Public Health Epide Tech 2 - Public Health Epidemiologist (Region Surveillance Epidemiologist)

State of Louisiana • Thibodaux, LA

389d • $40,836 - $73,488

About The Position

The Public Health Epidemiologist (Region Surveillance Epidemiologist) position at the Louisiana Department of Health involves monitoring, analyzing, and interpreting epidemiological data to ensure the health and safety of Louisiana citizens. This role is crucial in reducing the occurrence of infectious diseases through surveillance activities, data analysis, and collaboration with healthcare providers. The position is classified and may be filled as a job appointment, allowing for potential advancement within the public health job series.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree which includes a total of twenty-four semester hours in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, biological sciences, behavioral sciences, or nursing.
• One year of professional level experience in epidemiology.
• A master's degree in one of the fields listed above will substitute for all of the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Acts as liaison for the Infectious Disease Epi Section on all epidemiologic activities conducted in assigned region.
• Completes disease case reports in assigned regions; establishes rapport with local hospital infection control staff.
• Oversees appropriate institution of follow-up activities for specific diseases at both the state and local levels.
• Monitors parish health units and hospitals conducting surveillance activities via electronic reporting within assigned regions and provides feedback on data quality.
• Analyzes and interprets data for disease prevention and control implementation and prepares summary reports.
• Assists with the maintenance and enhancement of current surveillance system processes, including the statewide Infectious Disease Reporting Information System (IDRIS).
• Coordinates and collaborates with physicians and health care providers to enhance disease surveillance activities in the areas of case identification and disease reporting.
• Prepares and maintains confidential case records, collects, documents and verifies pertinent medical data from patients, physicians, and medical facilities.
• Participates in conducting disease outbreak investigation in collaboration with various health professionals.
• Monitors surveillance data for trends and clusters at local/regional level; prepares reports for state and national databases.
• Conducts interviews of persons diagnosed or suspected of having a communicable disease and identifies susceptible contacts for medical referral/follow-up.
• Serves as a resource to the general public and health care community by responding to routine requests for general infectious disease information and provision of disease statistics.
• Prepares articles for publication in the Louisiana Morbidity Report and the Epidemiology Annual Summary Report.
• Provides and disseminates health education to communities-at-risk regarding disease prevention and transmission.

Benefits

• Insurance coverage
• Parental leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
• Paid holidays including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Mardi Gras, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
• Sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use.
• Retirement benefits through various retirement systems.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree