OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64916191

State of Florida • Jacksonville Beach, FL

8d

About The Position

Join Team Duval. At DOH-Duval, we work every day to protect, promote, and improve the health of our community. Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and public service. Our programs are recognized across Florida for their impact and effectiveness, and we are looking for dedicated professionals who want to make a real difference. If you are passionate about creating healthier communities, your future starts here.

This position works as a multi-county Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) epidemiologist responsible for HAI investigations and infection control for the Florida Department of Health in Duval and assigned counties. The incumbent will work under the administrative supervision of the Epidemiology Program Director and technical guidance from the State’s HAI Program. The position provides critical resources to support a broad range of healthcare infection prevention and control (IPC) activities and epidemiological surveillance related activities to detect, monitor, mitigate, and prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Supports long-term care facilities during their infection responses and assists to build and maintain the infection prevention infrastructure necessary to support residents, visitors, and facility healthcare personnel safely. This position may involve traveling to healthcare facilities for infection control assessment, outbreak investigations and training. The incumbent will be assured of timely and accurate investigation and follow up of HAIs. All of the following duties require accuracy, safety, positive customer and team interactions, and adherence to protocol, policies, and procedures at all times.

Requirements

• Knowledge of epidemiology, infection prevention and control.
• Knowledge of statistical methods and applications
• Ability to evaluate and interpret epidemiological and statistical data pertaining to the control of communicable diseases.
• Knowledge of Merlin, ESSENCE, Redcap, NHSN (National Healthcare Safety Network) and other epidemiologic applications.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and Statistical Software including Excel and SAS or SPSS.
• Ability to perform public speaking.
• Tactful interpersonal, interviewing, and organizational skills
• Ability to explain the principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, high-risk interactions, symptoms of diseases, and prevention and control interventions.
• Ability to present information clearly and concisely orally and in writing
• Valid, unrestricted driver’s license.
• Must be available to work during regular working hours and days, which is from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm - Monday to Friday. This position requires flexibility. Must be willing to work before, after, and beyond normal working hours including weekends and holidays, for surveillance duties, field investigations, and/or outbreak responses.

Nice To Haves

• Candidate with a master’s or higher degree in public health/epidemiology with infection prevention and control experience and/or certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) assessments among health care facilities (e.g., dialysis, LTCFs, dental, outpatient, hospitals), school settings, rehabilitation centers and additional group settings as needed and identified each month in each region.
• Coordinate laboratory support for testing and typing of HAI-related specimens and isolations.
• Conduct MDRO/HAI outbreak investigations and provide appropriate containment and transmission guidance for novel or targeted multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
• Utilize Florida’s surveillance system, Merlin, to track outbreaks and investigations.
• Serve as subject matter experts on engaging, educating, and training health care facilities, county health departments, professional societies, and other community partners on infectious disease threats and IPC practices in health care settings.
• Work with facilities such as long-term care facilities, dialysis facilities, dental, outpatient care facilities, rehab centers, and additional group settings as needed and identified to improve prevention activities, outbreak detection and reporting.
• Provide quarterly training to county health departments on infection prevention and control to increase their capacity to serve as a resource when responding to MDROs and HAI outbreaks.
• Analyze Merlin data to identify opportunities for improving emerging threat detection and making recommendations for health care facilities that have the greatest need for improvement based on surveillance data.
• Consult Project First Line Educators to provide onsite education and training in response to identified infection control gaps. Minimum 80% facility participation during training/education events.
• Submit completed reports into REDCap as instructed and saved into the appropriate HAI SharePoint folder.
• Provide written report with recommendations within 72 hours of the completed assessment to the facility.
• Conduct follow up assessment (onsite or telephone) within four weeks of completed report to evaluate for implementation of recommendations.
• Provide additional support for regional training in collaboration with Project First Line Educators in each region for LTCF on infection prevention and control. Goal of 60% facility participation in each region.
• Using NHSN and Merlin data to assist with response and mitigation efforts.
• Work with identified CHD LTCF liaisons to assess areas of concern and priorities for outreach.
• Assist with regional outbreak response training/drills (e.g., acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long term acute care hospitals, BPHL, CHDs, coalition groups).
• Serve as an active member of the epidemiology response team in Duval County. Respond to biological events within an incident command structure under an emergency support function and in state and local law enforcement/emergency services events.
• Assist the health officer and program administrator in formulating responses to the community regarding disease outbreaks and attend meetings with state and local officials regarding public health issues.
• Prepare, proofreads, edits, and/or routes correspondence to internal and external partners, as well as other entities with accuracy and promptness. This will include journal articles, publications and spreadsheets.
• Communicate in writing, in person, and through electronic means concisely and positively. Take initiative to multi-task with accuracy. Communicate and solve problems appropriately. Exhibit and maintain a positive attitude while working independently and in a team setting. Provide quality educational opportunities and training for students.
• Participate in quality improvement activities. Attend staff meetings, in-services, seminars and training for self-improvement, increased competency, and retention of skills. Participate in orientation and staff development programs for people working in the Epidemiology Program. Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level