Essential Job Functions:
45% Epidemiologic investigations and facility assessments
Initiates, plans, conducts and oversees epidemiological surveillance projects, infection control assessments, and investigations of HAI/AR infections in healthcare facilities. Investigations may include infectious disease outbreaks, medical product or device contamination, infection control breaches, transplant or transfusion related infections, bloodborne pathogen exposures, and outbreaks related to healthcare facility environment. Coordinates investigations with healthcare facilities, local and regional health departments, CDC, and other internal and external stakeholders. Reviews medical records and abstracts relevant information. Coordinates provision of epidemiological and laboratory resources to support investigations. Provides epidemiologic consultation to infection preventionists, public health department epidemiologists, medical professionals, and other stakeholders. Communicates investigation findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders. Develops, reviews and updates HAI and AR investigation guidelines and resources. Provides assistance to other epidemiologists within the state, as needed.
35% Leadership and education
Helps achieve the HAI Investigations Groups' goals and objectives. Serves as HAI/AR subject matter expert for designated Public Health Region (PHR). Mentors and trains local and regional health department epidemiologists, infection preventionists, interns, fellows and other HAI Epidemiologists. Assists with the HAI Investigations Group grants, including writing work plans, making recommendations for budgets, carrying out and tracking activities, and reporting milestones and performance measures. Manages projects and helps prioritize tasks to ensure their timely completion. Hosts and attends meetings with internal and external stakeholders to provide updates about IPC topics and HAI/AR investigations. Develops and provides educational materials and trainings for healthcare facilities, public health departments, general public and other partners. Develops recommendations to Manager on contracts, staffing needs, policies and procedures. Participates in the interviews and selection process for other team members.
15% Communication
Prepares and disseminates information to internal and external stakeholders regarding IPC topics and HAI/AR reporting, prevention, and control, including health advisories. Prepares abstracts for manuscript submission or presentation at professional organization meetings and conferences. As requested by DSHS leadership, responds to legislative requests and inquiries from the DSHS Press Office.
5% Other Duties as Assigned
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 Plan (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.