If you’re looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.
About Harris County Public Health:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.
Position Overview:
Under the supervision of the Intake and Case Investigation Manager, the Tuberculosis (TB) Epi Investigator position aims to help eliminate TB in Harris County by ensuring thorough investigations following the identification of infectious TB cases. This investigator uses epidemiological principles to conduct field visits, assess exposure areas, and identify high-risk contacts, including children and those with a high likelihood of developing TB disease. This role facilitates increased TB evaluations by providing essential TB education and resources, supporting DSHS in proper data gathering, identifying epidemiologic patterns, and preventing larger TB outbreaks. The investigator also ensures proper surveillance and reporting of TB in the electronic medical record (EMR) system.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Interviews TB patients and key individuals via phone, clinic, or field visits to gather information on contacts, transmission locations, and infection sources.
- Provides consultation and makes recommendations for TB control measures and prevention based on public health guidelines.
- Investigates cases from Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) system and ensures timely and accurate reporting of health conditions for refugees and immigrants.
- Conducts outreach through presentations, workshops, and health fairs to raise awareness and promote healthy practices. During outbreaks, initiates active surveillance in daycares, schools, and long-term care facilities. Builds and maintains relationships with hospital infection preventionists, school health coordinators, and nurses to encourage reporting of Texas notifiable conditions.
- Gathers relevant investigation information and supports data for programmatic KPIs. Ensures accurate and timely data entry into the state database and local health department EMR system and contributes to epidemiology reports.
- Collects, packages, and processes phlebotomy specimens according to laboratory guidelines for testing.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
Experience:
- At least two (2) years of experience working in public health epidemiology field on infectious disease case investigation and/or surveillance activities.
OR
Education:
- High school diploma or GED
Experience:
- At least five (5) years of experience working in public health setting epidemiology field on infectious disease case investigation and/or surveillance activities.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Access.
- Basic proficiency with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA or Epi Info).
- Excellent organizational skills and communication skills (verbal & written).
- Ability to write reports and technical papers.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and foster teamwork in a diverse environment.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.
- Ability to work well with public and staff members.
- Use your personal mobile device for our Multifactor Authentication process.
Core Competencies:
Organizational Leadership
- Understands the organizational mission
- Understands ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust
- Demonstrates respect for the opinions and beliefs of others
Collaboration
- Contributes to an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the success of the group
- Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs
Innovation
- Ability to adapt to change
Interpersonal Abilities/Personal Characteristics
- Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect
- Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
- Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses
- Uses sound judgment
- Self-motivated
- Organizes and maintains work environment to allow for maximum productivity
Communication
- Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Experience:
- Experience in tuberculosis elimination and case contact investigation activities.
Position Type, and Typical Hours of Work:
- This is a full-time position.
- Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Must be willing to flex work hours when required, including weekends.
- Able to travel within Harris County as needed.
Work Environment:
- This job operates in an office environment and community setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopier, filing cabinets and fax machines.
Physical Demands:
- This role requires the ability to lift, carry, push and pull up to twenty (20) pounds and bending & standing for periods at a time.
Work Location:
- Harris County Public Health: Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance & Emerging Diseases - 1111 Fannin St. Houston, Texas, 77002.
Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
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