The Chester County Health Department is seeking a Disease Investigation and Surveillance Specialist who will be responsible for conducting case investigations and providing guidance in order to interrupt ongoing disease transmission. The Disease Investigator will conduct interviews with patients to gather information including symptom history, source of illness, list of close contacts, and activity history while infectious. The Disease Investigator will provide patients and stakeholders with instructions, answer questions, and make appropriate referrals to additional testing, clinical services, and other essential support services, as needed. Interactions with the public necessitate flexibility, cultural competency, and application of motivational interviewing techniques. 
The Disease Investigation and Surveillance Specialist is responsible for conducting disease surveillance and epidemiological investigations in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Chester County regulations and guidelines to prevent and control communicable diseases and other health concerns by initiating appropriate interventions and informing health programs. The Specialist participates in coordinated response activities during public health emergencies.
This is an Essential Employee position. Essential employees are obligated to report to work as scheduled or remain at work during emergencies. Following is the Duty Statement for Essential Employees:
"Carries out essential job functions or assigned emergency duties which may involve assignments within the Department of Health Command Center, deployment to a field location to participate in public health activities, or other duties as required during periods of emergency. If received, emergency assignments may be performed under adverse conditions and continue for periods ranging from a few hours to several weeks."
A criminal background check is required.Essential Duties, Tasks and Accountabilities:

• Collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate surveillance and outbreak data
• Conduct investigations; develop reports of communicable diseases and other health threats, unusual events, and outbreaks; identify populations at-risk and initiate prevention strategies
• Provide education/technical assistance on disease information, transmission, testing and prevention methods; design and deliver education and training to address disease threats to internal staff, health care providers, community partners, citizens, etc.
• Communicate with surveillance stakeholders; build relationships to maintain and increase surveillance partners.
• Assist with developing investigation and surveillance systems, including the development of protocols, data collection tools, reporting procedures.
• Enter data into databases, summarize and disseminate surveillance data and outbreak data in written/oral reports.
• Conduct literature reviews and develop manuscripts for submission to professional publications.
• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, epidemiology or related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of job-related experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare and maintain written and data reports.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent data entry and data management skills.
• Accuracy and detailed oriented in data and written tasks.
• Excellent customer service experience.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

 
Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, epidemiology or related discipline
• Two years of experience in the public health field.
• Two to three years of experience in a health care setting.
• Strong professional ethics.
• Ability to follow protocol, procedures, guidelines.
• Able to carry out written or verbal instructions.
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems.
• Time management skills.
• Ability to establish priorities
• Flexibility.
• General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic Access skills
• Intermediate Word skills
• Intermediate Excel skills
• Intermediate PowerPoint skills
• Intermediate OutLook skills
• Intermediate web browsing skills