Under direct supervision of the Tuberculosis Program Manager and working closely with the Tuberculosis Community Coordinator and Tuberculosis Contact Investigator, performs professional and high-level technical public health work involving Tuberculosis (TB) activities. Provides technical assistance for health care providers to include Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Regional programs, TB Division in Austin, laboratories, local health departments, out-of-state health departments, hospitals, correctional facilities, military installations, physicians, and other providers involved in TB activities. Responsible for epidemiological data gathering, analyzing and resource allocation resulting in recommendations for disease prevention and control activities. Provides assistance with monitoring and coordinating TB epidemiological investigations and surveillance to ensure appropriate intervention. Reviews and evaluates all surveillance and reported data to ensure prompt reporting, maintains updated suspect/case information (Access database) to ensure appropriate treatment and case management, dispositions of suspects, cases, and contact investigations according to State policy/protocol and CDC recommendations. As needed assists with TB contact investigations and mass screenings for TB.
Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions. Member of the Incident Command Structure in response to public health emergencies. Must comply with HHS, DSHS, Texas Department of Public Safety applicable policies/procedures/standards.
This position is office-based, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE: Compile Epidemiological data, analyze for disease prevention and control activities to be entered in appropriate databases to include Access, Excel and THISIS. Review surveillance and reporting data to ensure prompt reporting. Maintain and update regional TB case registry to include: update case information, appropriate drug regimen, disposition of suspects, cases, contact investigation, and infections according to state and regional policy. Perform complex, comprehensive technical functions such as medical record abstractions/reviews of Tuberculosis cases for reporting and interpretation of laboratory results. Review/evaluate laboratory reports from state portal by working with health departments, hospitals, reference labs for TB cases with positive cultures, drug susceptibilities, and updating reported/unreported cases. Prepare referral and reporting data for client's record information for all clients who transfer in and out of the region. Ensure tracking, assure continuity of care and uninterrupted drug therapy for TB suspects and cases. Responsible for the collection of data from local health departments in the region and regional clinics to ensure data entry, analysis, program evaluation, recommendation, and program reporting. Assigned to create electronic databases and or spreadsheets about TB investigations. Participates in the development and monitoring of surveillance and containment of TB activities- implement disease investigations and target screening of high-risk populations for correctional facilities, regional clinics and health departments. Ability to present data during staff meeting, conferences, and educational outreach in the communities in Public Health Region 2/3. (40%)
DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL: Provides complex and comprehensive consultative services and technical assistance to a diverse group of stakeholders on the prevention and control of Tuberculosis diseases. Serves as the Tuberculosis Data Manager for PHR 2/3. Provides the program manager and Tuberculosis Surveillance/Epidemiology Branch at DSHS with technical reports regarding TB surveillance and epidemiological studies on TB trends in PHR 2/3. In conjunction with the contact investigator, performs venipuncture in the field as outlined in the Texas Department of State Health Services, PHR 2/3 Standing Delegation Orders for Tuberculosis Blood Specimen Collection Services Provided by Authorized Staff. Primary duties are ensuring data management of THISIS for completeness of reporting, matching compatibility between systems, quality assurance, and system upgrades. (35%)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Provides technical assistance to regional healthcare providers by defining criteria for reporting and completion of all reporting forms. Provide specialized training to regional health care providers and laboratories regarding complete and timely reporting of TB cases. Develop professional presentations to educate, training, and interact with medical providers, local/regional health departments, correctional facilities, hospitals, and community health workers according to regional and state protocol. Use automated mapping systems to summarize and pinpoint disease clusters. (20%)
REGIONAL SUPPORT AND DISASTER RESPONSE/RECOVERY: Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives. May be required to work other than normal business hours in order to respond to public health emergencies. Actively participate and/or serve in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response/recovery/Continuity of Operations activation. Requires completion of at least ICS 100, 200,300, 400, 700 and 800 and may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Maintain compliance with DSHS Policy, Fleet Operations and Management, Procedures and Standards, and a current valid Texas Driver's License. Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete these essential job functions. (5%)
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of:
Tuberculosis testing, treatment, reporting policies, guidelines, and public health laws and regulations.
Epidemiological best practices.
Confidentiality laws and HIPAA guidelines.
Microsoft Office products, databases, Tableau software, SPSS/SAS and GIS.
Skills in:
Clear, effective oral and written communication with diverse audiences
Educating small groups and individuals
Organizing and writing reports using standard English grammar and a professional/business writing style
Developing and maintaining effective working relationships across organizational, community and cultural lines.
Ability to:
Analyze and evaluate public health needs.
Work in a team setting in close collaboration with others.
Work effectively with diverse populations.
Assume additional responsibilities.
Work independently exercising sound judgment.
Organize work area and workload to pursue multiple projects simultaneously.
Plan, establish and meet project deadlines, and complete projects satisfactorily.
Propose and implement projects involving control of TB and to measure achievement of set goals.
Use time management strategies to maximize work productivity and meet deadlines.
Work in an office-based setting Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Work outside regular business work-days/hours as needed to respond to programmatic needs.
Independently travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state.
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License or equivalent license from another state, reflecting an acceptable driving record in accordance with Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures.
Certification in phlebotomy preferred, or ability to obtain certification within 12 months of hire.
Initial Selection Criteria:
Graduation from an accredited Associates degree program with at least 1-year experience in public health or a healthcare environment, preferably working with Tuberculosis or infectious disease management, or delivering customer service or technical assistant to healthcare providers and staff.
o Preferred: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with coursework in administration, public health or related field. No additional experience needed.
Experience may be substituted for degree if applicant has at least three years of experience in public health or a healthcare environment, preferably working with Tuberculosis or infectious disease management, and at least three years’ experience in delivering customer service or technical assistance to healthcare providers and staff as evidenced in application.
Experience in community education, public health work, or a healthcare environment.
Experience maintaining complex records and adhering to HIPAA and other confidentiality standards.
Experience working with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software and data systems.
Additional Information:
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application but may be provided as supplemental materials. All fields on the application must be filled-in completely. Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position in the job history sections of the application and must clearly state how applicant meets initial selection criteria in the summary of experience section of the application.
Prior to beginning employment, employees/applicants who indicate they hold a degree from an institution of higher education must provide an original college transcript indicating they earned a degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign degree determined to be equivalent by an acceptable education evaluator.
Employee must provide transportation. If an employee operates a personal or state motor vehicle in performance of their official duties, the employee must possess a current valid Texas Driver License for the appropriate type vehicle.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
Note: There may be no military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/
MOS Code:
68S, 68Z, 60C, HM, 230X, HS, MED, SEI12, NAP11, 4BOX1, 4EOX1, 43EX, 43HX
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
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