Position profile: The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) invites qualified physicians to apply for the 0.50 full time equivalent (FTE) position of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Clinical Director, Rural. The successful applicant will join the clinical Department of Medicine and will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team providing IPAC services throughout Saskatchewan. 

Infection Prevention and Control emphasizes prevention, and deals clinically and administratively with the health needs of both individuals and groups with respect to their working environments and includes the recognition, evaluation, control, and management of healthcare-associated infections. The IPAC Clinical Director will build strong relationships with key partners and will promote, implement and support Infection Prevention and Control best practices throughout the SHA, specifically within the SHA’s Integrated Service Areas (ISA). Responsibilities of the IPAC Clinical Director include providing consultation, recommendations and clinical assistance to Infection Prevention and Control staff and administrative leadership in relation to monitoring and surveillance and outbreak management and will provide guidance and direction in the development, implementation and management of IPAC policies and procedures. The IPAC Clinical Director will have additional training or experience and responsibilities at the ISA level, to provide expertise and assist in the development and implementation of provincial policy, programs and protocols. 

Compensation details: Competitive independent contract 

Benefits: Benefits are the responsibility of the successful candidate 

Location of practice: Rural Saskatchewan (community to be determined) 

Qualifications/Requirements of the position: Candidates must hold certification or be eligible for certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS). Preference will be given to candidates who hold certification in Infectious Diseases, Occupational Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine or Medical Microbiology. 

Specific Accountabilities: IPAC physicians work in a defined partnership relationship with administrative leadership (Manager, IPAC) to provide clinical advice, direction, and the establishment and implementation of policies, frameworks and service delivery models for planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluation and quality improvement of IPAC programs and services. Through shared accountabilities they build and maintain a highly skilled, engaged IPAC professional staff. 

As the IPAC Clinical Director, the successful candidate will: 

– Demonstrate a strong commitment to best practice; 

– Provide clinical advice/guidance on local issues and questions related to IPAC in SHA health care facilities. Examples may include, but are not limited to: 

– Patient/Resident placement/additional precautions; 

– Outbreak declaration and management (as delegated/agreed upon with local MHO); 

– Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; 

– Interpretation and application of provincial IPAC guidelines, policies, etc; 

– IPAC risk identification and assessment during Construction, Renovation, Maintenance and Design (CMRD) of a health care facility; 

– Product/equipment evaluation, selection and procurement; 

– Quality improvement initiatives based on local health care acquired surveillance; 

– Provide input into the development of provincial IPAC strategic plans and goals 

– Educate healthcare workers (HCWs) across the continuum of care on topics under the umbrella of the IPAC portfolio, both formally and informally, as needed; 

– Chair/co-chair local area committees and working groups to ensure local co-ordination and consistency of clinical IPAC recommendations, decisions, and implementation; 

– Work in a partnership capacity with the Manager, IPAC to provide clinical support to local ICP teams (see examples above); 

– Build credibility with physicians as champions for IPAC; 

– Support the implementation and continued integration of IPAC portfolio initiatives by physicians; 

– Advocate for building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, and strengthening community action to improve IPAC; 

– Establish baseline roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for each jurisdiction, and develop routine processes to revise and review as necessary, notably as it relates to the interface between IPAC, OH&S and MHO physician support; 

– Research and collaborate with other jurisdictions nationally and internationally, as required (e.g. CNISP); 

– Collaborate with other IPAC Clinical directors and IPAC Senior Clinical Advisor to ensure an adequate, year-round (52 weeks per year) coverage during regular hours and after-hours on call; 

– Travel within Saskatchewan may be required.