Disease Intervention Specialist Trainee

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

State of West Virginia seeks a Disease Intervention Specialist to conduct extensive investigations and coordinate public health actions in core counties. You will review records, locate contacts, and perform interviews under CDC standards.

Responsibilities include partner services, HIV testing referrals, linkage to care, and documenting in WVEDSS while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality. A valid driver's license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience in STD/HIV control, nursing, or social services and/or public health case management and investigation may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required training.
• A valid driver's license and the availability of an automobile is required.
• Full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience as an investigator in a Human Services/Behavioral Services.

Responsibilities

• Perform extensive and complex investigations according to CDC standards.
• Review and interpret medical records, social networking profiles, online presence, etc.
• Locate patients/contacts via phone, dating apps, mail, field visits, and other investigative methods.
• Interview and/or re-interview Original Patients diagnosed with STIs, HIV, or emergent diseases.
• Conduct Partner Services and provide counseling, referrals, and education to HIV/STI patients and partners.
• Elicit partners/associates to notify them of exposure, offering rapid testing and risk-reduction education.
• Linkage to care: locate patients in care and determine treatment status and reasons for not in care.
• Maintain confidentiality under HIPAA and document in WVEDSS; prepare reports as requested.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Nature of Work
Position will be located in one of the following counties based on the location of the chosen candidate: Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Summers, Monroe, Greenbrier.
Under close supervision and in a training capacity for at least one year, learns to perform the following: Extensive and complex investigations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards (with minimal assistance) which include: Review and interpretation of medical records, social networking profiles, on-line presence, etc.; Locate patients/contacts via phone, dating apps, mail, field visits, and other investigative methods; Interview and/or re-interview Original Patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STI), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or emergent diseases; Conduct Partner Services (a broad array of services which includes specialized counseling, risk-reduction plans, referrals to services, and education to persons with HIV, STIs, and other emergent diseases in addition to their sexual and/or substance-use equipment-sharing partners); Elicit sexual and/or substance-use equipment-sharing partners/associates in order to notify them of exposure, offer rapid testing, risk reduction & education; Linkage to care services: Locate individuals previously diagnosed with HIV who have fallen out of medical care and identified as Not in Care (NIC) by HIV Surveillance, determine if the individuals are receiving HIV treatment or not and the reasons why individuals did not continue their medical care, obtain appointments/updated labs to determine viral load, and elicit partners from within the time frame the individuals were out of care in order to administer rapid HIV tests to partners. Link HIV positive patients, both newly and previously diagnosed to Ryan White medical case management services; Work proficiently in the West Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WVEDSS) database. Prioritize cases using the Field Follow-up Reactor Grid; Consistently meet case closure time frames; Document all required information into the WVEDSS database within the mandatory time frames; Maintain a high level of confidentiality when dealing with all HIPPA protected information; Maintain thorough records and prepare reports as requested by Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Supervisor; Assist as requested in other regions during staffing vacancies, vacations, or during cluster/outbreak situations; Maintain Rapid Testing Certification and offer rapid testing to each person counseled and their contacts; Maintain proficiency in all databases necessary to perform case management and investigation; Assist with presenting information in a clear and concise way to both professional and lay groups as approved by DIS Supervisor; Assist in developing presentations for educating audiences regarding various topics related to DIS work and disease intervention; Assist with educational panels and organize educational booths as approved by DIS Supervisor; Present a synopsis to DIS Supervisor upon completion of any approved training attended; Provide technical assistance and consultation to local health departments and other medical professionals to ensure consistent performance throughout the state; Understand the historical development and practices applied to the control/prevention of STIs, HIV, and other emergent diseases; Educate about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to original patients, contacts, and medical professionals. The incumbent will be expected to: Maintain productive working relationships with medical providers and health departments to offer guidance regarding testing, reporting, new protocols developed by Surveillance, and to offer recommendations pertaining to treatment. Utilize the assigned region(s) resources to facilitate successful referrals to including Ryan White Services, Harm Reduction Programs, food pantries, homeless services, etc. Interpret and apply federal, state, and local public health laws, rules, and regulations which are applicable to STIs, HIV, and other emergent diseases. Position will serve all of the following counties: Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Summers, Monroe, Greenbrier.

Minimum Qualifications

• Training: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Substitution: Full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience in STD/HIV control, nursing, or social services and/or public health case management and investigation may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required training.
• Special Requirement: A valid driver's license and the availability of an automobile is required.
• Other Information: Full-time or equivalent part-time paid professional experience as an investigator in a Human Services/Behavioral Services.

State employment offers a variety of benefits.