Disease Research And Intervention Specialist - Sexual Health Clinic

Summary

This position is for one Partner Services Disease Research and Intervention Specialist (DRIS) that will work out of the Sexual Health Clinic. This position will perform disease intervention activities associated with the control and prevention of STDs.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice: Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Job Duties

• Contact untreated patients and notify exposed partners to arrange for examination, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment.
• Willingness to work in Correctional facilities.
• Interpret laboratory test and other diagnostic testing results, inform patients of results and link positive patients to treatment/care.
• Ensure adequate and timely treatment for pregnant patients and their partners.
• Monitor STD’s labs across pregnancy for possible re-infection or treatment failure.
• Assure confidentiality of all records, data, and information as required by section, department, state and/or federal regulation.
• Locate patients and their sex/needle sharing partners through investigative processes.
• Supply community health providers with STD/HIV clinical care standards and regulatory and reporting requirements.
• Conduct field visits to locate sex/needle sharing partners.
• Input and maintenance of electronic health data; ensure accuracy and completeness of data for control and evaluation.
• Interview patients diagnosed with STDs/HIV and elicit detailed information about personal behaviors as well as partner names, identifying information and other information.
• Educate patients about health risks and explore, promote, and motivate patients toward behavioral changes to reduce risks.
• Conduct HIV pre- and post-testing and counseling, perform venipuncture for blood testing and collect STD specimens.
• Elicit detailed medical information from providers for case reporting-, including contacting providers to verify patient and treatment information.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Willingness and comfort working with vulnerable populations including those experiencing homelessness, mental health, and substance use
• Comfort making unsolicited calls (cold calls) for both patients and providers
• Experience conducting outreach to locate patients for treatment and care
• Ability to provide HIV/STD health information simply and concisely.
• Experience with computer applications including Word, Excel, Access, and web browsing.
• Ability to follow procedures/protocols and apply them to unpredictable situations.
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of medical terminology, diagnosis and treatment.
• Able to speak and write effectively resulting in good notes and reports.
• Demonstrated experience interviewing and eliciting (the act of obtaining, drawing out, or bringing out responses of others) information regarding sensitive individual personal behaviors.
• Experience with data entry.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful working relationships.
• Ability to protect Public Health Information (PHI) and other confidential information.
• Documentation of current BLS CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in making decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Possess a valid WA State driver's license or ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire and willing and able to drive a county vehicle in the day and nighttime hours.
• Knowledge of HIV and STD transmission modes, symptoms, and implications.
• Venipuncture experience or willingness to be trained in blood draws.
• Comfort with and ability to elicit detailed sexual histories from all sexual orientations and genders

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in Spanish

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

• Supplemental Questions
• Job Application

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location and working hours.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.
• Documentation of current BLS CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.
• The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:
If you are the successful candidate for the position(s), as a condition of your employment, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work in the medical clinic(s) outlined in this job posting prior to your start date. To ensure this condition is met, prior to your start date, the county will send you a conditional offer letter requesting you to provide proof of vaccination.

Work Location: This position will work at the Public Health Sexual Health Clinic located within Harborview Medical Center.

Telecommuting:
The work associated with this position will be performed through teleworking (up to 16 hours a week from home) with reporting to the clinic the remainder of the time. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Work Schedule: The person selected for this position will be required to work 5 days a week, current work hours are 7:30-6:00, M-F. May be asked to adjust hours based on community needs. This position is eligible for overtime; occasional weekend/after-hours work may be required, depending on outbreak and emergency events.

Union Affiliation:
This position is represented by the WSCCCE L21 Labor Union.

Contact: If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Sarah Dunkinson, Human Resource Analyst at [email protected].