Public Health Technician - Grant Funded

Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation; Tuba City (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Public Health Technician at Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation will implement interventions for pandemic preparedness, conduct disease investigations, and support vaccination outreach. Eligible candidates will work with the Public Health Director to deliver education, data reporting, and community resources while maintaining HIPAA compliance.

The role requires basic health literacy, BLS certification, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic community setting across

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Six months of customer service or contact tracing experience.
• Six months of public health or community outreach experience.
• Must maintain BLS certification or obtain within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform infectious disease case investigations and contact tracing per policy.
• Provide vaccination outreach, health education, and coaching in the community.
• Utilize patient tracking software and EHR to document services.
• Coordinate with clinical staff to refer and connect clients to resources.
• Deliver data collection and population health measurement supporting surveillance.

Skills

Customer service

Contact tracing

Public health

Community outreach

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

EHR software

Job description

Overview

Under the direction of the Public Health Director, Program Manager, and Lead Public Health Technician, the Public Health Technician will provide public health interventions to include pandemic/epidemic preparedness; infectious disease case investigation/contact tracing; screening for infectious disease; vaccination outreach; community health work; community connecting & resource delivery; health education & coaching related to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention; population health measurement; and public health data support. The incumbent will conduct case investigation/contact tracing in response to infectious disease(s). The incumbent will provide evidence-based intervention, education and public health communication to community members. The Public Health Technician will support community members in reaching optimal health without discrimination. The Public Health Technician will utilize patient tracking and data collection software and EHR to provide and document services provided. This is a grant-funded position.

Qualifications

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

High School Diploma or GED

Experience:

• Six (6) months customer service or contact tracing experience.
• Six (6) months of public health experience or Community Outreach experience

Certification:

Must have and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the American Heart Association (AHA) or obtain within six (6) months from date of hire.

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Ability to speak, read, and write
• Positive working relationships with
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of
• Professional, positive attitude and work ethic to patients and colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication
• Ability to interact professionally during a time of crisis and
• Ability to show empathy to distressed
• Ability to multi-task efficiently and effectively; develop well written reports, notes, and
• Excellent customer service skills and telephone etiquette.
• Proficiency with computers and computer software.
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Skilled and comfortable in conducting presentations/ public speaking
• Completion of and, above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading, or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical:

Work is mostly sedentary requiring prolonged periods of sitting, talking, and hearing. However, does require at times prolonged periods of up to three to four hours of standing and walking at a time. The incumbent must be able to frequently reach with hands and arms; and, use hands to finger, handle or feel. This position does require the ability to occasionally lift, push, and pull up to 25 pounds. Work does require the ability to hear client calls, instructions from physicians/department staff, and, overhead pages over loudspeaker. The job requires the ability to see close, distance, color, and peripheral vision. Incumbent will need to be able to repetitively move using both hands in grasping simple/light; grasping firm/heavy; and, fine dexterity.

Mental:

Incumbent must be able to effectively communicate to the patient what specific information is needed, the reason for requesting such information and be able to ascertain that it is accurate as possible. Must be able to effectively manage high-stress situations, such as urgent or emergent medical needs, while maintaining infection prevention standards. Must have ability to cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in a calm way, manage altercations, concentrate, handle high degree of flexibility, handle multiple priorities in stressful situation, work alone, demonstrate high degree of patience, adapt to shift work, and work in areas that are close and crowded.

Environmental:

Work may occur outdoors in various types of weather conditions, frequently while wearing personal protective equipment. Noise level of work area is typically moderate.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Adhere to the infectious disease prevention guidelines and measures, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Navajo Nation Health Command and Operation Center, and TCRHCC EPI Response. Provide up-to-date evidence-based information to patients.
2. Conduct interviews of individuals with infectious disease, including STIs, to identify every possible contact (or partner) during the time the patient may have been infectious. Communication may be face-to-face, by phone, by text, or by email, but must comply with TCRHCC HIPAA policy.
3. Work closely with the public health technicians, clinical staff, and support staff to efficiently complete timely referrals and CHW interventions.
4. Assess needs, status, risk, and submit welfare check assessment for patients and Coordinate the patients’ needs with community connectors, nurse practitioner/physician assistant, and public health nursing.
5. Utilizes updated scripts as needed on STI or other infectious disease response.
6. Connect community members to available resources, such as food, water, housing, electric, health care services, public health interventions, and social services. Support individuals and families in navigating systems and obtaining culturally appropriate, science-based information.
7. Deliver evidence-based and trauma informed public health interventions related to mental and physical health promotion, such as the Family Spirit home visiting program. This includes health coaching to support individuals and communities in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
8. Deliver public health communication and messaging on various prevention topics.
9. Deliver vaccination efforts and promote public health services to communities, and individuals by phone, telehealth technology, or face-to-face in the community.
10. Provide front-line epidemic response and disease surveillance support, in collaboration with data analyst and epidemiologist to ensure data input and collection.
11. Assist in planning and implementing community health assessment surveys across the Tuba City service area, by gathering data on the health of community members, social determinants of health, and other assessment data.
12. Maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA; includes conducting case and contact interviews without violating Ensure compliance with to all TCRHCC policies and procedures.
13. Responsible for accurate and timely electronic health records data entry and revenue generation tasks pertinent to patient service
14. Communicate clearly and effectively on the telephone and face-to-face to provide excellent customer service regarding any and all public health needs with accurate, timely, and up-to-date information.
15. Uses EHR and available data systems to track public health data. Contacts patients to obtain missing data and to promote public health services.
16. Assists the Screener/Greeters at various entry points to ensure appropriate screening for all patients and visitors entering the TCRHCC campus.
17. Ensure proper PPE is worn at all times while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield.
18. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates)
19. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction.
20. Understands and adheres to established compliance, safety and quality assurance standards. Performs other duties as assigned.