INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROL PROFESSIONAL & OFFICER (IPCO), EPIDEMIOLOGIST + EMERGENCY SERVICE LIAISON

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Experienced clinician, researcher medical and allied health professional with extensive knowledge and experience working in Infection Prevention/Epidemiology providing high quality patient care through implementation of practices and compliance with regulatory agency requirements. Trained in the field of biological and occupational /environmental health. Keen interest in communicable disease

prevention and learning new detection modalities. Eager to continue where my passion is, serving as practitioner, consultant, and liaison. International service to underserved countries. Solid communicator. Decision-maker with minimal supervision, highly organized with the ability to manage arduous projects and meet deadlines.

WORK HISTORY

SNF-LTC Infection Prevention and Control Professional 10/2023- Present

Rutgers Echo Project SNF-LTC

Engage new and existing Infection Preventionists (IP), Directors of Nursing (DON), Administrators and other clinical and administrative leadership staff to build ability to develop and implement effective Infection Prevention and Control Programs

Reduce the number of preventable healthcare associated infections affecting patients and residents in SNF and LTC facilities by using the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes

Deliver educational didactics during virtual ECHO sessions

Infection Prevention Control Officer (IPCO) 06/2023-09/2023

Franciscan Villa Skilled Nursing, LTC, Acute Care

Develop and implement on going infection prevention and control.

Establish facility-wide systems for the prevention, identification, reporting investigation, of communicable disease of residents, staff, and visitors.

Develop and implement written policies and procedures by standards of practice and recognized guidelines

Oversee the facility’s antibiotic stewardship program.

Supervised resident care activities that increase risk of infection (i.e., use and care of urinary catheters, wound care, incontinence care, skin care, point-of-care blood testing, and medication injections.)

Epidemiologist- Emergency Response and Work Vaccination

Center of Disease Control (CDC) Foundation 01/2022-10/2022

Vaccination and Emergency Response

Managed significant projects, (COVID 19 Vaccination Response Programs} and internal peer groups.

Evaluated data collection, quality control and data utilization methods used to study epidemiological problems and issues.

Designed, planned, and initiated epidemiologic studies, surveys, and investigations.

Epidemiology Investigations Specialist,

Tarrant County Dept. of Public Health 09/2020- 05/2021

Serves as liaison with department of Health Services reporting communicable disease as required.

Conducted investigations for confirmed cases of Covid-19: including,

documenting close contacts and potential places of exposure.

Educated Covid-19 cases on how to reduce transmission within a household, serial positive tests, and the function of antibodies.

Provided approved information on available resources and guidance on isolation and recovery protocol.

Biology Lab Instructor, 06/2017 to 06/2020

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Physics/ Environmental Science Instructor, 08/2016 to 08/2020

Mountain View College/ South Oak Cliff High School

Planned/ Instructed and assessed students in subject areas ensuring proficiency for each objective.

Delivered lessons through scientific demos and lab activities addressing the objective presently taught with emphasis on project-based learning: Data Analysis indicated.

Performed scientific research methods, experimental computations, and analysis ensuring data accuracy, and up to date knowledge.

Nurse Extender (Aid)/EMT- Fire Medic/Project Intern 2006- 2013

St. Francis Hospital / Freeport Fire Dept/ Total Management Systems

Completes an individual overall assessment of all residents on unit and recommends specific care plans.

Assists the nurses in providing direct care through aseptic and infection control measures ex. C-diff, UTIs, skin, wounds, and others

Prepared and filed standardized NY State Patient Care Report (PCR) for use by receiving hospital. Improved Quality Control (QC) by providing good and proper documentation gathering feedback from patients and hospital staff.

Demonstrated correct application and utilization of basic life support equipment in a pre-hospital setting

EDUCATION

MS, Interdisciplinary Biological Studies, and Physical Science

School of Health Sciences at Touro College New York, NY GPA: 3.5/4.0

MS, Clinical Nutrition

New York Institute of Technology - Old Westbury, N.Y. GPA: 3.7/4.0 Studied Dietetics,

Buffalo State College -Buffalo, N.Y. GPA: 3.7/4.0

BS, Biochemistry

State University of New York at Stony Brook - Stony Brook, N.Y.

CONTACT

Name: Opal Thomas

Address: 107 N Detroit Ave, Apt #200

Tulsa, OK 74120

Phone: 516-***-****

Email:

ad1jth@r.postjobfree.com

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Epidemiology Surveillance, monitoring daily

HAI Prevention- CAUTI, CLABSI observation and bundle recognition

Uses NHSN, OSIIS (National Healthcare Safety Network) and State Data base vaccination input

Point-Click-Care

EMR reporting

Antibiotic Stewardship

QUAPI record keeping

Employees Covid testing

Sterile techniques, cleaning, disinfecting

IPC rounding -wound care, catheters, oxygen tubing,

Outbreak detection and management

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel Spread-sheet, PowerPoint), SAS,

Enhanced Barrier Precautions implementation

Compliance Monitoring

SOC- Standard of Care

MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Educating/Instructing/Interviewing staff, residents, and families

Fiscal Budgeting

Public health speaking

Quality Control and Assurance

Grant writing

Project leadership

SOP

Documentation

Staff training

CURRENT PROJECTS

COPE Health Scholars in Partnership with UCLA Executive Programs in Health Policy and Management.

-Completes intensive training on U.S. healthcare system, clinical best practices and practical direct patient care

PAST PROJECTS

Project Managed: First Place finish-

Dallas Independent School District STEM Competition 2020

Training in Data Science Modules in Analytics

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Emergency and Surgical Wards- Kumasi Hospital – Ghana 2022

Ambulance Attendant- Kadooment Carnival Parade- Barbados 2022

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Infectious Disease Society

Project Management Institute (PMI) – Long Island Chapter

American Medical Association (AMA); The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY

American Dietetic Association (ADA)

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

NHSN Certified in Infection Control

NHSN Training Course- CDC sponsored

PMP Project Management-Stony Brook University, Stonybrook, N.Y.

Basic Life Support- BLS- American

Heart Association, Tulsa, OK

Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B), East Meadow N.Y.

Science Composite Teacher (7-12)- Texas Teachers Dallas, TX- Dallas ISD

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