North Region Disease Intervention Specialist Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana. The Indiana Department of Health's mission is to promote, protect, and improve the health and safety of all Hoosiers so that they can reach their optimal health regardless of where they live, learn, work, or play.
Role Overview:
The Regional Disease Intervention Specialist hold dual responsibilities as a regional point of contact for all assigned local health departments (LHDs) and as a disease intervention specialist for the IDOH HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis division. As a regional point of contact for LHDs the disease intervention specialist provides customer service and technical support to LHDs in the areas of STI, HIV, and harm reduction through connecting LHDs to IDOH subject matter experts, IDOH resources, other LHDs, and regional resources. This position also provides direct support to LHDs as they onboard new staff or initiate testing and treatment services. The Regional Disease Intervention Specialist investigates Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and HIV diagnoses utilizing best practices including interviews with people with STI diagnoses, analyzing case and disease information, providing testing services, and interacting with health care providers and other medical staff who support STI or HIV care. The role ensures clients receive appropriate treatment, partner services, risk reduction education, referrals, and co-infection testing in accordance with the IDOH STI Division.
Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience.
A Day in the Life:
The essential functions of this role are as follows: Investigate complaints and prepares reports documenting findings. Interview individuals to determine facts as they pertain to communicable disease control efforts. Locate and interview individuals who are non-compliant regarding the control of their communicable disease. Locate and interview individuals who have not received care for their communicable disease. Counsel individuals on the status of their communicable disease. Attempt to obtain an individual's voluntary compliance with risk reduction behaviors. May perform finger sticks to determine status of communicable disease and send specimens to a CDC designated laboratory within 48 hours of the blood draw. Maintain electronic case files. Provide testing and counseling information to local health departments, medical providers, and care coordinators. Provide service and follow-up on state and/or federal health directives Maintain utmost standards of confidentiality in relation to all investigations/interviews. Facilitate and assist in the referral of clients to services. Essential functions of this position require travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at those sites or employee's home. Employee reports to the agency's office for occasional meetings or events. Number and timing of work hours may vary daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs and staffing concerns at the client's or customer's worksite, minimize expenditures for repeated visits to complete the work, and allocate resources to complete assigned work effectively. This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary. The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. What You'll Need for Success: Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following: Extensive knowledge of and ability to interpret federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies pertaining to research. Broad knowledge of the operation of health care provider agencies including hospitals, clinics, health departments, and state and county facilities such as prisons/jails. Extensive knowledge of record keeping, problem identification/solving and consultation methods. Broad knowledge of Universal Precautions, CDC policies and procedures and Indiana laws pertaining to collection of bodily fluids. Ability to work with and maintain confidentiality and security of data. Be willing to travel with reasonable accommodation. Ability to conduct and complete confidential client centered interviews. Ability to prepare, conduct, and evaluate trainings for health care providers and community organizations and work with them to accomplish the program goals. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to elicit sensitive information in a non-judgmental manner. A degree is not required. However, at least 6 years of public health related experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered. Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports: This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs. Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana: The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes: Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years Education Reimbursement Program Group life insurance Referral Bonus program Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Free Parking for most positions Free LinkedIn Learning access Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.
