Public Health Specialist
Pepin County is seeking a Public Health Specialist to lead the COVID-19 ongoing response and recovery. This position will lead the case intake process, investigate and assign cases, provide case education, conduct contact tracing, identify outbreaks, communicate cases patterns and issues with the public health team, and provide ongoing public information via a variety of outlets. The individual in this position may be asked to schedule vaccine clinics, enter vaccine administration data into the Wisconsin Immunization Registry and to assist with COVID-19 vaccination clinics. The position can be completed mostly remotely.
Work as a member of the Health Department and COVID-19 Response Team:
• Attend an orientation to disease investigation, contact tracing and case management.
• Become an expert at interpreting and entering data into WEDSS (state’s electronic disease monitoring and reporting system).
• Facilitates standing regular calls to provide updates on cases.
• Keep tracking mechanisms (WEDSS, Excel) updated with the latest case information.
• Raise urgent or relevant issues with cases to the Director and PHN’s.
• Provide suggestions for improving the disease investigation, contact tracing and case management processes.
• Attend regular trainings and meetings to increase knowledge of public health recommendations around COVID-19.
• Learn to use the Language Line interpreter services.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of cases and contacts.
Leads accurate and timely outreach to COVID-19 positive and exposed individuals:
• Manage incoming COVID-19 cases, importing results in WEDSS, assigning correct cases status, assigning cases to disease investigators.
• Conduct disease investigations by contacting cases, documenting conversations and findings, and educating cases and their households. Investigations include determining the likely source(s) of infection, documenting symptoms, incubation period, and appropriate period of isolation.
• Work with cases to identify potential close contacts, gather contact information, determines risk levels, and use interview skills to gather all information available. Contact those who have been identified as close contacts via phone or mail if phone is not successful.
• Educate contacts on quarantine and what to do if symptoms develop.
• Answer questions posed by cases and contacts.
• Follow up with cases to determine appropriate release.
• Enter cases and contacts information into WEDSS.
• Prepare paperwork for contacts and cases, including letters for employers and educational information.
• Acts as a liaison for workplaces and schools to notify them of cases, provide outbreak mitigation guidance, provide technical assistance for contact tracing, exclusion and return to work processes.
• Attends weekly state bureau of communicable disease webinars and monitors state and CDC listservs for updates on guidance and best practices.
• Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles, and physical abilities.
Acts as a Public Health Team member to support COVID-19 Vaccination campaign.
• Coordinates with the PHN and Administrative Specialist to schedule vaccine clinics.
• Assures adequate supply of vaccine for the clinics, monitoring expiration dates for rotation with other vaccine providers.
• Works with community partners promote and advertise vaccination efforts both internally and externally.
• Complete training for the data entry of vaccine information into the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).
• Attend regular meetings and review DHS vaccine updates to increase and maintain knowledge of current guidance.
Lead ongoing public information sharing with the community.
• Work with the PH team to provide public information to the community utilizing a variety of outlets such as newspaper, radio, and social media.
• Coordinate ongoing messaging about all aspects of the COVID-19 response and recovery.
Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, health planning and promotion, epidemiology, public communication, nursing, environmental health, dietetics, or another related field. Professional experience in public health/ community health is preferred.
Wage for this position is $24.68 per hour. This position may work up to 30 hours per week, occasionally more dependent on deliverables for grant funding and case load.
Application forms may be obtained at: www.co.pepin.wi.us or by contacting Pepin County Personnel Department at 715-672-8704.
Completed applications, cover letters and resumes should be emailed to mweiss@co.pepin.wi.us or mailed to Pepin County Personnel Department, Pepin County Government Center, PO Box 39, 740 Seventh Ave West, Durand, WI 54736.
Application deadline June 15, 2021
Pepin County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://www.co.pepin.wi.us/index.asp?SEC=4EB620E2-D0B9-477F-87C8-48D9363EB289&Type=B_JOB
Deadline Note: Application forms may be obtained at: www.co.pepin.wi.us or by contacting Pepin County Personnel Department at 715-672-8704.
