Public Health Program Representative (Communicable Disease Investigation)

Salary: $45,656 - $60,372

Position Grade: 13G

Department: Health Department

Job Type: Full-Time (Permanent)

Examination Number: EX1327

Location: Downtown - St. Louis, MO

The Public Health Program Representative is responsible for investigating infectious diseases in the City of St. Louis by interviewing cases and their contacts and contacting various information sources (e.g. medical facilities, bars, restaurants, welfare agencies, neighbors, and work locations).

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Monitors and analyzes data pertaining to health-related outbreaks; investigates communicable diseases and implements control and preventative measures to reduce the impact in the community.

• Communicates findings of investigations and makes recommendations regarding adjustments to programs, protocols, and policies; monitors and reports incidents of health-related outbreaks to local and state health agencies.

• Assists with compiling information to develop training and educational resources; educates and trains healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases and the methods of transmission and prevention; responds to inquiries regarding outbreaks and methods of prevention.

Duties include (but not limited to):

• Conduct communicable disease investigations and ensure proper documentation.

• Collect blood by venipuncture from patients in a clinic or during a home visit; the Department of Health will provide on-the-job training to assure safety and proficiency in blood collection techniques.

• Investigate and follow up on a wide range of reportable communicable diseases to ensure the implementation of appropriate prevention, treatment, control, and reporting measures.

• Data/investigation information is entered into web-based electronic database epidemiological surveillance systems for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Health.

• Consult, outreach, educate, and publicize about communicable diseases to laypersons in the community and special groups (e.g., healthcare provider groups, infection preventionists, government employees).

• Prepare individual narrative reports concerning work procedures and certain patients.

• Read current materials and keep abreast of any changes on sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases, primarily regarding infection control as necessary to provide an effective communicable disease control program.

• Participate in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned.

• Utilize appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to perform basic level of data analysis including the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize and/or reference data, statutes and/or guidelines and/or group, rank, investigate and diagnose. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such to established standards to recognize interactive effects and relationships.

• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide paraprofessional level counseling in semi-specialized areas, such as social service referral and casework.

• Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use: Requires the ability to operate a variety of office equipment such as computer terminal, typewriter, telephone, fax machine, calculator/adding machine, computer printer and photocopier. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as detainee records, case notes, referral recommendations, incident reports, contact sheets, grievance forms, treatment plans, intake forms, directories, statutes, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.

• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable.

• Environmental Factors: Work is normally performed in an office environment under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to disease and irate individuals poses a very limited risk of injury.

• Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to lift files and office materials up to twenty pounds.

• Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks to clearly distinguish objects and communicate with detainees and others.

A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Social Work, Sociology, Community Health Education, or Psychology; plus one year of health outreach experience in Communicable Disease. OR, an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferences:

Excellent verbal communication skills; the ability to maintain sensitive confidential information; experience providing consultation, outreach, education and public messaging about communicable disease.

License: Must possess and maintain a valid Missouri driver's license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of filing application and be able to present it upon request. Please note type of license, number, class and expiration date on the Employment Application.

Scoring Components and Their Weights
Experience and Training: 100%
May be Subject to:
Background Investigation: Pass/Fail
Medical Examination: Pass/Fail

Documentation of Academic Credentials must be Submitted Upon Request

When completing the Employment History and the Educational/Training History sections of the Employment Application, please be as thorough as possible when describing your education, training and experience relating to this position. Applicants will only receive credit for their experience, training and education as shown on the application. Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute to a fully completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Veterans Preference Points

To be eligible for veteran's preference points, the applicant must submit a copy of their DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with the Employment Application or upon request. The Director of Personnel may, in their discretion, accept alternate documentation.

City Residence Preference Points

City residents who pass an examination for a position in the classified service and do not receive any other preference will receive a five (5) point preference on a scale of 100 points on the exam. An additional one (1) point shall be added to the passing score of City residents who receive any other preference on a scale of 100 points. City residents must have resided in the City for at least one (1) year at the time of filing their application to be eligible for the preference points.

Accommodations

If assistance with the job application is necessary based on a physical impairment, mental impairment, or otherwise, they should reach out to the Office on the Disabled with contact information. This office will not disclose any information that an applicant or employee has a disability or has discussed possible accommodations without the applicant's or employee's prior consent.