Public Health and Prevention Specialist-Part Time

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Eagle Pass, TX

9d•$774

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Communicable Disease Program Manager and the team leadership of the Binational Program Coordinator, performs routine level public health work in the assigned counties of PHR 8 and the binational TB program areas. In collaboration with the Binational Coordinator, provides administrative support with managing treatment plans for persons with TB disease, suspects, and individuals with TB infection (TBI). Conducts surveillance to identify persons with TBI or disease. Educates tuberculosis suspects, persons with TB disease, and contacts on TB transmission, pathogenesis, and treatment process. Using judgment and tact elicits contacts and expands the concentric circle when appropriate. Participates in case reviews to ensure treatment guidelines are met. Provides directly observed therapy (DOT) and directly observed preventive therapy (DOPT) to persons with TB disease, suspects, and persons with TB infection. Provides TB program support and prepares required reports. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Works evenings, holidays, and weekends as requested. Must be able to independently drive and travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions. During public health emergencies, including pandemic responses such as COVID-19, all PHR 8 employees are expected to provide related public health or emergency response services. This may include response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activities. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends as requested by the team lead and the Communicable Disease Manager. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.

Requirements

Knowledge of tuberculosis prevention and control
Knowledge of community resources.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Knowledge of confidentiality guidelines.
Skill in the use of a personal computer, including Microsoft Office products.
Skill in conducting patient interviews using tact and diplomacy.
Skill in educating patients, suspects, and contacts about tuberculosis transmission, infection vs. disease, and treatment process.
Skill in conducting contact investigation.
Skill in providing directly observed therapy and directly observed preventive therapy services.
Skill in conducting training.
Skill in case analysis for case/contact management.
Skill in communicating effectively with others both orally and in writing.
Skill in communicating in English and Spanish, oral and written.
Ability to assess patient’s comprehension about tuberculosis.
Ability to apply time management principles to tasks.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with the public and medical community using tact and diplomacy.
Ability to work well and effectively in a team environment.
Ability to meet agency employee immunization requirements; meet the physical demands of the job functions; and comply with HIPAA regulations.
Ability to wear and maintain an N95 respirator (or equivalent) in accordance with OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard.
Ability to be medically cleared to wear a respirator and comply with respirator use requirements at initial fit testing, as part of day-to-day use, and at annual fit testing.
Ability to collect sputum and carry out phlebotomy.
Ability to provide transportation.
Ability to independently drive and travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
High school graduate or GED equivalent.
Experience in public health or community service.
Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Current and valid Texas Class C driver license or equivalent from another state

Nice To Haves

Tuberculosis surveillance experience
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree

Responsibilities

TB Case Management: Assist with updating case summary forms for monthly case reviews. This includes translating the medical notes from the binational physician, translating chest x-ray reports, and updating the case presentations. Communicate with binational partners, local hospitals, private physicians, correctional facilities, and other public health entities to obtain medical information and ensure continuity of care. Oversee binational cohort reviews. Schedule time for cohort reviews with DSHS and CDC staff. Prepare cohort review. Carry out QA of completed cohort review forms to ensure that all information is correct and in accordance with the patient record. Submit cohort review forms. Support the Tuberculosis program with drawing labs, collecting sputum specimens, specimen packaging, specimen shipping, specimen transportation, phlebotomy, documenting appropriately in patient’s charts, and educating clients and family and performing other patient support as needed. Complete phone calls and follow-ups, sending faxes, communicating with other healthcare providers, scheduling of patients, and other clinic functions. If a patient moves outside of the initial county of diagnosis, continue to follow up with other jurisdictions and facilities outside of the original county, to ensure proper patient management and treatment completion. Stays up to date on required tuberculosis-related continuing education, program, and other region-required training. Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
Surveillance: Receives all incoming reports, labs, records, etc for cases, suspects, contacts, EDNs, binational patients, etc. Sorts all faxes, saves documents in existing patient folders and creates a new folder when necessary and forwards to correct program staff according to program procedures. Scan and upload documents into patient folders on the share drive and maintain each patient file up to date. Assists with requesting any missing or additional medical records. Carries out data entry of clinical information and surveillance data collected from patient encounters, lab results, and radiology results. Enters information for community, corrections, and binational patients. Enters all new patient information and maintains patient records updated by entering into local and state electronic databases. Upon report, assists clinical staff with gathering preliminary information and filling out case presentation forms. Requests additional information from hospitals, clinics, or correctional facilities, as needed by the treating physician or TB nurse consultant. Processes interstate and intrastate jurisdictional transfers. Serves as backup to the RighFax Coordinator. Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
Programmatic support: Provide translation services as needed; written or verbal. Coordinates logistics for Binational TB program in-person and virtual meetings. Provides technical support as needed to meet Binational TB Program goals and objectives. Provides bilingual presentations to community groups in Texas and Mexico on the binational TB program. Develops educational material on TB for clients and families in English and Spanish. Coordinates travel arrangements for the Tuberculosis team. Makes reservations for flights, vehicles, and hotels. Completes travel vouchers and submits for processing. Ensures all reimbursement requests are accurate and comply with agency travel policy. Reviews vehicle logs for accuracy. Provides logistical support with general office duties (processing mail, inventory of supplies, office equipment, software, and training; tracking staff schedules). Helps track program expenditures and reviews budget information with Communicable Disease Manager. Provides quality customer services to internal and external stakeholders. Prepares requisitions, enters online system, and monitors through the purchasing process. Schedules program meetings, prepares meeting agendas, reserves conference rooms/vehicles, and takes and transcribes meeting minutes. Schedules annual employee TB testing, respiratory protection equipment program fit testing, security and confidentiality training, SDO skills training. Scans and files documents electronically. Create semi-annual and annual reports. Provides a weekly list of all patients to the TB Epidemiologist. Provides support in completing the TB Program Manual. Provides support in meeting measures for activities outlined in the Texas TB Work Plan and the Binational TB Work Plan. Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
Directly Observed Therapy (DOT): Provides in-person DOT and/or Video DOT to TB cases/suspects and DOPT to TB contacts or TBI clients as ordered by TB physician. Reviews adverse reactions with client or parent at every visit. Timely and accurately document each visit on the DOT checklist and corresponding local and state databases. Meets patient at assigned time and place and documents and notifies TB nurses if the patient does not show or cannot attend DOT. Assures treatment compliance by providing DOT/DOPT services. Assesses patient environment to reduce risk of transmission and minimize delinquency. Track DOT mileage. Provide education to the patient on the use of VDOT, obtain VDOT consents, review patient’s medication recordings. Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
Contact Identification: Monitor and ensure completeness of each contact investigation carried out by binational program staff. Scan contact results into each patient file and provide to binational staff for continuation of services. Supports the contact identification process for Region 8 by interviewing patients and supports the provision of TB results to contacts. Uses approved program forms including but not limited to Contact Investigation Worksheet and TB 208 to carry out contact identification activities. Provides contact and case management assistance such as support with specimen collection, specimen packaging, specimen shipping, specimen transportation to drop-off locations, and phlebotomy. Educates contacts on TB infection and disease treatment. Using the levels of risk approach assesses investigation results to determine the need to expand the contact investigation. Determines the scope of a contact investigation based upon the clinical data of the case or suspected case of TB. Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
Other Duties: 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 activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business, and an acceptable driving record must be maintained in accordance with DSHS Policy 06-3901, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures, and standards developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Complies with the Department of State Health Services Immunization Policy. Provide support services in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. On a rotating basis, provides support with responding to calls received through the 24-hour regional after-hours hotline. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.

Benefits

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

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