I. Title: FIELD Epidemiologist
Division: NU
Department: Nursing
Location: Department of Health and Human Services District offices through Maine
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00-5:00 pm, on-call evenings and weekends
Organizational Relationships:
Reports to: Director, School of Nursing, Field Epidemiologist II
Supervises: Not applicable
Coordinates with: Staff Department of Human Services, Consulting Physician
II. Statement of the Job: This position provides professional services and scientific work related to: (1) rapid detection of possible bioterrorism events, other public health threats, and emergencies; (2) rapid response and investigation of bioterrorism events, public health threats, and emergencies; and (3) strengthened local public health capacity and structure through collaboration with traditional and non-traditional partners. Work is performed under administrative direction.
III. Essential Functions:
1. Conduct individual case follow-up on all infectious diseases of public health significance including but not limited to: E. coli 0157:H7, Hepatitis A, B and C, Meningoccocal disease, Salmonella, Shigella, vaccine-preventable diseases.
2. Investigation of clusters or outbreaks of infectious disease including but not limited to: rash illness, giardia, enterics, and foodborne.
3. Assess respective district for health care partners including but not limited to: infection control providers, hospitals, labs, public health nurses, Sanitarians, infectious disease docs, school nurses, colleges. Attend appropriate meetings in the district and outside the district to introduce themselves, educate on disease reporting, relay infectious disease information.
4. Participate in a district workgroup of public health partners, which will meet regularly. This work group can serve as a conduit for public health information and referral. Community needs in regards to public health can be assessed through this workgroup. If issues arise that are out of the scope of responsibility of the field epidemiologist, the information can be referred to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) for follow-up.
5. Attend video conferences with the Maine CDC as scheduled or upon request.
6. Communicate regularly with the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program through telephone or email. Provide status report, calendar, etc.
7. Participates in exercises and planning efforts led by the Maine Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and responds to appropriate emergencies under the Office of Public Health and Emergency Preparedness direction
8. Assure rapid delivery of prophylaxis for certain notifiable diseases (hepatitis A and meningococcal meningitis)
9. Coordinate the collection of certain clinical and/or environmental samples in outbreak situations or other public health emergency.
10. Provide education (printed materials, consultation, public speaking) on infectious diseases of public health significance to health care professionals and community partners.
11. Develop core competencies with the assistance of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program.
12. Perform active and passive surveillance.
13. Participate in surge response activities affecting other programs in the Maine CDC (i.e., syphilis outbreak, chemical spill, unusual cancer cluster)
14. Maintains and evaluates disease databases for own district (may access confidential data) and for state as a whole (cannot review individual records)
15. Provides epidemiologic consultation to local health department (if applicable) and community organizations and institutions as appropriate in the promotion of public health.
16.
IV. Marginal Functions:
None.
V. Supervisory Responsibilities: Not applicable.
VI. Budget Responsibilities:
VII. Public/Professional Responsibilities:
See essential functions 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16.
VIII. Internal/External Contacts:
See essential functions 3, 4, 6, 15.
IX. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of:
a. Principles and practices of epidemiology
b. Public health concerns
c. Sampling theory
d. Statistics
e. New developments and techniques in disease control
f. Health data collection
g. Risk factors associated with infectious and chronic diseases
h. Medical terminology
i. Word processing software, email and internet use, spreadsheets or analysis programs
2. Ability to:
a. Determine types of data required
b. Collect data on infectious, chronic, and acute diseases
c. Statistically analyze data
d. Draw logical inferences from data analysis
e. Work as a team leader and team member
f. Communicate with physicians, local health officers, and community partners
g. Work independently, including being a “self starter”
h. Facilitate groups
i. Speak publicly
j. Possess an attitude that fosters as respectful, non-threatening workplace environment.
X. Qualifications:
Required: Bachelor’s Degree in a health related field (nursing, allied health, community health, etc.) with relevant course work such as epidemiology, microbiology, and statistics, 2 years relevant experience, and must have a car and driver’s license and be able to travel. .
Preferred: Master’s in Public Health or related field course work in epidemiology, microbiology, and statistics. Clinical experience is highly desirable.