I.           POSITION IDENTIFICATION

Work Unit:    Park City-County Health Department

Supervisor:    Health Department Director

Current Classification:

Pay Grade:  16

Wage: Pay Range $26.97 – $33.40    

Title: Disease Intervention Specialist

Non-Exempt           Permanent Part Time (up to .75 FTE or 30 hours a week)

Grant funded position through June 30, 2024

II.          ASSIGNED DUTIES & TASKS:

Position overview:

This position is responsible to function as part of a disease investigation and intervention team; plan and participate in programs related to the control of various communicable diseases; to locate disease sources, identify at-risk groups to prevent, and thereby reduce the incidence and risk to citizens; to provide education to patients diagnosed positive for a communicable disease, and to provide information on disease etiology and the prevention of communicable diseases.  Additionally, this position will provide education and outreach regarding communicable diseases and prevention.    

All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated. Duties of the position are not all inclusive and subject to change.

PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Disease Intervention Specialist is responsible for interviewing cases, contacts and others in the community concerning and activities which contribute to disease transmission; to make collateral contacts to obtain pertinent information concerning other individuals who may have been exposed or infected; to ensure compliance with established State and federal laws and regulations related to disease control and prevention.
• Act as patient advocate; educate clients regarding medical and social services available and facilitate access to services.
• Conduct case investigations on infected patients; documents case histories and possible infection sources.
• Assist with Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant immunization requirements.
• Answer disease related questions.
• Keep current with local, national and international disease trends and outbreaks.
• Produce contact reports and tracing records.
• Produce and provide education and outreach information regarding communicable diseases that takes into account disparities in access to services.
• Help create a plan to address access gaps of at-risk populations.
• Attend state meetings, trainings, and informational sessions.

III.        KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE:

·         This position requires a strict understanding of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality.

·         Understanding of medical terms and principles of exposure infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease; pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.

·         Assist with obtaining current information pertaining to the symptoms, modes of transmission, control, treatment, and effects of the communicable/chronic disease assigned.

·         Understanding of standardized protocols for investigation and intervention with patients who have positive results for a communicable disease.

·         Knowledge of Modern practices and principles of medical disease counseling.

·         Principles and procedures of record keeping; medical documentation; business writing.

·         Universal (Standard) precautions and infection control practices.

SKILLS:

·         This position requires excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills so that trust can be built and maintained with patients and contacts.

·         Understanding of when to refer individuals or situations to medical, social or supervisory resources.

·         Maintain surveillance of communicable diseases through Park County.

·         Assist with enforcement of quarantine as needed, with guidance provided by Health Officer, Board of Health, and State law.

·         Work in conjunction with Park County DES and PHEP on countywide emergency protocols.  

·         Ability to interact with the public calmly and effectively.

·         Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills.

·         Ability to work with a high level of detail in a fast paced environment.

Education and Experience

This position requires knowledge, skills, and abilities that are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in a health-related field with course work in public health, epidemiology or biostatistics or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Experience in epidemiology, public health, health education or a related field and knowledge of methods of disease investigations, clusters and outbreaks and working with diverse populations preferred.

Certification, Licenses, etc.

FEMA IS-700, ICS-100 online courses within 6 months of employment and ICS-200, ICS-300 courses within one year of employment as mandated by the state.

Valid Driver’s license. 

IV.        ACCOUNTABILITY

This position makes complex decisions regarding the public health team goals and objectives. Overseen by the Health Department Director to ensure efficient and effective performance of job duties and the Department policies. Work in conformance with generally prescribed policies, plans and approved budgets. The Department is also frequently asked to undertake, manage and complete a variety of special projects. While work is sometimes covered by established guidelines and policy manuals, more frequently this position is expected to provide leadership and accountability in projects of first impression and tasks for which there are no well-defined precedents and that require a high level of independent judgment and integrity. 

V.           CONFIDENTIALITY

The position requires handling non-public confidential information. The person in the position acknowledges the confidential nature of non-public information. Consistent with applicable policy and guidelines, this position will respect and safeguard privacy and the confidential nature of information in accordance with Montana state law, without limiting the general nature of this commitment. The person in the position hereby acknowledges that the person understands that in this context, confidential information is considered all non-public information that can be personally associated with an individual.

If in the course of executing job responsibilities, the person in the position accidentally accesses information that others might consider inappropriate for this position to access, the person in the position will notify the person’s supervisors of the date and time of the access. If a question arises at a later time, it will be understood that the access was accidental. The person in the position will not disseminate any such information.

By signing this Position Description, the undersigned hereby acknowledges reading and understanding this section regarding confidentiality and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions set forth herein. Violation of confidentiality may warrant disciplinary action, up to and including, suspension, demotion or termination of employment.

VI.          INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION

This position carries out assignments independently, and uses judgment and initiative
to solve problems.  This position may operate with appreciable latitude for independent action and decisions commensurate with demonstrated ability. Work objectives and priorities are defined along with the supervision of the Health Director, but leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative.

VII.        PERSONAL CONTACTS:

This position has contacts with the public, county and city personnel, elected officials, department heads, State, Federal and City Officials, Law Enforcement Agencies and various community organizations. The person in this position interprets, clarifies or explains departmental information in order to be responsive to questions and inquiries.

VIII.       WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is generally conducted in both an office and field environment. Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to public health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for their ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to be fitted and wear a NIOSH 95 mask.
• Engage in the following movements: sitting, standing, often times for long periods, walking on all types of terrain, maintaining balance, climbing stairs and inclines, kneeling, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, feeling, writing, repetitive motions, twisting, requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, ability to grip with hands and fingers, to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone.
• Visual ability must be sufficient enough to accurately read typewritten documents and computer screens and safely drive a vehicle.

Work environment:

• General office setting in the department facility, as well as various community sites.
• Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions, such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.
• In all settings, the employee may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.
• May be required to wear and/or use personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eye protection, etc. and other work activities.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.