PUBLIC HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE 2 COMMUNICABLE DISEASE DEFINITION:
Under direction of a Public Health Representative of a higher level or other supervisory official in the Department of Health, implements the activities of a subunit in a communicable disease field office providing epidemiologic, diagnostic, screening, or health care services in the area of communicable diseases including sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and AIDS; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills.
62924H- Bilingual in Spanish and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Administers the department's communicable disease programs, analyzes communicable disease control problems, and develops effective work methods.
Performs administrative and field work required to promote objectives of a communicable disease health program, organizes office/field work necessary to attain program objectives, analyzes public health problems involved, and develops effective work methods.
May train communicable disease investigators and instruct them in methods/skills/techniques used in interviewing and collecting data.
Plans and develops instructional programs for specific public health objectives.
Visits, consults, and provides technical assistance, instruction, and guidance to local registrars, local public health officials, physicians, district communicable disease control clinics, and other groups/individuals.
Gives talks to local health personnel, private and voluntary agencies, and other groups concerning the detection, reporting, prevention, and control of communicable diseases.
Conducts investigations of reports of improper/incomplete reporting techniques and adverse reactions to vaccines and medications.
Maintains liaison with hospitals, health care facilities, registrars, schools, physicians, local health departments, and other cooperating agencies.
Conducts selective communicable disease serologic, epidemiologic, and public health surveys, collects data and follow up activities, compiles data, and assists in developing final determinations and evaluations.
Visits patients at home, work, health care facilities, or other locations to determine if they are receiving prescribed treatment, may escort patients to treatment centers, and maintains case records.
May assist the medical team in establishing contact, setting up treatment centers, and may be requested to take blood samples and other body specimens necessary for diagnostic purposes.
Compiles data and prepares detailed reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Confers with physicians, patients, hospital officials, and local health and school personnel and other interested groups/individuals concerning detection/diagnosis of communicable diseases, their prevention and control, and reporting methods.
May review morbidity reports and laboratory findings of communicable disease reports.
Addresses civic, service, social, education, and other groups interested in or concerned with the goals, objectives, and services of a communicable disease program, when required.
Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.
Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Maintains records and files.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Six (6) years of professional experience in a communicable disease related health or social service program which shall have included responsibility for interviewing, investigating, and/or conducting public health care surveys or patient care services.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
OR
Possession of a master's degre in Biological Science, Public Health, Public Health Nursing, Social Services, or other related subjects; and one (1) year of the above-mentoned professional experience.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the methods used to conduct interviews and gather information.
Knowledge of the epidemiology of communicable diseases including sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.
Knowledge of public health methods of communicable disease detection, prevention, and control.
Knowledge of the methods used to deliver public health education.
Knowledge of the methods used to analyze data contained in medical histories.
Ability to interpret and apply rules and regulations to specific situations.
Ability to gather, interpret and analyze information.
Ability to administer public health educational programs for the prevention, treatment, and control of communicable diseases.
Ability to provide technical information.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the program.
Ability to conduct field trips, surveys, studies, and investigations.
Ability to communicate public health programs and objectives to interested individuals and groups.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative case histories and reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to and maintain records and files.
Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
