Communicable Disease Specialist

Infectious Disease Investigator

The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) promotes and protects the health and environment of Pueblo County through prevention strategies, advocacy, partnerships, and leadership. We continually strive to ensure a thriving, healthy, and safe community. Each employee contributes to the implementation of the Strategic Plan and are important to the achievement of the mission.

Position Summary

Investigate, coordinate, and/or assist with all reported diseases, outbreaks or illness clusters reported in Pueblo County by conducting disease surveillance, case investigations, and monitoring of infected individuals. Helps to control the spread of infectious diseases by collecting and analyzing data, providing education and public outreach, identifying disease sources, and implementing prevention strategies. Responds to inquiries from the medical community, partners and the general public concerning infectious disease.

Essential Job Functions

Disease Surveillance and Case Investigation

• Monitor notifiable disease reports in state database: EpiTrax
• Investigate reportable diseases, clusters, and outbreaks through interviews, investigation, contact tracing, disease surveillance, and data analysis
• Educate the public, patients, partners and medical professionals by providing public health recommendations and requirements, including post-exposure guidance
• Maintain detailed documentation of investigations, guidance and outcomes
• Utilize current best practices to inform case management, provide infection prevention guidance for requirements and recommendations
• Ensure accurate and confidential record-keeping using both paper and electronic methods

Communication, Training and Collaboration

• Facilitate communication among labs, providers, law enforcement, and public health partners
• Provide training on disease reporting, surveillance systems, epidemiology, universal precautions and outbreak response
• Ensure cultural, social, and behavioral factors are considered in healthcare delivery
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support public health efforts

Data Management and Quality Control

• Collect, interpret, analyze, visualize and manage public health data
• Maintain quality control of surveillance data
• Apply epidemiological and statistical methods to analyze disease trends

Emergency Preparedness and Department Initiatives

• Participate in public health emergency response trainings and drills, and respond to public health emergencies as needed, beyond regular duties and schedule.
• Assist with emergency preparedness planning, tasks and reporting

Professional Development and Support

• Stay up-to-date on laws, regulations, guidance and evolving practices related to communicable disease control
• Attend workshops, conferences, and continuing education programs

Additional Duties

• Perform other duties as required to support program and agency goals.
• Assist in on-boarding and training new employees as needed
• Contribute to strategic planning, performance management, policy development, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide guidance and support for interns

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of epidemiology related to communicable disease surveillance and outbreak investigation
• Data collection, analysis, interpretation, visualization, and reporting techniques
• Client confidentiality standards and privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA)
• Health care technology, equipment, supplies, and treatment materials
• Chart documentation requirements and medical record forms
• State and Federal laws governing health care information release and patient consent
• Local, state, and federal requirements and guidelines related to disease control

Skills

• Organization and efficiency in handling multiple responsibilities
• Verbal and written communication with strong interpersonal and ethical standards.
• Monitoring compliance with regulatory standards
• Navigating healthcare systems and documentation protocols
• Collaborative work across disciplines and service providers
• Proficient in software systems such as Microsoft Suite and excel. Strong skills in other systems like Power BI, Rand automation systems preferred.
• Bilingual preferred

Abilities

• Engage effectively with patients, personnel, providers, and partners
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with diverse populations
• Build trust with clients, families, partners and support them in implementing prevention strategies
• Adapt communication and care approaches to meet varied cultural and social needs

Qualifications | Requirements

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, natural/hard sciences, closely related field, or Bachelor's Degree or Associate Degree in nursing required. Three years of work experience in health care/public health setting preferred. Master's degree in public health or closely related field is preferred. Note: Any acceptable combination of education (minimum required), training, and experience that provides the above knowledge, abilities, and skills may be substituted. Fluency in writing, texting, and speaking English. Ability to speak, text, and write fluently in Spanish is desired. Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license. If nursing degree, must provide current Colorado license. Must obtain annual flu vaccination and any job specific immunizations. May be required to submit to a two-step PPD test. Must be fit tested annually.

Work Environment | Physical Demands

Work schedule is typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is full time. Schedule will routinely include working and being on call during evenings, weekends, and holidays beyond normal work schedule hours. Work is subject to recurring and inflexible deadlines and frequent interruptions. Work is typically in an office setting, at a computer for several hours at a time (seated or standing) but may require field work at times which will require long periods of sitting, standing, recurring bending, kneeling, lifting, lowering, pushing, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar repetitive movements and loading and unloading of supplies over 50 pounds. Repetitive tasks and reoccurring deadlines are normal and occasional out-of-town meetings/trainings may be required. All employees may be called upon to respond to public health emergencies as needed. Employees may be required to work in an outdoor environment during emergency response in all weather conditions.