BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64064130

State of Florida • Riviera Beach, FL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Biological Scientist II position in the Tuberculosis (TB) Program at the Northeast Health Center. This position is responsible for surveillance activities within Palm Beach County Health Department - TB Program and works with others in an effort to accomplish the goals of the unit and the Health Department. Work is performed under the supervision of the Senior Human Services Program MGR - SES. This position requires independent judgment, initiative, applying general knowledge of business practices and skill in applying instructions to accomplish various job functions.
This position is designated as a sensitive position and is required to maintain confidential information in accordance with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures. Maintain state and local confidentiality/security policies as related to data and information in accordance with Florida Statute 392, Florida Administrative Code 64D-3 Health Department guidelines. Confidential Information sets include Social Security Data and clinical information. This position has responsibility to view and update confidential information.

Requirements

• Ability to collect, record and analyze data relating to records.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to make decisions in a timely manner.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of computers and basic software applications
• Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

Nice To Haves

• An associate’s degree

Responsibilities

• Responsible for Surveillance activities within Palm Beach County Health Department – TB Program.
• Works in close coordination and serves as a backup for the TB Control Program Records Technician.
• Generates reports upon request and provides oversight for data integrity regarding information being entered into HMS and TB medical records and updates the TB database on an ongoing basis.
• Responsible for Classes B1, B2 notifications, referrals and EDN records.
• Responsible for linking patients to services.
• Receives and processes reports from Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) clients.
• Reviews reports, prints records and keeps individual folders on CDC EDN A, B1, B2, B3 reports.
• Ensures registration of EDN clients in HMS.
• Produce follow up reports and updates to the TB Control Section and CDC.
• Make phone calls, send certified letters and conduct field visits to locate patients as needed.
• Schedules appointments for clients and input progress notes.
• Calls clients to inform them of the date/time of the appointments, mails certified letters with appointments slip and documents.
• Follow up with the client’s appointments as needed.
• Sends client’s EDN records to the Medical Records office of the Health Department Health Centers for medical evaluation.
• Continue monitoring all EDN patients until submitted and completed in EDN system and EDN TB Data spreadsheet.
• Documents updates and outcomes on HMS progress notes, TB Data spreadsheet and EDN TB-Follow up worksheet.
• Responsible for the Unaccompanied Children (UAC) notifications and referrals and linking them to services.
• Produce follow up reports and updates for UACs.
• Responsible for notifying and tracking of interjurisdictional referrals of LTBI patients.
• Receive, track, and report on the status of all LTBI referrals for PBC and will be responsible for assuring all forms from Palm Beach County are complete and reports documented before they are returned to the Bureau of TB and Refugee Health and other counties in Florida.
• Serves as the backup registering inter-jurisdictional TB suspects and cases clients in HMS.
• Initiates care coordination, assigns initial classification, enters X-Rays, HIV and TB Screening test results and updates.
• Follows up on pending and unreported data and updates data if available at the time of receiving inter-jurisdictional reports.
• Provides the information to the Lead Nurse Case Manager (NCM) for prioritization and follow up.
• Serves as a backup for Records Technician duties regarding TB cases and suspect’s reports, registration in HMS, classification and processing of all demographic and clinical data.
• Assign reports of cases and suspects to nurse case managers when covering for Records Technician.
• Requests information from the network of private hospitals and doctor’s office and follows up with pending information to completion.
• Assists in the processing of EPI information data during large contact investigations and registration in HMS.
• Evaluate and track activities related to linking LTBI patients from the Migrant Clinicians Network and Department of Correction (DOC) to clinic services, and make referrals as needed.
• Keeps records and ensures all notification letters are sent to patients released from a correctional institution.
• Ensure released inmates are located and linked to LTBI services.
• Provide a response to notifications according to current timeframes.
• Assist keeping IGRA database at the health center level.
• Responsible for all related data entry of medical information obtained from private physicians is entered into the HMS system and kept on medical records.
• Attends training courses, staff and team meetings for the TB Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree