Public Health Technician I

City of Corpus Christi, TX•Corpus Christi, TX

49d

About The Position

A TB PHT I requires direct patient contact within the clinic and in the field; assist with disease investigations, clinical support, administrative support, public health preparedness; adherence to all state and federal TB guidelines and policies related to TB testing, treatment, reporting, contact investigations and surveillance. This position will ensure and maintain patient data in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and state databases to monitor TB control. The TB PHT I will extract patient information from EHR for QA and productivity reporting. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED
Two (2) years of experience
A valid driver's license is required; successful out-of-state candidates must be able to obtain a valid Texas driver's license within 90 days of hire
CPR/AED/First Aid Certified (In house training) Required within six (6) months of hire

Responsibilities

Participates in information gathering of newly diagnosed TB cases, contacts, and suspects
Provides TB testing and specimen collection in clinics and fields
Works with RN and notifies RN of changes in patient health condition or demographic status
Maintains the calendar of follow up appointments and testing for patients
Assists with provision of TB treatment for patients in accordance with SDOs
Works evenings with other agencies to provides patient testing and education
Collects and prepares patient specimens for laboratory delivery
Conducts sputum collection
Enters patient history and current visit information in EHR and state databases/disease surveillance systems
Deals with angry, aggressive, agitated, and/or mentally/physically ill clients
Assists with all TB surveillance activities within assigned jurisdiction
Enters data for all investigative information obtained during client interviews
Performs investigative searches to obtain information on all clients involved in a case
Performs complex chart abstraction for comprehensive technical functions, comprehensive medical record reviews
Maintains high security integrity of databases through use of encryption
Develops and implements QA for data submitted by providers for RVCT reporting
Abstracts medical records from hospitals, private providers, and clinics
Conducts FVs to locate clients and conduct interviews in hospitals, homes, workplaces, jails, community centers
Collects specimens in client homes, workplaces, jails, community centers
Provides education to outside agencies (schools, hospitals, clinics, etc.)
Provides testing and counseling at any site named in a TB case
Drives personal vehicle and conduct FVs before 8am/after 5pm as needed
Inputs and scans patient data into EHR
Greets and registers clinic patients
Inputs RVCT patient data and laboratory results into state databases
Requires conducting FVs in all weather conditions (excessive heat, cold, rain, etc.)
Requires handling and transport biomedical waste (blood, sputum)
Requires conducting sputum collection in nonstandard sites/environments with physical challenges (no chair, no table, no heat or air condition, bug ingested, unclean, etc.)
Lifts, carries pushes, pulls supplies for outreach events or from purchasing dept
Walks in unstable environments, entering dilapidated housing/bldgs