Communicable Disease Epidemiologist

Fairfield County, Ohio; Lancaster (OH); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfield County Health Department seeks a Communicable Disease Specialist to conduct case and contact investigations, reinforce education, and follow up with clients to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. This is an on-site role within the health department.

The position requires knowledge of epidemiology, data analysis, and strong communication skills, with graduate epidemiology coursework and Emergency Preparedness training preferred. Valid Ohio driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, environmental health, nursing, social work, or public health.
• Basic knowledge of infectious disease transmission, prevention and epidemiology principles.
• Graduate-level epidemiology course or CDC principles within the first 90 days of employment.
• Emergency Preparedness training to be completed upon hiring.
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Investigates reportable infectious diseases as guided by the Ohio Infectious Disease Control Manual.
• Monitors surveillance systems for trends and early detection in sensitive areas.
• Investigates and coordinates disease outbreaks or clusters.
• Collects and analyzes data for quarterly and annual disease reports.
• Responds to public inquiries about infectious disease concerns.
• Interviews infected or suspected individuals to determine transmission sources.
• Serves as primary contact for Class A diseases outside business hours.
• Maintains Health Alert Network and updates SOPs.
• Interprets local, state, and federal guidelines related to infectious disease control.
• Develops and extracts reports for internal and external partners.
• Participates in public health emergency activities as part of the Epi team.
• Collaborates on special projects and provides education.
• Meets OSHA safety standards and agency safety procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Epidemiology knowledge

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences or public health

Job description

Description

Under general direction from the Nursing Director, the Communicable Disease Specialist conducts case and contact investigations, reinforces education, and follow-up for clients with infectious diseases to reduce the incidence and prevalence of communicable diseases.

• This position requires to be on site*

Duties

• Investigates reportable infectious diseases as guided by the Ohio Infectious Disease Control Manual.
• Monitors various infectious disease surveillance systems (i.e., epicenter anomalies, ODRS, etc.) for significant disease trends and early detection of emerging infectious diseases in sensitive areas (food handling, child care, and adult care).
• Investigates, coordinates, and/or assists with all reported disease outbreaks or illness clusters.
• Collects and analyzes reportable infectious disease data for the quarterly and annual disease reports.
• Responds to public inquiries from schools, institutions, businesses, individuals, etc. regarding infectious disease concerns.
• Interviews and re-interviews persons infected with or suspected of having a communicable or infectious disease to determine the source of the transmission.
• Serves as a primary contact for Class A diseases reported outside of normal business hours.
• Assists with maintaining the agency Health Alert Network and assists with reviews/updates of the Health Alert Network Standard Operating Guidelines.
• Interprets and implements local, state, and federal guidelines related to infectious disease control.
• Develops and extracts reports from databases for delivery to internal and external partners.
• Participates in public health emergency activities as needed. Serves as a member of the Epi team.
• Collaborates with internal and external partners on special projects as assigned.
• Provides and participates in professional education activities.
• Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to the essential functions of the position and all agency safety procedures
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, environmental health, nursing, social work, or public health.
• Basic knowledge of infectious disease transmission, prevention and epidemiology principles. Prior public health or communicable disease experience is preferred.
• Completion of at least one graduate level epidemiology course or CDC principles of epidemiology within the first 90 days of employment.
• Training in Emergency Preparedness to be completed upon hiring.
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License.

Supplemental Information

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FCHD is a smoke free building; employees are prohibited from smoking anywhere on the property. Most time is spent sitting; however, mobility to access records, greet public, visit client’s homes, and operate equipment is required.

Driving to visit other offices, client’s homes, and to present information to groups and agencies in various locations and settings.

Frequent telephone conversations, face to face discussions, and contract with others.