Healthcare Safety Program Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

8d • $3,581 - $4,477 • Hybrid

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us. 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). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page. Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs. Do you have a "can do" attitude, are a team player, enjoy working in a dynamic department, and want to be a part of the fascinating field of Infectious Disease Prevention in healthcare settings? If yes, join our team of forward-thinking public health and medical professionals working toward improving the health of Texans. Under the supervision of the Healthcare Safety (HCS) Data and Training Group Manager, the Program Specialist I, will complete technical assistance work involving planning, coordinating, developing, reviewing, and implementing grant activities, in coordination and support of Healthcare Safety Unit (HSU) staff subject matter experts and Team Leads. Serves as HCS program liaison for Antimicrobial Use/Antimicrobial Stewardship grant milestones and tasks. Supports activities in obtaining access to new data sources to provide actionable data relating to antibiotic stewardship (e.g. Medicaid antibiotic use data). The Program Specialist I helps to coordinate and handle planning and logistics for various meetings, conferences and special events. Responds to incoming questions and concerns from healthcare facilities and the public regarding Healthcare Safety training events and works closely with other members of the Healthcare Safety Unit on program initiatives. Serves as a liaison with the DSHS Communications Office and Office of Academic Linkages.

Requirements

• At least 2 years relevant experience in office administration and management techniques.
• At least 2 years relevant experience in data entry and use of Microsoft office software.
• At least 1-year relevant experience working in a healthcare-related program.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and prior use of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) or any other similar surveillance system is preferred.
• Must have experience with or demonstrate potential to work with diverse teams in positive workspace.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• The AS Team will hold an HSU orientation on AS’ mission and projects annually. Serve as liaison between the DSHS AS team and local health departments, HAI epidemiologists, and lead epidemiologists for all 8 public health regions. Serve as the Project Lead for the Antimicrobial Use/Antimicrobial Stewardship Facility Assessments. Correspond with facilities statewide and their Antimicrobial Stewardship Committees to schedule assessments, take meeting notes, create assessment reports, and distribute completed reports back to facilities. Coordinate and track documentations related to facility contacts. Plans and coordinates trainings and other events for local and regional health jurisdictions and healthcare facilities across multiple healthcare settings via virtual or in-person meetings and training events. Monitors and responds to inquiries and concerns from healthcare facilities, health department staff and the public regarding training-related activities and projects.
• Review AU and Core Elements of AS uptake data annually. Work with the AS Lead to share data findings with community partners to determine community-specific responses to improve AU and AS. Complete non-regulatory AS Assessments (using ICAR) in Texas healthcare facilities to measure and analyze AU and Core Elements of AS. Update and maintain accurate data as needed. Create graphs to illustrate correlation between facilities meeting some or all Antimicrobial Stewardship Core Elements and multiple data points. Assists in updating National and Texas data obtained from the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Patient Safety Portal (ARPSP) relating to Antibiotic Stewardship and Antibiotic Use. Develops awareness materials such as flyers, posters and social media posts for Healthcare Safety Training initiatives.
• Review the Patient Safety Atlas and NHSN AU Option annually to guide data-driven strategies and provide evidence for alignment of DSHS and key stakeholder initiatives to improve AU practices, policies, education, and awareness. Provide technical and administrative support for the antibiotic stewardship workshops and committee meetings, prepare and submit continuing education applications, coordinate development and distribution of surveys and marketing materials, support development of workshop materials, and moderate workshop question and answer sessions. Collaborates in the planning, development, implementation, analysis, and documentation of the Healthcare Safety Training program.
• Assist Multi-Drug Resistant Organism surveillance by entering Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) data into the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS). Approve/reject CRE cases in NEDSS based on set criteria. Provides support for ARLN coordination. Collaborates with DSHS Social Media/Communications Office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as needed, to develop and coordinate the distribution of marketing and advertising materials. Works with other Healthcare Safety Unit staff to complete joint program projects including creation and maintenance of the external Healthcare Safety webpage.
• 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 (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed