Disease Investigation Specialist I

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid leave

Job summary

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is seeking a Disease Investigation Specialist I to conduct confidential public health investigations for reportable STIs and HIV. The role involves interviewing patients, notifying partners, and linking clients to testing and care.

The DIS I works under supervision, handles sensitive information, and participates in outbreak investigations and case reviews to protect community health.

Qualifications

• Experience conducting confidential interviews with patients.
• Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
• Strong time management and communication with diverse populations.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and PHI requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct public health investigations for reportable STI and HIV.
• Interview patients to collect demographic, behavioral, and clinical data.
• Identify and notify partners; provide counseling and referrals.
• Coordinate testing, treatment, and prevention services.
• Document investigations in surveillance systems.
• Ensure confidentiality and data integrity.

Skills

Interviewing

Case management

Confidentiality

Data collection

Job description

Are you a dependable, detail-oriented, and compassionate individual who has experience with disease interviewing and investigation? Do you have experience managing an assigned caseload, maintaining accurate and confidential records, meeting established timelines, and communicating effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds? If this sounds like the position for you, we invite you to join the Department's Sexual Health program as a Disease Investigation Specialist I. This is a Regular, Full-Time (1.0 FTE) position.

The Disease Investigation Specialist I (DIS I) conducts public health investigations for reportable STI and HIV infections to decrease disease transmission and improve community health outcomes. The role involves interviewing individuals diagnosed with STIs and HIV, identifying and notifying partners who may have been exposed, providing counseling and education, and linking clients to testing, treatment, and prevention services. The DIS I works closely with healthcare providers, labs and community organizations, and public health teams to ensure timely case management and disease control.

Based on our internal compensation review process, the starting hourly wage for this position is $34.41-$36.84. We make decisions on higher starting salaries based on experience, education, and qualifications.

The full salary range for this position is $34.41-46.56 per hour. This position also includes a comprehensive benefits package that includes insurance (health, dental, vision, life), retirement plan options, generous leave accruals, annual cost of living salary increases, employee programs, and more. Visit our benefits webpage to learn more.

This is the second level in the Disease Investigation Specialist (DIS) series and performs disease and epidemiological case investigations. Employees in this position work semi-independently under supervision. This position differs from the DIS II role in scope of work and level of responsibility. The work involves highly sensitive and confidential information requiring strong discretion.

Position Series

• Disease Investigation Technician
• Disease Investigation Specialist I
• Disease Investigation Specialist II
• Disease Investigation Supervisor

Career Path Options

Options to continue your career at the Health Department depend on your interest, education, and training. Possibilities beyond the position series include:

• Health Promotion Technician
• Health Promotion Coordinator I, II, and III
• Clinic Coordinator

Essential Functions

• Support the Department’s efforts to prevent and control sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, through timely disease investigation, patient follow-up, partner services, and linkage to appropriate testing, treatment, and prevention resources.
• Investigate reported cases of STIs and HIV, including diseases such as HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea.
• Conduct confidential interviews with patients to obtain demographic, behavioral, and clinical information.
• Identify, locate, and confidentially notify partners who may have been exposed to infection.
• Obtain biological specimens for STI/HIV screening activities (e.g., blood, swabs).
• Package/ship specimen samples to the lab for testing.
• Facilitate testing, treatment, and follow-up care for contacts and cases.
• Provide risk-reduction counseling and education on STI and HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment.
• Connect clients to prevention services such as condoms, testing, and HIV prevention tools like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) when appropriate.
• Link individuals living with HIV to medical care, support services, and case management.
• Conduct field visits to locate clients who cannot be reached by phone or electronic communication.
• Collaborate with community organizations and healthcare providers to support testing and prevention initiatives.
• Participate in outbreak investigations and community response activities.
• Accurately document investigations, interviews, and outcomes in public health surveillance systems.
• Ensure compliance with confidentiality laws and health department policies.
• Assist with data analysis, program evaluation, and quality improvement activities.
• Coordinate with healthcare providers, labs and public health partners to complete investigations, and make sure people get care (e.g., confirm labs results, coordinate medical follow-up to ensure someone received treatment or additional testing, coordinate partner notification, connect people to services or identify an outbreak).
• Participate in case review meetings and multidisciplinary public health teams.

Examples of Key Duties

The items in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic, and duties may change based on business needs. Any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Performs epidemiological case investigations and provides input on the development and implementation of communicable disease control strategies and compliance.
• Provides active surveillance of target populations, identifies and interviews potential sources of infection, and performs contact tracing and partner notification of potential exposure.
• Notifies individuals of potential exposure and provides education and referrals for health care services.
• Follows up with contacts to ensure they have sought testing and treatment.
• Counsels clients about diagnoses and disease exposure, performs CLIA waived tests, and provides test results.
• Supports the planning and implementation of outreach activities and projects to raise awareness about disease prevention and control.
• Manages client screening activities and provides appropriate testing information, including test results and linkage to care and risk reduction resources.
• Assists clients in accessing the full range of services available to them including pregnancy and family planning resources, communicable disease prevention, domestic violence intervention, and substance use treatment.
• Obtains biological specimens, (sputum, blood, etc.), for screening activities and packages and ships samples to the laboratory for testing.
• Assists patients with the interpretation of test results and explain treatment options during consultations with providers.
• Performs direct observation therapy to ensure medications are taken. Depending on assigned program, observation may take place within client homes.
• Applies relevant Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations in conjunction with departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to privacy laws including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Protected Health Information (PHI).
• The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid