CH Early Intervention Specialist

Description

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Community Health Early Intervention Supervisor, the Community Health Early Intervention Specialist provides one-time health education interventions for individuals, groups, and communities. This position works collaboratively as part of the CB-CME team, members and families, and other professionals, in linkage to care services for members of the community living with HIV and HCV.  

Job Status: Full-time, Hourly Non-exempt

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Refers and links individuals to available prevention services such as PrEP navigation or Early Intervention Services (EIS).
• Provides:
  • HIV, HCV and Syphilis testing to clients and instructs self-collection for gonorrhea and chlamydia and:
    • Collects and processes blood (finger-stick and venipuncture) specimens and instructs self-collection for gonorrhea and chlamydia.  Prepares specimens for laboratory processing.
    • Facilitates referrals to medical care, PrEP/PEP Navigators, and other DAP Health services as needed.

• Education to DAP staff as appropriate and as assigned on topics regarding health conditions that impact our service areas and strategies to engage members of targeted and impacted populations in care.
  • HIV, HCV and STI education services to individuals in DAP Health’s Sexual Wellness Clinic and community settings reaching individuals at high-risk for HIV infection. Completes an assessment of behavioral risk and utilizes prevention strategies for specific infectious and chronic illnesses at the time of individual visits.
  • Information and education to each client about prevention tools including proper risk reduction, use of condoms, lube, and antiretroviral medication for prevention (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - PEP/ Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - PrEP).
  • Front desk coverage at the Orange Clinic and/or Indio Clinic when necessary by:
    • Greeting, check-in arriving patients and assists patients with scheduling future appointments.
    • Verifying patient information at time of registration.
    • Managing the Electronic Health Record (EHR) (MyChart) queue for appointment scheduling.
    • Answering incoming phone calls for scheduling.
    • Ensuring clinic and clinical staff are not over-scheduled.
    • Confirming upcoming appointments.
    • Providing superior customer service to all patients.

• Assists with vaccination and medication administration as directed by the Clinician or the Nurse Manager of Sexual Wellness.
• Communicates information consistent with organization standards.
• Completes other related assignments to help meet the goals and objectives of the department.
• Establishes positive community relations.
• Remains well informed on how to access community resources to help guide clients through these systems.
• Accesses patient-protected health information as needed.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of work.
• Keeps EHR and other databases up to date as needed.
• Creates a monthly report of progress.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS disease, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis), and HCV including diagnosis, prevention, and risk-reduction strategies, preferred.
• Understanding of how related chronic and infectious diseases are transmitted and prevented as well as familiarity with Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP), preferred.
• Understanding Stages of Change and Behavioral Risk Reduction, preferred.
• Have an interest in and competence in cultural differences, HIV/AIDS, minority health, sexual practices, and a demonstrated competence in working with the substance abuse community, African-American, Latino/a, LGBT communities, health care workers, youth, and/or seniors, preferred.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Bilingual in Spanish, preferred.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree OR experience in medical or health-related fields; social work, counseling, nursing, public health, or other health education.
• Valid CA Driver’s License with up-to-date auto insurance.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross accredited BLS certification.
• California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS HIV testing and finger stick certification is required before providing CLIA Waived testing.
• Partner Services Training certificate preferred and must be completed upon first available training in the region;
• Previous professional or volunteer experience working in HIV/HCV/STI prevention or care and/or delivering sexual health education or other behavior, preferred.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Ability to lift 24 pounds.
• Operates in an office setting at times and requires frequent times of sitting, standing, repetitive motion, and talking.
• Involves contact with patients or patient specimens. Exposure to blood, body fluids and non-intact skin or tissue specimens is required.
• Services may be provided either onsite at DAP Health or throughout the Coachella Valley.

Salary : $23 - $24