Surveillance Public Health Specialist

MOS Codes: None

Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree or higher in a relevant Health Science or health care related field.  

Licenses and Certificates: Texas Class “C” Driver’s License or equivalent license from another state.  

Under general supervision, provide entry level professional public health work in support of surveillance and epidemiology divisions or programs.

Obtain reportable disease reports from various sources, analyzes information to determine patterns or common factors and determines need for investigation. Involves: Interview patients, contacts, physicians, laboratory staff and others to obtain personal data, clinical history, possible sources of exposure, possible transmission and supporting laboratory information. Review medical records as necessary and completes case reports to maintain investigative data. Coordinate, collect and deliver appropriate samples to the laboratory for analysis. Identify disease source, monitors isolation or quarantine as necessary and provides referrals for testing, treatment and education. Provide rapid, thorough, confidential follow up by telephone or field visit to persons requiring medical evaluation due to an abnormal test or exposure to a disease. Keep supervisor and others advised regarding apparent trends or factors which are critical to the health of the community. Provide information to the department, Texas Department of Health and other agencies to assist in their investigations and prevent further introduction and spread of disease. Educate and counsels individuals and groups on the epidemiology of reportable diseases, modes of transmission and prevention. Assist in control activities during outbreaks of diseases.

Conduct educational presentations requested through the Public Health Speakers Bureau or community requests on epidemiology and surveillance in both formal and informal settings. Involves: Organize and prepare materials on specific subjects of public health interest, including communicable diseases, environmental health and preventable diseases, from selected sources and references. Distribute printed materials used in promoting and stimulating interest in epidemiology and surveillance education activities. Dispense prescription and non-prescription drugs as directed. Maintain records and prepare oral and written reports, utilizing computer for data entry.  

Supervise assigned staff. Involves: Schedule, assign, instruct in, guide and check work. Appraise employee performance. Provide for training and development; enforce personnel rules and regulations, and work behavior standards firmly and impartially. Counsel, motivate and maintain harmony. Interview applicants. Recommend hiring, termination, transfers, discipline, merit pay or other employee status changes. Assure compliance with health and safety laws.