Infection Control Director

Location:

Conroe, TX

Posted:

August 09, 2016

Contact this candidate

Resume:

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CURRICULUM VITAE

Carolyn (Giles) Nygren, CIC

Telephone: 808-***-****

Email: *******.******@*****.***

Address: **** ****** **** *****

Conroe, TX 77303

EDUCATION:

Degrees/Certifications:

2006 Bachelor’s Degree, Biology

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honolulu, Hawaii

2016 Board Certified, Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) Other Education:

2008 Epidemiology I (PH663)

University of Hawaii School of Public Health Sciences 2013-2014 OSHA Academy, Occupational Safety & Health Training Industrial Hygiene (Course 750)

Hospital Hazards and Solutions (Course 631)

2015 APIC Education for the Prevention of Infection (EPI) 101 & 102, Seattle, WA, March 2015

PER 320: Personal Protective Measures for Biological Events, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, September 2015

EXPERIENCE:

Infection Control Practitioner, Huntsville Memorial Hospital (HMH) December 2014 – Present

Manages the hospital infection prevention and control program

Reviews microbiology reports for the presence of pathogenic organisms

Maintains/conducts active and passive surveillance for case finding and healthcare-associated infections (HAI)

Notes patients on isolation precautions and, when necessary, makes changes in accordance with hospital policy and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines

Reviews patient diagnoses and determines need for follow-up investigation

Manages hospital hand hygiene program

Manages and directs quarterly infection control committee meetings

Directs the employee health program

Member of hospital infection control committee, EOC/Patient Safety committee, Patient Procedure committee, OB/Pedi committee, pharmacy and therapeutics committee, surgery committee, discharge planning, nursing administration, and product selection. Founding member of The HMH Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Advisory member of the education department

Keeps abreast of current trends and government regulations affecting infection control practices and makes recommendations to the infection control and other pertinent committees and hospital personnel regarding policies, procedures and standards to maintain optimum compliance for patient safety

May initiate culture and sensitivity testing

Manages the employee health nurse duties:

o Screening and approving new employees to begin work (antibody titers, vaccinations, TB screening, etc.) o Overseeing the employee health and safety program (OHSA regulations, worker’s compensation, etc.) o investigative follow-up for exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials involving employees and/or patients

o Initiates follow-up testing as required for blood borne diseases o Provides pre and post-test counseling for exposed employees and, when needed, for patients o Completes required documentation of exposure, follow-up, and reporting o Maintains records of exposures as required

Provides oversight for the TB clinic for Texas DSHS 07/2016

Health and Wellness Professional, Hooper Holmes Health & Wellness April 2014 – December 2014 (PRN)

Provided biometric screenings for hospital personnel (providers, nurses, administrators, etc.)

Collected specimens for various tests via venipuncture or finger stick procedures

Provided health and wellness coaching once patients have received their test results Farm Manager, Poamoho Farm, LLC

January 2012 to September 2014

Managed all grocery and restaurant accounts

Interviewed, hired, and managed all employees

Trained employees on organic practices and crop production

Managed payroll and human resources department

Participated in agricultural research projects with the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) program

Provided educational experiences on organic production practices for international cliental and Hawaii students

Awarded Certificate of Organic Production by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2012, 2013 & 2014) Epidemiologist (HIV, STD and Hepatitis C), Hawaii State Department of Health: STD/AIDS Clinic & Hospital February 2011 to December 2011

Provided phlebotomy services for a range of initial disease testing and testing confirmation

Provided STD, HIV and hepatitis counseling, testing, outreach and education for the health education and prevention programs

Provided patients with test results and counseling

Triaged HIV positive clients to local medical facilities and other community resources

Collected and processed oral, blood, and other types of specimens Epidemiologist, Hawaii State Department of Health: Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) February 2007 to February 2011

Planned and conducted epidemiologic investigations of individual cases and outbreaks of possible bioterrorism agents, communicable conditions of public health importance, including the most complex, serious, uncommon or newly emerging diseases in Honolulu area hospitals

Prepared written technical reports for the State of Hawaii documenting disease outbreaks and associated laboratory findings/data

Reviewed patient charts and laboratory reports to identify/rule out possible cluster or outbreak situations

Participated in field work that includes the determination of need and collection of appropriate clinical and/or environmental specimens. Ensured that specimens were collected in a manner that preserves the legal and biologic integrity of the specimens. Recommended supplemental testing when indicated. Managed shipment of specimens that require specialized analysis at national and/or international laboratories.

Verified clinical diagnoses, determined disease sources, cases, carriers and at-risk groups. Developed and implemented recommendations for treatment, intervention and preventive measures.

Member of on-call 24/7 team providing emergency response for hospital reports of illness and potential clusters or outbreaks (both nosocomial and community acquired); exercised judgment to implement appropriate management, prevention and control measures

Gave regular presentations to other health department personnel on various communicable diseases and associated prevention and control measures

Coordinated and served as a liaison between hospital staff, physicians, public health nurses, sanitarians, laboratory personnel, and State Department of Health or related agencies within the state and federal governments

Analyzed and interpreted data collected during investigations and studies using standard epidemiologic methods

Developed and recommended prevention and control initiatives for healthcare facilities

Developed and implemented special surveillance initiatives; collaborated with CDC on surveillance projects Interim Influenza Surveillance Coordinator, Hawaii State Department of Health (DOCD) 2009 to 2011

Planned, measured and conducted all influenza surveillance for the State of Hawaii

Collected, analyzed and published surveillance data for Hawaii’s weekly online Influenza Surveillance Report and to report data to CDC

Provided guidance and recommendations on testing and treatment while working alongside physicians and nurses in area hospitals

07/2016

Participated in the CSTE Annual Conference and met with influenza coordinators from all U.S. States and Territories to discuss seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1 influenza planning and surveillance

Authored the official State of Hawaii Port of Entry Protocol for pandemic influenza response effort

Generated and examined laboratory data for Influenza A surveillance 7 days per week

Arranged laboratory influenza testing for high priority or outbreak-related specimens

Participated in weekly CDC H1N1 response conference calls

Provided guidance and recommendations for schools on handling of influenza activity

Directed quarterly meetings at Honolulu International Airport on influenza surveillance

Investigated deaths that were suspected to have been influenza related

Responded to and prepared information for data requests and media requests Arboviral Surveillance Coordinator, Hawaii State Department of Health (DOCD) 2009 to 2011

Implemented program plans and objectives in accordance with arbovirus (West Nile virus, dengue fever, etc.) prevention, surveillance, and response goals. Maintains extensive knowledge of the subject matter field of mosquito/vector-borne diseases and develops appropriate methods for assessment of projects and assignment of funds Patient Service Representative, Straub Clinic and Hospital October 2006 to January 2007

Handled and processed radiological films

Processed patients for CT, MRI, x-ray, mammogram, arthrogram and other intravenous contrast exams VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

Ruth’s House Battered Women and Children Shelter

Volunteer, September 2001 to May 2002

“Get the Drift and Bag It” Beach Restoration

Volunteer, August 2002 to May 2006

The Queen’s Medical Center

Emergency Room Volunteer, October 2002 to November 2005 Wounded Warrior Project, Poamoho Farm

Agricultural Educator, January 2012 to September 2014 CERTIFICATIONS:

American Heart Association, Huntsville Memorial Hospital BLS Certification for Healthcare Providers (exp: 01/31/2017) Hawaii State Department of Health, Immunization Branch Certified in Vaccine Administration

Hawaii State Department of Health

Completed Bloodborne Pathogens Training

Hawaii State Department of Health (via The John A. Burns School of Medicine) Completed Phlebotomy Training Course

CONFERENCES/SEMINARS:

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) 43rd Annual Conference, Charlotte, NC, June 2016

Texas High Consequence Infectious Disease Workshop, Texas Department of State Health Services, Houston, TX, February 2016

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Annual Conference, Buffalo, NY, June 2009 Influenza Surveillance Coordinators Workshop, Buffalo, NY, June 2009 PROJECTS/PUBLICATIONS:

Preliminary Screening for Virus Resistance in Organic Field Grown Tomatoes Research Participant, University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), August 2012 07/2016

Hawaii Epi Bulletin March 2009 –February 2011

First Author, Hawaii State Department of Health, Disease Outbreak Control Division, Monthly Publication

“Stop Flu at School”, Hawaii’s School-Located Vaccination Program Founding Member/Vaccinator, Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza Clinics, School Years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 School Outbreak of Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

Co-author, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), May 2009 Investigation of an Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Outbreak Associated with Locally Grown Produce on the Island of Kauai in March 2007

First Author, Hawaii State Department of Health, December 2008 Hawaii Pacific University School of Nursing

Guest Lecturer, Public Health and Epidemiology, Disease Reporting, February 2008 REFERENCES:

1) Carol Lynn Coglianese, MD

Infectious Disease Clinician

Huntsville Memorial Hospital

PO Box 4001

Huntsville, TX 77342-4001

Email: ******@***.***

Phone: 808-***-****

Cell: 808-***-****

2) Tai-Ho Chen, MD

CDC Quarantine Medical Officer