PHPS I-Operations and Outreach

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Eagle Pass, TX

3d • $3,095 - $4,595 • Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Communicable Disease Program Manager, performs routine (journey-level) public health work in Public Health Region 8. Manages Latent TB Infection reports and provides follow-up to providers and patients. Completes surveillance and disease investigations, data entry and data management, contact investigations, provides directly observed therapy, and completes assigned programmatic activities. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Works evenings, holidays, and weekends as requested. Must be able to independently drive and travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions. During public health emergencies, including pandemic responses such as COVID-19, all PHR 8 employees are expected to provide related public health or emergency response services. This may include response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activities. Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends as requested by the Communicable Disease Manager. Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.

Requirements

• Knowledge of tuberculosis prevention and control
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of confidentiality guidelines.
• Skill in the use of a personal computer, including Microsoft Office products.
• Skill in conducting patient interviews using tact and diplomacy.
• Skill in educating patients, suspects, and contacts about tuberculosis transmission, infection vs. disease, and treatment process.
• Skill in conducting contact investigation.
• Skill in providing directly observed therapy and directly observed preventive therapy services.
• Skill in conducting training.
• Skill in case analysis for case/contact management.
• Skill in communicating effectively with others both orally and in writing.
• Ability to assess patient’s comprehension about tuberculosis.
• Ability to apply time management principles to tasks.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with the public and medical community using tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work well and effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to meet agency employee immunization requirements; meet the physical demands of the job functions; and comply with HIPAA regulations.
• Ability to wear and maintain an N95 respirator (or equivalent) in accordance with OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard.
• Ability to be medically cleared to wear a respirator and comply with respirator use requirements at initial fit testing, as part of day-to-day use, and at annual fit testing.
• Ability to independently drive and travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
• Ability to collect sputum and carry out phlebotomy.
• Ability to provide transportation.
• Current and valid Texas Class C driver license or equivalent from another state
• Experience in public health or community service.

Nice To Haves

• TB experience

Responsibilities

• Manage the intake of electronic lab reports and provider faxes; perform comprehensive follow-up to secure required documentation, including TB test results, signs and symptoms screening, chest x-rays, and TB-400 forms.
• Educate healthcare providers on treatment initiation protocols; conduct patient outreach via phone or field visits to complete missing documentation (including but not limited to the 208) and ensure treatment adherence.
• Educate patients on LTBI, the importance of completing TB evaluation and encourage preventative treatment.
• Update the provider latent TB infection packet and internal procedure manual.
• Consults with regional nurses to rule out patients as suspects or confirmed cases.
• Collaborates with manager and regional nurses to decide if people without high risk for TB disease can be managed by the regional program.
• Helps schedule patients for follow up case management visits and chest x-ray referrals.
• Supports the tuberculosis program with drawing labs, collecting sputum specimens, specimen packaging, specimen shipping, specimen transportation, phlebotomy, documenting appropriately in patient’s charts, and educating clients and family and performing other patient support as needed.
• Coordinate with central office and with outside counties and jurisdictions to ensure seamless care and treatment completion for patients moving out of the initial area of diagnosis.
• Stays up to date on required tuberculosis-related continuing education, program, and other region-required training.
• Abides by Regional TB Program Procedures, the State TB Program Procedures, Regional SDOs, and DSHS, Regional and State policies and procedures.
• Works hours other than 8 to 5, evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• Must be able to drive and travel throughout Texas independently and out-of-state to complete essential job functions.
• Receives all incoming reports, labs, records, etc for cases, suspects, contacts, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), electronic disease notifications (EDN), binational patients, etc.
• Actively tracks and monitors TB reporting from hospital, correctional, and other reporting facilities in the region.
• Sorts all faxes, saves documents in existing patient folders and creates a new folder when necessary and forwards to correct program staff according to program procedures.
• Scan and upload documents into patient folders on the share drive and maintain each patient file up to date.
• Requests any missing or additional medical records.
• Carries out data entry of clinical information and surveillance data collected from patient encounters, lab results, and radiology results.
• Enters information for EDNs, LTBIs, community, corrections, and binational patients.
• Enters all new patient information and maintains patient records updated by entering into local and state electronic databases.
• Upon report, assists clinical staff with gathering preliminary information and filling out case presentation forms.
• Requests additional information from hospitals, clinics, or correctional facilities, as needed by the treating physician or TB nurse consultant.
• Obtains medical records, completes case summary presentations, and fills in TB 400s, 340s, 341s, and other required forms for tuberculosis patients.
• Completes active surveillance activities.
• Processes interstate and intrastate jurisdictional transfers.
• Serves as backup to the RighFax Coordinator.
• Provides support with processing claims, budget tracking and monitoring, travel, submission of purchase orders and other programmatic and general office activities as requested by the Communicable Disease Manager.
• Schedules and tracks required employee training.
• Supports cohort reviews.
• Scans and files documents electronically.
• Creates procedure manuals.
• Provides support in completing the TB program Annual Report and the Region 8 TB Program Manual.
• Completes assigned activities as outlined in the Texas TB Work Plan or the regional program manual.
• Produces timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, yearly, and special reports of TB activity in the region.
• Assesses educational needs, develops education materials, and assists with training in hospitals/clinics, health service agencies, congregate facilities, and for patients regarding the prevention and control of TB.
• Completes continuing education applications, designs and conducts training for community settings, hospitals/clinics, congregate facilities, state and national conferences, and for patients regarding the prevention and control of TB.
• Collaborates with nursing staff to provide language translation assistance for patients under our care.
• May serve as a backup to the Administrative Assistant and the Corrections Surveillance Coordinator.
• Provides in-person DOT and/or Video DOT to TB cases/suspects and DOPT to TB contacts or TBI clients as ordered by TB physician.
• Reviews adverse reactions with client or parent at every visit.
• Timely and accurately document each visit on the DOT checklist and corresponding local and state databases.
• Meets patient at assigned time and place and documents and notifies TB nurses if the patient does not show or cannot attend DOT.
• Assures treatment compliance by providing DOT/DOPT services.
• Assesses patient environment to reduce risk of transmission and minimize delinquency.
• Track DOT mileage.
• Provide education to the patient on the use of VDOT, obtain VDOT consents, review patient’s medication recordings.
• Performs contact investigations for patients who are considered infectious.
• Ensures adequate scope of the contact investigation and obtains testing records from facilities.
• Supports regional, local, state, or federal entities in investigating and managing TB outbreaks and contact investigations in community contact investigations.
• Conducts interviews with people, collects information through hospital chart reviews, and follows up with contacts to ensure timely medical and evaluation of all contacts.
• Performs TB testing as needed and collects sputum and blood specimens.
• Uses approved program forms including but not limited to Contact Investigation Worksheet and TB 208 to carry out contact investigation activities.
• Completes specimen collection, specimen packaging, specimen shipping, specimen transportation to drop-off locations, and phlebotomy.
• Educates contacts on TB infection and disease treatment.
• Using the levels of risk approach assesses investigation results to determine the need to expand the contact investigation.
• Determines the scope of a contact investigation based upon the clinical data of the case or suspected case of TB.
• Completes data entry of contacts into regional and state databases and electronically and physically files documents.
• 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 activation.
• Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business, and an acceptable driving record must be maintained in accordance with DSHS Policy 06-3901, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures, and standards developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• Complies with the Department of State Health Services Immunization Policy.
• Provide support services in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
• On a rotating basis, provides support with responding to calls received through the 24-hour regional after-hours hotline.

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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed