OPS Biological Scientist IV - 852913

"This is a highly responsible position that works as Other Personal Service (OPS) Health Care-Associated Infections (HAI) Epidemiologist reporting to the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services (EDC-IS) Director and works closely with the EDC-IS HAI Epidemiologist. This position will focus on increasing the collective capacity between local health department and community health care partners to prevent and reduce HAIs and antimicrobial resistance (AR) and improve antimicrobial stewardship in their communities. Incumbent will follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and information security regulations to ensure confidentiality and privacy of the client health information. Incumbent will establish good rapport with staff and clients and provide positive customer service. Incumbent is expected to adhere to established Health Department policies and procedures.

The incumbent will:

Respond to daily assignments from the HAI Prevention Program.

Investigate HAI/MDRO cases and outbreak in health care facilities as needed making sure the required information is obtained for case completion and surveillance data. The investigation involves interviewing cases, collecting medical records, creating Merlin cases and outbreaks, and obtaining laboratory results.

Utilize Florida’s surveillance system, Merlin, to track outbreaks and investigations.

Serve as subject matter experts on CDC guidance.

· Work closely with a variety of partners including, but not limited to, LTCFs, dialysis facilities, dental, and outpatient care facilities, schools, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, private providers, laboratories, and additional congregate settings.

Identify facilities for preventative ICARs and perform or assist as needed or per request.

Conduct or assist with a minimum number of ICAR assessments (on site) within health care facilities (e.g., dialysis, LTCFs, dental, outpatient, hospitals), rehabilitation centers and additional group settings as needed and identified each month.

Provide written report with outbreak recommendations (e.g., COVID-19, Candida auris,

Dialysis BSI) within 72 hours of the completed assessment to the facility.

Provide written report with preventative recommendations (e.g., COVID-19, Candida auris,

Dialysis BSI) within 1 week of the completed assessment to the facility.

Conduct follow up assessment within 3 weeks of completed report to evaluate for implementation of recommendations, as appropriate.

Coordinate laboratory support for testing and typing of specimens and isolates.

Provide appropriate containment and transmission guidance for novel or targeted multi-drug

resistant organisms (MDROs).

Assist in generating reports and presentations as needed by EDC-IS program, HAI program, or partnering agency. Provide additional support in trainings collaborating with the local HAI Epidemiologist and IPs on infection prevention and control.

Assist the HAI Infection Preventionist (IP), when needed, to evaluate infection control practices and conduct and participate in ICARs within facilities.

· Assist in collaborating with facilities where infection control assessments were conducted to ensure the completion of disease prevention activities and facilitate disease reporting.

Attend HAI team meetings or community meetings to assist in providing partnership and education on HAI, AR, and antimicrobial stewardship topics.

Attend meetings with the HAI program and CHD project staff at least bimonthly for updates.

Assist in reviewing response plans and prevent future outbreaks/infections.

Assist in maintaining a list of facility contacts for team communication and follow-up visits.

Work closely with the local HAI Epi team and IPs on HAI/office activities and investigations.

Assist in training local health department employees on infection prevention and control to increase their capacity to provide evidence-based recommendations when responding to health care associated (HAI) questions or outbreaks.

· Assist in conducting analysis of relevant data to identify opportunities for improving emerging threat detection and making recommendations for health care facilities that have the greatest need for improvement based on surveillance data.

· Submit completed reports into the appropriate HAI SharePoint folder and REDCap, if

applicable.

Coordinate outreach activities, evaluate practices and identify potential gaps of infection prevention and control to provide appropriate guidance, education and training during an HAI/AR outbreak investigation

· Use available data sources to drive action and response efforts for the prevention of HAIs and AR organisms, MDRO containment response and prevention, with organisms like Candida auris, Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms.

Preferred:

· Preference will be given to candidates who have a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

· Experience working and/or coordinating with healthcare facilities and hospital-associated infections will also be given preference.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

Ø Knowledge of federal and state environmental health laws and regulations for projected impact on state agency operations.

Ø Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position:

Ø Knowledge of basic epidemiological principles and practices

Ø Skill to conduct investigative case follow up

Ø Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff, and the community

Ø Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to staff and the community

Ø Ability to utilize problem solving techniques

Ø Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments

Ø Knowledge of basic computer skills, office equipment and epidemiology programs, including Windows, Outlook, Publisher, MS word, Excel, Power Point, People First, HMS, EARS, Merlin.

Ø Knowledge of Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act privacy.

Other Job-related requirements for this position:

Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

Position: full-time, fully grant funded position.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (Hybrid with minimum two days at the office location).

Location: Health District Center,Miami-Dade County

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Schedule:

8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

Are you willing to work before, during and/or beyond our normal work hours or days in a special needs shelter, Red Cross shelter, Emergency Operations Command Center, or to perform other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threat involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural?

Do you have experience related to any disease intervention, investigation or reporting of communicable or infectious diseases?

Do you have experience working with Health Care Facilities, establishing excellent public relations with them, while conducting disease investigations?

Are you able to travel locally & statewide to conduct field investigations and to attend training & meetings?

Education:

Master's (Preferred)

Experience:

working in public health and/or epidemiology: 2 years (Preferred)

generating reports & presentations: 1 year (Preferred)

investigating cases of hospital associated infections: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Miami, FL 33125"

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