Public Health

Location:

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Posted:

May 12, 2023

Contact this candidate

Resume:

KIMBERLY COLE

**** ** **** *** ********** Florida 33322

********@*****.*** · 786-***-****

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-cole-mph-mt-cic-57b26b105/

Board certified Infection Preventionist with a background in Epidemiology, Public Health, Microbiology, and Infectious Disease seeking a senior level Public Health position. Knowledge of infection control in a variety of settings including acute care, long-term care, and other congregate settings.

SKILLS

Communication

Critical thinking

Collaboration

Public Health

Program management

Mentorship

Organization

Subject matter expert in Infection Prevention

Quality improvement

Patient safety

Data utilization

Risk assessment and risk reduction

Public Speaking

LICENSURE & CERTIFICATION

The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.

Certification in Infection Control

oCertification #121545

Florida Department of Health

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

oLicense #TN39685

MEMBERSHIPS

American Medical Technologist

o2005-Present

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

o2020-Present

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

oBroward/Palm Beach Chapter Board Member

o2023-Present

EDUCATION

MASTER’S OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Florida international university, 2011

MIAMI, FL

BACHELOR’S OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY, 2003

MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA

EXPERIENCE

MARCH 2021 - PRESENT

REGIONAL INFECTION PREVENTIONIST, Florida department of health HealthCare-Associated Infection Prevention Program

Serves as a subject matter expert for a variety of settings including acute care hospitals (ACHs), long term care facilities (LTCFs), detention centers, and other congregate settings located in Miami-Dade, Broward, Munroe, and Palm Beach counties, assisting with outbreak mitigation, as well as helping to improve outbreak detection and response.

Leads major outbreak investigations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Munroe, and Palm Beach counties, focusing on healthcare-associated infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and Candida auris.

Conducts ongoing outreach to LTCFs to identify ongoing/new infection control needs.

Conducts Infection Control Assessments and Response (ICARs), utilizing the CDC’s ICAR tool.

Provides written reports with recommendations and conducts follow up assessments to evaluate for implementation of recommendations. Communicates findings with County Health Department representatives as necessary. Reviews National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reports, analyzes Merlin and the Agency for Health Care Administration emergency status system (ESS) and other data to identify opportunities for improving emerging threat detection and making recommendations for health care facilities that have the greatest need for improvement based on surveillance data. Use this data to drive outreach for conducting ICARs.

Organizes training and education sessions, tailored specifically to the needs of a facility.

Organizes trainings within the Region.

Collaborates with local ACHs, LTCFs and Department of Health Leadership to foster communication, and find solutions for ACH Candida auris discharge challenges.

Conducts outreach and organized education focused round tables focused on Candida auris for LTCFs, resulting in the gradual discharge of patients from the ACH setting to the LTC setting.

Conducts training on OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Program (Fit Testing)

Conducts education on infection control and prevention topics as needed, topics include: vaccines, PPE donning doffing, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting in the healthcare setting, principles of infection control

Provides additional support for regional trainings in collaboration for each region for LTCFs on infection prevention and control, as requested.

Mentors new Infection Preventionists.

Assists with onboarding new staff members

JANUARY 2016- MARCH 2021

INFECTION PREVENTIONIST, Memorial hospital west

Provided technical support for the implementation of the hospital’s plan for the COVID-19 response and infection prevention and control measures.

Conducted PPE donning/doffing training and hand hygiene education hospital wide, including class of 2020 GME Residents, Hospitalists.

Conducted contact tracing for both patient and employee exposures.

Provided guidance on implementing infection control strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to neighboring long-term care facilities.

Conducted onsite visits to local long-term care facilities to assess needs, and provide education, including: hand hygiene, mask etiquette, PPE donning/doffing and other Infection Control practices.

Supported outbreak response for COVID-19 in local long-term care facilities.

Monitored and implemented a campus-wide integrated infection control and management program based on a culture of prevention and evidence-based guidelines.

Performed Infection Control surveillance activities including Central Line rounds, Foley rounds, Operating Room observations, isolation rounds and environment of care rounds

Conducted outbreak investigations.

Notified County, State and Federal authorities on reportable diseases as required.

Conducted Infection Control risk assessments for construction and renovation projects, equipment inspection, and pest control.

Responsible for the delivery of educational and training program for campus staff on infection control/prevention and mitigation practices (e.g., hand hygiene, PPE donning/doffing).

Collected and analyzed data and distributes monthly and quarterly reports to the various committees.

Conducted surveillance, analysis, and reporting of healthcare acquired infections using electronic monitoring and surveillance systems (EPIC).

Applied the NSHN definition to identify hospital acquired infections.

Evaluated, and developed infection prevention policies and procedures.

Provided patient education as needed regarding disease transmission and prevention.

Lead improvement teams to drive performance excellence for CAUTI, CLABSI, MRSA, C-DIFF, SSI, and other initiatives.

Worked towards the implementation of a safer environment for patients, staff, and the community.

SEPTEMBER 2011-JANUARY 2016

LAB INSPECTOR, Agency for Health Care Administration

Conducted on-site inspections of laboratories to determine eligibility for federal CLIA certification and state registration.

Reviewed staff qualifications, laboratory procedures and records covering pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic stages of specimen testing.

Interpreted and applied federal and state rules, regulations, and guidelines.

Prepared written reports of findings detailing deficiencies including entry into federal data systems.

Evaluated facility plans of correction for cited deficiencies for compliance with federal regulations.

Scheduled follow-up or enforcement action as necessary.

Evaluated proficiency test results for compliance with federal and state requirements.

Provided professional consultation with and advises laboratories on regulation interpretation and development of plans of correction.

JUNE 2011- AUGUST 2011

EPIDEMIOLOGY INTERN, Orange County Health Department

Assisted with daily activities in the Epidemiology unit.

Participated in routine epidemiologic investigations to identify risk factors.

collected data including performing interviews.

Performed data analysis and summarized relevant epidemiologic investigation data.

Performed outbreak investigations.

Assisted in the development of statistical tools to aid in standardizing outbreak investigations.

Collaborated with the Epidemiology team and other departments within the health department to determine future health initiatives in the county.

Assisted in data management.

Conducted supervised site visits as necessary.

JANUARY 2008- JULY 2011

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST III, Orlando Regional Medical Center

Cultured specimen to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi or Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB).

Performed gram stains, serological tests, rapid tests including Influenza A & B, RSV’s, Clostridium difficile toxin (C. Diff), Campylobacter antigen and Streptococci spp. screens.

Performed and evaluated quality control, preventative maintenance and troubleshooting procedures.

Assisted in training of new employees.

Assisted in the development of departmental policies and procedures for test performance and evaluating test results to ensure the accuracy of tests.

Performed Quality Assurance activities.

Provided timely identification of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility results.

Participated in the antimicrobial stewardship committee and development of guidelines.

OCTOBER 2005-DECEMBER 2008

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST II, Memorial Regional Hospital

Performed accurate and timely laboratory tests in the following areas: Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Serology, Histology and Microbiology to aid physicians in diagnosing and treating disease.

Performed quality control procedures per protocol using standard laboratory test and measurement controls, and maintained compliance with CLIA, OSHA, safety, and risk-management guidelines.

Verified, recorded, and reported lab results on all performed tests.

Troubleshooted problems with instruments, equipment, reagents, and patient specimens.

Demonstrated the ability to use good judgment and independent thinking in the correlation and interpretation of patient results. (Including performing delta checks, etc).

Assisted in training of new personnel.

SEPTEMBER 2003 – SEPTEMBER 2005