Class Code: 02425
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES –
HUMAN RESOURCES
DISEASE PREVENTION SPECIALIST
Performs professional public health education, prevention, assessment, counseling, intervention and referral services establishing self as a regional contact person for the department.
The
Work Examples and Competencies listed are for illustrative purposes only and
not intended to be the primary basis for position classification decisions.
Administers a regional field office regarding
programs, activities, services, and interventions in disease (Chlamydia,
Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Maternal Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C,
Pertussis, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus, Measles, Diphtheria, Polio and Influenza)
prevention control and for issues related to prevention, community education,
and control of these diseases; coordinates outbreak response within region
networking with city and county authorities for above listed diseases.
Serves as a liaison between partners such as private
health care providers, hospital emergency departments/infection control,
managed care organizations, and local public health departments.
Develops and executes curriculum with defined goals
and objectives to community members, at risk populations, public/private health
professionals, school officials, laboratory personnel and corrections regarding
immunization and control and prevention of communicable diseases.
Assesses effectiveness of public health community
education curriculum making recommendations and changes as needed.
Facilitates interjurisdictional communication and
referrals by establishing self as an Iowa Department of Public Health contact
for regions and in some cases statewide.
Responds to emergencies and contains outbreaks for
communicable infectious diseases with Regional Epidemiologists, EMS
Coordinators and Community Health Consultants.
Will serve as lead in this response effort or in a supporting role
depending on the incident.
Reviews and assesses communicable disease reports from
hospitals, physicians, local health departments, city and county nurses, school
nurses, and the private citizen to recognize possible disease outbreaks and
trends and to determine actions needing to be taken.
Ensure disease patients and their at-risk contacts
adhere to treatment regimens and testing recommendations using complex
assessment, interviewing, networking, and surveillance investigation skills.
Conducts screening and targeted testing at county
health clinics and in the assigned region.
Provides technical assistance to health care providers
enrolled in the Immunization Registry Information System statewide software
program and conducts on-site quality assurance visits and two-year-old
assessments within assigned region to ensure federal/state guidelines for shipping,
handling, storage and administration of vaccine are followed.
Monitors clinical practices of local agency staff
informing and advising regarding treatment guidelines, legal implications and
areas needing improvement.
Knowledge of causes, modes of transmission, symptoms,
incubation periods, and standards of practice used in the prevention and
control of diseases (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis,
Maternal Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Pertussis, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus, Measles,
Diphtheria, Polio, and Influenza.
Knowledge of vaccines, their care and use, and risks
or contra indications associated with live and killed virus vaccines.
Knowledge of specimens used, specimen procedure, and
drug treatment/schedules used with regard to communicable diseases.
Knowledge of immunization practices and medical
terminology.
Knowledge of pertinent Iowa public health laws, rules,
and regulations as specified in the Code of Iowa.
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of
mainstream counseling and crisis intervention counseling.
Knowledge of the attitudes and problems of the
elderly, poor, women, infants, children, disadvantaged, ill and culturally
deprived, and of local resources to alleviate these problems.
Knowledge of modes of
transmission, and methods used in the prevention and control of diseases (STD.
immunization, hepatitis, HIV/AID, refugee health, tuberculosis).
Knowledge of symptoms and
pathogenesis of disease and applicable incubation period.
Knowledge of vaccines, their care
and use, and risks or contra indications associated with live and killed virus
vaccines.
Knowledge of the various types of specimens and the
procedures followed in collecting, preserving, handling, transporting, and
laboratory testing of specimens (e.g., draw blood samples, rapid AIDS test,
throat and stool cultures, interpretation of test results etc.).
Knowledge of drugs
used in treatment of communicable diseases, the treatment schedules and
practices for each disease, and the potential side effects of the drugs
administered.
Knowledge of medical
terminology.
Knowledge of current
immunization practices.
Ability to learn CDC approved
behavioral science interventions and risk reduction practices.
Ability to learn pertinent
Iowa public health laws, rules, and regulations as specified in the Code of
Iowa.
Ability to interact with
physicians, nurses, school officials, clinic and laboratory personnel, news
media, professional groups and the public in order to establish and maintain
effective working relationships.
Ability to maintain
confidentiality, self-control and composure under trying circumstances.
Ability to express ideas
effectively, orally and in writing in order to persuade, interpret and inform.
Ability to evaluate and determine
potential sources of disease by establishing the proper stage of the disease or
by analyzing the causative agent.
Ability to evaluate and interpret
laboratory test results concerning specimens of blood, stool, vomits, food
item, smears, etc.
Ability to plan and organize
immunization and disease control activities for assigned region of state
(including clinic set-up, follow-up, educational programs).
Ability to make decisions quickly
relative to disease prevention and control.
Ability to write and maintain
accurate case reports containing the personal identifying history of the
patient, causative agent, diagnosis, treatment schedules, lab results, contact,
etc.
Ability to evaluate and interpret laboratory test
results concerning specimens to evaluate and determine potential sources of
disease by establishing the proper stage of the disease or by analyzing the
causative agent.
Ability to make decisions quickly relative to disease
prevention and control.
Ability to interact with physicians, nurses, school
officials, clinic and laboratory personnel, news media, professional groups and
the public in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships
regarding disease prevention and control measures.
Ability to recognize non-compliance in agency
policies, records and practices, and recommend corrective procedures.
Ability to express ideas and concepts effectively,
orally and in writing, in order to persuade, interpret and inform.
Ability to exercise professional judgment in evaluating
quality of services and recommending changes as required.
Ability to provide leadership and guidance in
developing and maintaining public health standards.
Ability to collect data objectively, analyze, record
and interpret it concisely and accurately.
Ability to recognize dangerous situations and respond
accordingly.
Ability to write and maintain accurate case reports
containing the personal identifying history of the patient, causative agent,
diagnosis, treatment schedules, lab results, contact, etc.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of disease
reporting process.
Ability to travel within assigned work area, including
occasional overnight and weekend travel as needed and maintain a valid Iowa
Driver’s License.
Displays high standards of ethical conduct. Exhibits honesty and integrity. Refrains from theft-related, dishonest or
unethical behavior.
Works and communicates effectively with internal and
external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and
cooperative manner. Committed to quality
service.
Displays a high level of initiative, effort and
commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Works with minimal supervision. Demonstrates responsible behavior and attention
to detail.
Responds appropriately to supervision. Follows policy and cooperates with
supervisors.
Aligns behavior with the needs, priorities and goals
of the organization.
Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust,
and group identity. Fosters commitment
and team spirit.
Expresses information to individuals or groups
effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the
information. Listens to others and
responds appropriately.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with
a degree in nursing, (licensed to practice as a nurse pursuant to Iowa Code
chapter 152), a human services or health oriented field, or education and three
years of professional experience in these areas;
OR
Masters
degree in nursing, public health, or science, a human services or health
oriented field, or education may be substituted for one year of the required
experience.
Applicants must possess a valid Iowa Driver’s license
and be available for regular travel within assigned region, including
occasional overnight and weekend travel as needed.
For designated
positions the appointing authority, with Iowa Department of Administrative
Services – Human Resources Enterprise prior approval, may request those
applicants possessing a minimum of twelve semester hours of education, six
months of experience, or a combination of both, or a specific certificate,
license, or endorsement in the following areas:
535 Public Health Selective
Applicants
wishing to be considered for such designated positions must list applicable
course work, experience, certificate, license, or endorsement on the
application.
Effective
Date: 02/06 VA