EPIDEMIOLOGIST III - 64035489

State of Florida

5d • $2,197 - $2,334 • Onsite

About The Position

Provides a broad range of services in the Epidemiology Program as a full-time County Epidemiologist.  This position conducts epidemiologic investigations, surveillance, and interventions related to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)/Antimicrobial Resistant (AR) organisms to support health care facilities and the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. The County HAI Epidemiologist will have extensive knowledge of the principles of HAI/AR, public health surveillance, and the application of epidemiological methods to HAI/AR organisms. Serve as subject matter expert on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, HAI organisms, public health surveillance and epidemiological investigations.  Provide timely infection prevention and control consultation to health care organizations and congregate settings.  Analyze, evaluate, research, and interpret scientific guidelines/protocols, policies, and regulations. Support HAI/AR epidemiological investigations including outbreak or case creation in Merlin.  Support onsite prevention and response infection prevention and control assessments as needed, including a review of health care facilities infection prevention plans, direct observation of infection control practices using a standardized tool (e.g., Infection Control Assessment and Response [ICAR] Tool), and surveillance capacity. Conduct follow-up site assessments within 3 weeks of initial visit to ensure that the healthcare facility has implemented mitigation recommendations based on report findings.  Ensure findings from on-site visits and summarize them in a report and/or tracking system, with key findings and recommendations provided to the participating healthcare facility. Train, coordinate, review, and evaluate the activities of disease surveillance and investigations. Provide education and training to facilities on participating in HAI investigations and response (e.g. ICARs, contaminated medical products, routine facility outbreaks, etc.).  Coordinate laboratory support for testing and typing of specimens and isolates in collaboration with the Regional Epidemiologists and Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL).  Collaborate with health care facilities and congregate settings for improving outbreak detection and reporting. Provides technical guidance and completes epidemiological investigations for the required reporting of communicable diseases and conditions in Orange County for emerging pathogens and provides assistance as requested for neighboring counties as it relates to emerging infectious diseases.  Coordinates, investigates, analyzes and controls outbreaks of suspected diseases in the community for emerging or novel infectious disease preparedness response. Attends and/or facilitates meetings and attends conferences representing the department.  Appears at public meetings, lectures to groups as requested. Participates in local, regional or statewide training and exercises directed to county health department staff and public health partners. Participates in quality improvement trainings and exercises as it relates to the county health department including clinical sites.  Participates in rotational on-call activities including utilization of radio/telephone contacting systems with the CHD and medical community and must respond within 15 minutes of initiation of call.  Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to apply advanced epidemiological principles and practices
• Skill to conduct thorough epidemiological case investigations and timely follow up
• Ability to complete assessments as part of the epidemiological investigation
• Ability to interpret laboratory results correctly and apply appropriate control measures based on informed interpretation of state and federal guidance
• Skilled in methods to collect data and ability to ensure high data quality
• Skilled in data analysis and interpretation
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques
• Ability to complete reports in a timely manner
• Ability to effectively utilize of basic computer equipment and programs, office equipment, and epidemiology programs, including MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, statistical software (e.g. Epi Info), syndromic surveillance system (e.g. ESSENCE, Merlin)
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and stakeholders
• Ability to document work products completely and accurately
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and stakeholders
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments in a timely manner
• A bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or biological science (or 4 years of professional experience conducting infectious disease investigation/control or infection prevention activities in a clinical setting in lieu of a bachelor’s degree)
• 1 year of professional experience designing, conducting, and evaluating epidemiologic studies and field investigations or conducting infection prevention and control activities in a clinical setting; or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience in a clinical setting.
• Willing to work before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency? This may include working in a special needs or Red Cross shelter, 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. Emergency duties may also include in-state and/or out-of-state deployment.
• Must have at least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences or public health and one year of professional experience as described above (or 4 years of professional work experience in infectious disese investigation at a public health department and/or infection control and prevention work experience in a clinical setting may be substituted in lieu of a Bachelor's degree)

Nice To Haves

• Have 3 post-graduate level or higher courses in epidemiology verifiable by graduate school transcript.
• Have 1 post-graduate level biostatistics course verifiable by graduate school transcript.
• Graduate of an accredited college or university Master's degree program in Epidemiology, Public Health, or biological science.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infectiion Control and Epidemiology.
• Greater than 3 years of professional experience conducting acute infectious disease investigations in public sector health department and/or conducting infection prevention and control activities in clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct epidemiologic investigations, surveillance, and interventions related to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)/Antimicrobial Resistant (AR) organisms to support health care facilities and the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.
• Serve as subject matter expert on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, HAI organisms, public health surveillance and epidemiological investigations.
• Provide timely infection prevention and control consultation to health care organizations and congregate settings.
• Analyze, evaluate, research, and interpret scientific guidelines/protocols, policies, and regulations.
• Support HAI/AR epidemiological investigations including outbreak or case creation in Merlin.
• Support onsite prevention and response infection prevention and control assessments as needed, including a review of health care facilities infection prevention plans, direct observation of infection control practices using a standardized tool (e.g., Infection Control Assessment and Response [ICAR] Tool), and surveillance capacity.
• Conduct follow-up site assessments within 3 weeks of initial visit to ensure that the healthcare facility has implemented mitigation recommendations based on report findings.
• Ensure findings from on-site visits and summarize them in a report and/or tracking system, with key findings and recommendations provided to the participating healthcare facility.
• Train, coordinate, review, and evaluate the activities of disease surveillance and investigations.
• Provide education and training to facilities on participating in HAI investigations and response (e.g. ICARs, contaminated medical products, routine facility outbreaks, etc.).
• Coordinate laboratory support for testing and typing of specimens and isolates in collaboration with the Regional Epidemiologists and Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL).
• Collaborate with health care facilities and congregate settings for improving outbreak detection and reporting.
• Provides technical guidance and completes epidemiological investigations for the required reporting of communicable diseases and conditions in Orange County for emerging pathogens and provides assistance as requested for neighboring counties as it relates to emerging infectious diseases.
• Coordinates, investigates, analyzes and controls outbreaks of suspected diseases in the community for emerging or novel infectious disease preparedness response.
• Attends and/or facilitates meetings and attends conferences representing the department.
• Appears at public meetings, lectures to groups as requested.
• Participates in local, regional or statewide training and exercises directed to county health department staff and public health partners.
• Participates in quality improvement trainings and exercises as it relates to the county health department including clinical sites.
• Participates in rotational on-call activities including utilization of radio/telephone contacting systems with the CHD and medical community and must respond within 15 minutes of initiation of call.
• 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
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees