Disease Intervention Specialist

Working title: Disease Intervention Specialist

Classification title: Prevention Health Specialist

Division: Public Health Services

Program: Communicable Disease

Reports to: Communicable Disease Program Manager

FLSA status: Non-Exempt: Full-time

Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Wage Range: $21.50 to $27.37 hourly; depending on number of transferrable years of experience and internal equity

RiverStone Health:

Serving the Yellowstone County community and south-central Montana for nearly 50 years RiverStone Health is an essential provider of personal and public health services. Health Education Leadership and Protection HELPâis what we do.â From medical dental and behavioral healthcare; home care and hospice; public health services like immunizations WIC health promotion and restaurant inspections; and educating the next generation of health professionals our expertise spans all ages and stages of life.â Underlying principles of access affordability compassion and quality in all interactions RiverStone Health improves life health and safety for all of the communities we serve.â

Division and Program Overview:

The Public Health Services Division implements community-wide efforts to prevent infectious diseases improve health prepare for public health emergencies and safeguard the food we eat and the air we breathe making our whole community a safer and better place to live.âThe Communicable Disease program is responsible for investigating cases of reportable disease providing testing and treatment providing immunizations and educating patients health care providers and the public about preventable diseases.

Job Summary:

Under general supervision the Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) supports the prevention and control of communicable diseases through case investigation contact tracing education and linkage to care. This position conducts interviews with clients and their contacts provides counseling and partner services and engages healthcare providers and community partners in accordance with CDC guidelines and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services protocols.

The DIS works collaboratively with public health nurses and other team members to ensure timely disease reporting follow-up and intervention. DIS staff play a critical role in the public health response by facilitating testing treatment referrals and monitoring of cases. Work is performed in a variety of settings including offices medical facilities residential locations congregate living environments and in the community.

Essential Functions/Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Communicable Disease Services 95%

• Conduct case investigations for reportable communicable diseases in accordance with CDC and Montana DPHHS guidelines.
• Perform contact tracing and partner services to identify and notify individuals potentially exposed to communicable diseases.
• Provide education counseling and linkage to testing treatment and other supportive services.
• Maintain a strict understanding of patient confidentiality including the ability to conduct interviews discreetly and respectfully.
• Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology and principles related to exposure infection infectious periods symptoms and asymptomatic transmission.
• Build and maintain trust with patients and contacts through excellent interpersonal and culturally sensitive interviewing skills.
• Use resourcefulness and creativity to locate individuals who may be difficult to reach or reluctant to engage.
• Recognize when to refer individuals or situations to appropriate medical social or supervisory resources.
• Respond to public inquiries questions and comments calmly effectively and in a courteous and timely manner.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers laboratories and community organizations to facilitate timely disease reporting and response.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of case investigations contacts and outcomes.
• Participate in outbreak response activities including data collection community engagement and coordination with public health partners.
• Demonstrate strong listening verbal and written communication skills.
• Work with a high level of detail and accuracy both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Learn and apply a large volume of information quickly and effectively.
• Exhibit strong organizational skills and time management.
• Apply basic computer skills including data entry word processing and email functions (Microsoft Word Excel Outlook Teams).
• Support public health nurses and other clinical staff by facilitating non-clinical aspects of disease intervention.
• Work in diverse settings including office environments medical facilities residential locations congregate living settings and in the field.
• Assesses and determines the physical social and environmental needs of clients and develops a plan of treatment with other team members.
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems.
• Attends meetings conferences workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles practices and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Performs point of care syphilis HIV and hepatitis C testing as necessary.
• Performs phlebotomy to obtain specimens for syphilis and HIV testing processing and appropriate labeling and packaging of specimens.
• Provides education surrounding infection control worker safety and health expertise needed to support case investigation and contact tracing.
• Prepares and delivers educational presentations and materials as necessary.
• Actively participates in meetings
• Attends Emergency Preparedness training.

Non-Essential Functions 5%

Perform other duties as assigned in support of the organizations mission and goals.

Education and Experience:

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Any combination of experience and training which provide the equivalent scope of knowledge skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Disease Case Investigation or other Public Health experience
• Medical terminology training or experience
• Experience in community education and presentations to health care workers
• Experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience in infection prevention and control.

Certificates Licenses Registrations:

• Valid State of Montana Drivers License.
• Required to obtain emergency preparedness on the job training .

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of modern office procedures practices and equipment
• Maintains a calm and positive demeanor during difficult client interactions
• Demonstrates non-judgmental and empathetic listening skills
• High degree of detail-oriented skill
• Knowledge and understanding of protected sensitive patient health information (HIPAA) and confidentiality
• Motivated to work collaboratively and maintain a positive work environment
• Effective problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with supervisors co-workers and customers
• Ability to prioritize and perform a wide range of tasks under pressure of frequent interruptions
• Ability to perform job duties with integrity and innovation to ensure completion and a high level of quality.
• Ability to work in an office setting and in the field
• Ability to work on a computer
• Ability to use a smart phone
• Understand and adhere to administrative policies and procedures

Customer Service Excellence:

• Provides Customer Service Excellence to RiverStone Healths customers including patients clients family members visitors medical staff and co-workers.
• Doing things right the first time
• Making people feel welcome
• Showing respect for each customer
• Anticipating customer needs and concerns
• Keeping customers informed
• Helping and going the extra mile
• Responding quickly
• Protecting privacy and confidentiality
• Demonstrating proper telephone etiquette
• Taking responsibility for handling complaints
• Being professional
• Taking ownership of your attitude toward Service Excellence.

Supervision:

None

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in both office and clinic settings public facilities and community events both indoors and outdoors.
• Standing bending sitting lifting required.
• Required to travel to different locations to provide services
• Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting seeing and reading signs traffic signals other vehicles etc. Travel occurs in all weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. Must be able to use and maintain employees own vehicle when traveling to patient homes
• Required to wear N95 of higher respiratory mask medical gloves and gown eye protection and practice hand hygiene.
• Create and maintain a safe/secure working environment by adhering to safety security and health requirements. Integrates injury illness and loss prevention into job activities by attending any necessary training and implementing best practices.

Freedom to Act & Decision Making:

• Works under the direction of the Program Manager.
• Work is structured by public health regulations established infection control practices current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• Responsible for conducting extensive interviews tracking and preventing potential spread of disease and providing both education and direct patient care.
• Decisions directly affect the quality of services provided to the public.

Communications & Networking:

• Contacts occur both inside and outside RiverStone Health and typically are for the purposes of rendering services to patients to gather information and provide education and instruction.
• Contacts are often non-routine and may require use of approaches that consider the needs concerns or unique circumstances surrounding particular patients.
  Hostility debate or conflict may be characteristic of some patient contacts.
• Communication with others is a critical element of the position because the purpose of the contact may be to negotiate matters involving significant issues of importance.
• Work directly with other care team members to provide wholistic care for patients.
• Respond to citizens questions and comments.
• Communicate and coordinate with others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interagency operations and activities.

Budget & Resource Management:

This position is responsible for managing materials equipment and time necessary to deliver services. Decisions made by this position directly affect efficiency and cost of services.

Required Experience:

IC