OPS Biological Scientist IV - 64853673

OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64853673

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County in its mission to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.

OPS Biological Scientist IV – Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Infection Preventionist

This is an in-office position within the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection. The incumbent is responsible for conducting ongoing countywide surveillance activities and providing essential analytic and evaluative support to strengthen the surveillance efforts of the Agency and the wider community.

Responsibilities include:

Performs investigation, data entry, and follow-up for the prevention and control of communicable diseases including, but not limited to: healthcare associated infections (HAI), reportable diseases, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, general infectious diseases, and influenza (seasonal and pandemic). The incumbent performs daily surveillance, data analysis, and management using ESSENCE, Merlin data systems, Epi Gateway, and other databases as needed.

Tasks include but are not limited to:

• Follow up on all infection control assessment requests and potential facility outbreaks by conducting tasks including but not limited to: collecting basic demographics and clinical information on suspected cases, confirming diagnosis, determining probable source of infection, determining mode of transmission, determining extent of spread, and recommending appropriate control measures.
• Coordinate point prevalence surveys as needed.
• Collect and transmits appropriate laboratory specimens for diagnostic study.
• Maintains adequate records of essential information relevant to the communicable disease investigation.
• Provides communicable disease alerts as necessary to contain the spread of communicable diseases.
• Collaborates with infection control practitioners in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities for the identification, investigation, and control of infectious diseases.
• Prepares surveillance reports, data summaries, and other written documentation for publication, presentation, or dissemination. Creates graphs and charts to illustrate data.
• Conduct studies and investigations related to outbreaks of public health significance.

HAI Infection Prevention duties include but are not limited to:

• Attend HAI team meetings including but not limited to weekly HAI team calls, bi-weekly regional updates, and quarterly Advisory Board.
• Respond to daily assignments from HAI Prevention Program's Project Assistants.
• Conduct fit test trainings to all frontline health care workers and public health personnel as identified.
• Identify facilities for preventative ICARs and perform as needed or per request.
• Conduct continual outreach to LTCFs to identify ongoing/new IPC needs.
• Conduct a minimum of 10 ICAR assessments (on site) within health care facilities (e.g., dialysis, LTCFs, dental, outpatient, hospitals), rehabilitation centers and additional group settings as needed and identified each month.
• Submit completed reports into REDCap as instructed and save into the appropriate HAI SharePoint folder.
• Provide a written report with outbreak recommendations (e.g., COVID-19, Candida auris, Dialysis BSI) within 72 hours of the completed assessment to the facility.
• Provide a written report with preventative recommendations (e.g., COVID-19, Candida auris, Dialysis BSI) within 1 week of the completed assessment to the facility.
• Conduct a follow up assessment within 3 weeks of completing the initial report. The follow up assessment is designed to evaluate for implementation of recommendations, as appropriate.
• Serve as subject matter experts on CDC HAI guidance.
• Provide additional support for regional trainings and education. Collaboration with Project Firstline Educators and HAI Epidemiologists in each region for LTCF infection prevention and control practices as requested and needed.
• Work with facilities (e.g., long term care facilities, dialysis facilities, dental, outpatient care facilities, rehab centers, and additional group settings as needed and identified) to improve infection prevention activities, outbreak detection and reporting.
• Collaborate with BOE to implement regional HAI outbreak response trainings/drills.
• Provide quarterly trainings to county health departments on infection prevention and control to increase their capacity to serve as a resource when responding to MDROs and HAI outbreaks.
• Review NHSN reports, analyzing Merlin and other data to identify opportunities for improving emerging threat detection and making recommendations for health care facilities that have the greatest need for improvement based on surveillance data. Use these data to drive outreach for conducting ICARs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned with Dialysis Infection Prevention Lead, Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead, MDRO Prevention Epidemiologist Lead, HAI Outbreak ICAR Epidemiologist Lead, Non-AR/MDRO Lead, Project Firstline Coordinator, NHSN Coordinator Lead, Nurse Home Strike Team Lead, Senior Infection Preventionist, HAI Prevention Program Manager, and county health department.

Attends infection control meetings at assigned hospitals to share and yield vital information. Provides information on the prevention, transmission, surveillance and control of infectious diseases to community, clients, or health care professional groups. Participates in training programs, educational conferences to keep informed of preparedness and epidemiological issues.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid driver's license
• High school diploma or GED

Preferred Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse (RN), BSN, MSN, or APRN
• Certification in Infection Control
• Two years of infection control experience
• Two years of clinical experience

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

Innovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

Collaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

Accountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

Responsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

Excellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Department of Health in Pinellas County

St. Petersburg location

205 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process. This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify