Policy Development & Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Quality Improvement & Change Management
- Outbreak Readiness & Management
- Teaching & Training
- Morbidity/Mortality Review
Websites
Certification
- Certified Healthcare Physical Environment Worker, ASHE, 2024
- Certified Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC), CBIC, 2023
- Quality Improvement Training Program, MU Health Care, Office of Clinical Effectiveness, 2023
- NonViolent Crisis Intervention, MU Health Care and CPI, 2020
- Palliative Care Certificate, MU Health Care, 2019
Professional Memberships
Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
Infection Prevention Society (IPS, UK)
American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)
Timeline
Infection Control Practitioner
Harry S. Truman VA
01.2024 - Current
Infection Control Professional
MU Health Care
10.2020 - 12.2023
Staff Nurse
MU Health Care
09.2018 - 09.2020
Project Scientist
Lyle Engineering
01.2014 - 01.2017
Extension Research Associate, Project Manager
MU Department of Rural Sociology
01.2011 - 01.2014
BS - Nursing
Columbia College
AS - Nursing
Columbia College
MA - Geography
University of Missouri
BS - Environmental Science
Metropolitan State University of Denver
BS - University Studies
North Dakota State University
Graduate Certificate - Epidemiology
University of Missouri
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