About the position

Under the supervision of the Director, the Quality Improvement Specialist (QIS) supports the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) Program with a primary focus on infection prevention, patient safety, and Healthcare-Associated infection (HAI) reduction in hospital and other healthcare settings. The QIS provides hands-on technical assistance and quality improvement (QI) support to healthcare providers—primarily hospitals—by advancing evidence-based infection prevention practices aligned with CMS priorities. The QIS collaborates with clinical and quality leaders to assess infection prevention performance, conduct root cause analyses related to HAIs and safety events, and co-develop Quality Action Plans (QAPs) targeting infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and regulatory compliance. This role is instrumental in supporting hospitals through surveillance improvement, implementation of CDC-recommended practices, and sustainable infection prevention strategies via onsite visits, virtual coaching, and educational outreach.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned hospitals and healthcare providers to promote participation in infection prevention–focused quality improvement initiatives and secure Provider Service Agreements.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with infection preventionists, quality leaders, nursing leadership, and frontline staff to support sustained engagement in HAI reduction efforts.
• Communicate complex infection prevention, patient safety, and regulatory concepts clearly through meetings, presentations, teleconferences, and written materials.
• Refer specialized infection prevention inquiries appropriately and collaborate with supervisors and internal subject-matter experts as needed.
• Apply evidence-based QI methodologies to assess infection prevention programs, conduct root cause analyses of HAIs and safety events, and deliver technical assistance aligned with CMS infection prevention goals and metrics.
• Support hospitals in implementing and strengthening CDC-recommended infection prevention practices, including standard and transmission-based precautions, device-associated infection prevention, and environmental infection control.
• Develop customized Quality Action Plans (QAPs) focused on reducing HAIs (e.g., CLABSI, CAUTI, SSI, C. difficile), improving surveillance accuracy, and enhancing compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to implement sustainable infection prevention and patient safety interventions.
• Deliver education, training, and resources related to infection prevention, HAI surveillance, outbreak response, and quality improvement strategies.
• Analyze infection-related clinical and operational data to identify performance gaps, interpret trends, and guide hospitals in implementing targeted infection prevention and safety strategies.
• Provide tailored technical assistance related to HAI surveillance, data validation, and performance improvement using CMS- and CDC-aligned measures.
• Support accurate and timely documentation of infection prevention activities, site visits, provider communications, and outcomes using HSAG and CMS-approved systems.
• Maintain current knowledge of infection prevention science, QI methodologies, and patient safety best practices through ongoing professional development.
• Stay up to date on infection prevention guidelines, surveillance requirements, and regulatory updates from CMS, CDC (including NHSN guidance), The Joint Commission, and other relevant agencies.
• Manage multiple infection prevention–related initiatives, deadlines, and deliverables with strong organization and accountability.
• Contribute to the development of infection prevention tools, educational materials, reports, and technical guidance in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Adapt strategies and technical assistance approaches in response to evolving CMS priorities, regulatory updates, and emerging infection prevention challenges (e.g., outbreaks, novel pathogens).
• Occasionally work extended hours to meet project or regulatory deadlines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (e.g., Public Health, Nursing, Healthcare Quality, or related field).
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience delivering infection prevention education, conducting training, and engaging with providers via phone and email.
• Demonstrated commitment to infection prevention, patient safety, improving healthcare quality, safety, and outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.
• Detail-oriented with strong initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Nice-to-haves

• Infection prevention experience or certification (e.g., CIC) strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, or similar productivity and customer relationship management (CRM) systems is preferred.