Siru Prasai

Serve as the Division’s HAI SME

Act as the primary interface /liaison to HCF, healthcare professional organizations, and HAI partner agencies regarding, HAI, HAI outbreaks, HCF IC guidance, & other reportable conditions overseen the HAI team

Respond to public inquiries from HCFs and Partner Agencies regarding HAI

Share Maricopa HAI updates and annual reports with the HCFs, stakeholders and professional health care partner agencies

Serve as SME for departmental leadership & respond to internal inquires & data requests, as needed

Provide HCP/HCF targeted HAI-related education, as requested/indicated

o Act as a HCF MEDSIS liaison and provide MEDSIS trainings and share MEDSIS communications/updates with HCF partners.

o Investigate health care associated infections and exposures

Collaborate with HCF infection prevention partners to identify ongoing infection control concerns.

Collaborates with state health partners and HCF partners to provide technical resources & consultation

Collaborate to make decisions regarding follow up including, implementation of additional infection prevention & control strategies and monitoring strategies for improvement

Conduct in person or virtual HCF Preventative Tele ICAR and Response Tele ICAR to review, evaluate, and assess the HCFs infection control practices. Assists HCFs to identify opportunities for improving strategies in infection prevention & control and provide recommendations and follow ups.

o Provide broad oversight & leadership for HAI Program

Lead HAI Epi team to conduct epidemiological work and field investigations related to the control and prevention of HAI and outbreak response in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical centers, clinics, and dialysis centers.

Support the Division of Epidemiology investigators with complex HAI investigations and other issues related to HCFs and HAIs

Provide HAI investigation training & education for the Office of Investigations staff

Develop & maintain protocols and respective email templates for HAI investigations

Mentor the HAI team members in conducting surveillance activities, investigating cases, and identifying and responding to epidemiologic HAI suspected outbreaks and/or exposure to infectious diseases.

Support the HAI team members to respond to identification of multidrug resistant organisms(MDRO), HCF HAI outbreaks and containment activities.

Support HAI Epi II to prepare monthly and annual HAI reports and intradepartmental HAI presentations

Lead/support HAI Team in projects & publications

o Direct supervision of assigned Epidemiologists, RNs, & CDIs

Supervises human resource and administrative functions for assigned staff, including completing performance evaluations, and facilitating development, and providing coaching and counseling, as needed.

o Serve as the primary MCDPH representative for HAI-related external committees, meetings, & workgroups

Co-chair the Surveillance HAI subcommittee.

Voting member of the Arizona HAI Advisory Committee

Attend various professional association meetings and share Maricopa HAI updates with stake holders (i.e. APIC)

Participates in HAI workgroups as needed

Lead MCDPH/ADHS monthly HAI meeting

o Provide monthly situational updates for the ESC & Rapid Roundup meetings

o Lead internal HAI Team meetings

o Attend and actively participate in team and departmental meetings

o Participate in 5pm coverage rotation

o Participate in Supervisor On-Call rotation

o Assist with other duties as assigned