Employment Type : Full-Time
Under supervision of the Healthcare Safety Investigations Group manager, Serves as subject matter expert and performs senior-level epidemiological work related to the reporting and control and prevention of health care associated infections (HAI) and outbreak response for designated region(s). Regional Epidemiologist will be deployable to other regions within the state to assist with response to emerging and infectious disease outbreaks. Initiates, plans, develops, and directs surveillance and advanced epidemiological investigations or studies. Evaluates readiness of facilities to respond to Ebola or other infectious diseases in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) facility designation and evaluation tool(s). Collects, manages, evaluates, and disseminates data for epidemiologic investigations of HAIs. Develops training for health care facility staff on implementation of HAI outbreak reporting and infection prevention. In collaboration with the regional and local health departments, prepares and presents speeches, technical reports, and briefings on infection prevention, and investigations to Health Service Region administration, local health departments, professional organizations, and health care facility staff. Develops recommendations to management on budget, grants, contracts, staffing needs, policies and procedures as needed. Responds to public inquiries regarding HAIs. In collaboration with central office infection prevention program(s), consults with physicians and hospital administrators on epidemiology HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. I-9 Form - Click here to download the I-9 form. 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.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
45% Epidemiologic investigations and facility assessments
Initiates, plans, develops, oversees, and directs epidemiological studies, surveillance projects, Ebola-designated assessment facility readiness and investigations of infections and/or designated preventable adverse events in health care facilities. Coordinates investigations with local health department staff, other state agencies, and/or health care facility staff. Leads field investigations of outbreaks in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, clinics, dialysis centers, burn institutes, and nursing homes. Assembles appropriate epidemiological and laboratory resources to address disease outbreak investigations. Abstracts and interprets medical information. Assures appropriate communication and dissemination of findings and recommendations. Provides epidemiologic consultations to medical and public health professionals, infection prevention professionals, other DSHS programs, and agencies on issues of disease reporting, investigation, and prevention in health care facilities. Implements agency policies with medical and public health professionals, infection prevention professionals, and agencies. Reviews, evaluates, and revises policies, procedures, and guidelines for reporting and prevention of HAI. Develops recommendations to management on data validation processes and procedures.
35% Leadership and education
Assesses health care facility training needs and makes recommendations for training. Develops and participates in conducting educational programs on the epidemiology, prevention, and reporting of HAI. Serves as a HAI subject matter expert with infection prevention community in designated HSRs. Assists with establishing priorities for the Healthcare Safety Program and implements them. Assists other staff with complex issues and/or situations related to health care facilities. Attends and provides input at meetings pertaining to work assignment. Participates in the screening, interviewing, and selection process for other team members.
15% Oral and Written communication
Develops educational materials for public health professionals and the general public. Prepares and disseminates HAI prevention and reporting information to the health care and public health communities and the DSHS press officer. Prepares written manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and other publications. Prepares and conducts oral presentations.
5% Other Duties as Assigned
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of the principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics
Knowledge of health care-associated infections epidemiology, signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings
Knowledge of the natural history of health care-associated infectious diseases
Knowledge of organisms which cause infectious diseases
Knowledge of infection prevention practices and measures
Knowledge of health care risk management,quality improvement, and quality management
Knowledge of implementation of policies and procedures and state and federal laws and regulations
Ability to collect and analyze statistical/epidemiologic data and make recommendations based on findings
Ability to present statistical and technical data in a clear and concise format
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
Ability to work effectively as a team member with state, regional and local health department personnel and private sector health care professionals,
Ability to communicate with the media and the general public
Ability to use computers to organize and maintain complex records and files
Ability to interpret laboratory findings, physical signs/symptoms, and other information on medical charts
Skills in using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Skill in using National Health Care Safety Network (NHSN)
Skill in implementing health care quality improvement and management
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Certification in Infection Control (CIC), or ability to earn CIC within 6 months of hire.
Initial Selection Criteria:
At least 3 years relevant experience and a relevant Master’s degree.
OR
At least 2 years relevant experience plus a relevant Doctorate degree (PhD., DSc., DNP., DrPH., ScD., DMSc.)
OR
At least 3 years relevant experience plus a professional certification or licensure (RN, MT(ASCP), PA, MBBS, MD, DO).
Additional Information:
Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds. The salary offer will be within the posted range based on the applicant’s amount of relevant experience and qualifications.
An in-basket exercise will be required at the time of the interview.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. HHS agencies use E¬Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
This position will be located at DSHS, Temple office.
MOS Code:
There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the responsibilities for this position.