Placer County

To monitor, analyze, investigate and report communicable diseases; collect, analyze and disseminate data regarding communicable diseases; and provide information on disease prevention, control and treatment to community members and healthcare providers. The work involves obtaining and utilizing specific information of a confidential and sensitive nature.

This is a journey para-professional level classification assigned to the Public Health Division’s Communicable Disease Program in the Department of Health and Human Services. Employees at this level may independently perform specialized and technical duties related to communicable disease prevention, investigation and control activities. Employees receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

Receives general supervision from assigned professional or supervisory staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over clerical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review and interpret incoming laboratory reports and confidential morbidity reports to determine if reported information is consistent with case definitions for reportable diseases.
• Interpret, explain and enforce federal, state and local statutes, policies and regulations pertaining to the investigation of communicable disease contacts.
  
• Respond to requests from the general public.
  
• Review and maintain accurate case records and compile statistical data.
  
• Document reportable cases using appropriate computer applications.
  
• Investigate and research reported cases of communicable disease, including HIV or AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis (TB) and vaccine preventable diseases; and conduct inspections as needed.
  
• Recommend and initiate procedures for isolation/quarantine of contacts in order to limit the spread of communicable disease.
  
• Contact physicians or other providers to obtain or clarify information and confirm diagnoses of reportable diseases; and disease reporting requirements.
  
• Conduct interviews to determine location of known contacts and to trace other persons who may be sources or affected by acute communicable diseases.
  
• Confer with and provide recommendations to County staff, healthcare providers and members of the community on communicable disease control principles.
  
• Interview and counsel contacts, encouraging compliance to public health laws and observance of recommended health practices.
  
• Conduct informational and educational presentations on the prevention of communicable diseases using a variety of media platforms.
  
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, training seminars and response teams on communicable diseases and other related topics; serve as a liaison between the Public Health Division and various community groups and regulatory agencies as it relates to communicable disease.
  
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment and controlled temperature conditions.  Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions and lifting materials and supplies of light weight.

Experience: Two years of experience working with the general public which requires interviewing and obtaining confidential or personal information. Experience working in a public health setting is preferred.

Training: Equivalent to completion of an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in healthcare, health science or a closely related field.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of communicable disease prevention and investigation.
• Principles and practices of work safety, especially as related to communicable diseases.
• Differing cultural, religious, economic and social groups and their relationships to the delivery and acceptance of health care services.
• Risk factors, symptoms, communicability, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases.
• Best practices, methodology and theories of behavior change used in health education, health promotion or disease prevention.
• Strategies and techniques for disease prevention and communicable disease control.
• Laws and regulations pertaining to surveillance, reporting, and control of infectious and communicable diseases, medical records (including privacy and security of protected health information), and other related public health matters.
• Methods and practices for conducting medical case investigations and disease outbreak investigations.
• Interview techniques for communicable disease cases and contacts.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, medical records, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, twist and reach while retrieving and/or returning files; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and use a keyboard to communicate through written means, review information and enter/retrieve data; see and read characters on computer screen; and lift light weight.
• Arrange, conduct and participate in group meetings related to communicable disease prevention and investigation.
• Work independently on assignments.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain confidential and sensitive information through interviews; and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine course of action.
• Use general office equipment, such as a computer, calculator, telephone, photocopy machine, etc.
• Organize, prioritize and coordinate communicable disease work activities.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Understand, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

Length of Probation: 

• All permanent appointments from open eligible lists to open positions in the classified service shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.  

Bargaining Unit:

• General