Epidemiologist

Join a multi-disciplinary Public Health team to provide disease surveillance data collection and analysis and epidemiological support to our operations. Participate in and conduct surveillance activities statutorily reportable infectious diseases investigations and outbreak control and management. Maintain the overdose surveillance system in our community. Lead the creation and maintenance of multiple data collection tools and data dashboards.

This role is also responsible for responding to data requests assisting in the Regional Health Assessment (RHA) data collection and analysis and tracking Lincoln Countys specific indicators for the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Providing subject-matter expertise and data support for programs in the Public Health Division. Actively participating in emergency preparedness activities.

Communicable Disease Control and Emergency Response:

• Manage local reports of notifiable diseases.
• Conduct epidemiologic disease investigations including foodborne illness outbreaks as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Investigate and document individual communicable disease case data based on current investigative guidelines and consistent with Oregon statute rule and program standards.
• Interview persons infected with or potentially exposed to reportable communicable diseases and others related to infections and outbreaks.
• Work collaboratively with partners on communicable disease interventions prevention and control activities. Partners can includemedical providers hospitals clinics long-term care facilities laboratories pharmacies law enforcement veterinarians schools faith communities businesses community groups and others.
• Investigate and work to control disease outbreaks within the authority in collaboration with partners.
• Communicate with state communicable disease epidemiologists for disease reporting data system support data management and exchange and outbreak analysis.
• Develop CD response evaluation process and assessment reports of outbreak investigations and response efforts.
• Ensure CD triennial review requirements and metrics are met through regular quality assurance and monitoring.
• At the request of division administration work with other agencies and organizations to support communicable disease investigation emergency response and support for departmental emergency preparedness activities.
• Conduct literature reviews related to diseases investigations case management and other program activities. Recommend and advise program staff and leadership on evidence-based interventions in response to findings.
• Complete all required program-specific training and continuing training/education mandates

Disease Surveillance:

• Conduct data gathering documentation and analysis for disease investigations.
• Assist with design and utilization of surveillance and data management systems to help include groups subject to health disparities or other potentially underrepresented groups.
• Utilize Electronic Health Record and other electronic documenting programs to ensure disease surveillance.

Health Data Collection Analysis and Dissemination:

• Collect manage record and analyze Public Health program data.
• Summarize and share information with various audiences on communicable disease prevention and control.
• Lead the development of data dashboards that display the health status of the community as well as showcase the work of the various programs administered by the Public Health division.
• Assist with development of public and media materials publications and presentations.
• Prepare and deliver written and oral reports and presentations to professional audiences community partners policy makers and the public.
• Apply health literacy and health equity practices when collecting reporting or presenting data to programs the community and policy makers.

Health Data Analysis/Epidemiological Consultation:

• Provide and review technical assistance to communities and outside partners with respect to surveillance and other epidemiologic data and evaluation.
• Collaborate with managers and community partners and recommend process and outcome measures that align with organizational goals.
• Assist leadership with monitoring tracking and advising on program and population data; participate on committees to gather information or planstudies to evaluate performance data; make recommendations based on results of study.
• Work as liaison to outside data-generating entities to develop and maintain partnerships for sharing and using data.
• Use skills that foster collaborations strong partnerships and team building to accomplish epidemiology program objectives.
• Develop professional relationships with state local tribal academic epidemiologists and with population-health database experts to support and improve coordinated surveillance monitoring and presentation of epidemiologic data and evaluation.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to Public Health leadership and staff in the areas of epidemiology and performance management.
• Provide Health Services-wide support for surveys and research including design collection analysis and interpretation of primary and secondary health data.

Special Projects:

• Participate in and lead epidemiological investigations in homes schools or other locations in the community; make recommendations to prevent and control the spread of disease.
• Lead convene and participate in team meetings training and activities to further the health of the community.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities.
• Assist and support the RHA and Community Health Assessment data collection and analysis processes as well as the data work and indicators development behind the CHIP.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and data support for program areas across the Public Health Division and among other divisions within Health and Human Services as needed.

Minimum Education Level

Bachelors in Public Health field epidemiology or biostatistics.

Minimum Experience Level

Two to three years work experience with a city county or state public health department conducting epidemiological data management/analysis communicable disease investigation or health/social research.

Substitution Note:Masters degree in Public Health with an emphasis in biostatistics or epidemiology or Masters degree in Epidemiology and one year of work experience.

Drivers License

Oregon Drivers License required within 30 days of hire.

Desirable Qualifications:

Masters degree in Public Health with an emphasis in biostatistics or epidemiology and one year of experience performing epidemiological or related work. Experience with Community Health Assessments and data dashboards. Prior experience developing a health surveillance system.

Knowledge of:

• Extensive knowledge of principles and methods of epidemiology.
• Extensive knowledge of principles and methods of biostatistics.
• Extensive knowledge of methods of managing and analyzing data.
• Extensive knowledge of principles and methods of disease surveillance.
• Analytical Assessment.
• Cultural Competency.
• Public Health Science.

Skill or ability to:

• Evaluate and interpret scientific literature.
• Determine data sufficiency reliability and relevance.
• Identify project scope and complexity.
• Research and analyze problems using data systems.
• Organize work and set priorities.
• Recognize programs and projects inefficiencies and recommend solutions.
• Convey information ideas and facts both orally and in writing to supervisors colleagues and individuals inside and outside the county using language and a format the audience will best understand.
• Utilize computers and other technology to communicate in written and verbal forms (e.g. word processing texts emails spreadsheets department-specific software).
• Effectively relate well with others including supervisors colleagues and individuals inside and outside the county. Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and working to maintain constructive working relationships.
• Take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Show up to work on time and follows instructions policies and procedures. Meet productivity standards deadlines and work schedules.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Lincoln County is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work knowledge skills abilities and essential functions expected of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.