Public Health Technician I

Overview

A TB PHT I requires direct patient contact within the clinic and in the field; assist with disease investigations, clinical support, administrative support, public health preparedness; adherence to all state and federal TB guidelines and policies related to TB testing, treatment, reporting, contact investigations and surveillance. This position will ensure and maintain patient data in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and state databases to monitor TB control. The TB PHT I will extract patient information from EHR for QA and productivity reporting.

Responsibilities

• Participates in information gathering of newly diagnosed TB cases, contacts, and suspects
• Provides TB testing and specimen collection in clinics and fields
• Works with RN and notifies RN of changes in patient health condition or demographic status
• Maintains the calendar of follow up appointments and testing for patients
• Assists with provision of TB treatment for patients in accordance with SDOs
• Works evenings with other agencies to provides patient testing and education
• Collects and prepares patient specimens for laboratory delivery
• Conducts sputum collection
• Enters patient history and current visit information in EHR and state databases / disease surveillance systems
• Deals with angry, aggressive, agitated, and / or mentally / physically ill clients
• Assists with all TB surveillance activities within assigned jurisdiction
• Enters data for all investigative information obtained during client interviews
• Performs investigative searches to obtain information on all clients involved in a case
• Performs complex chart abstraction for comprehensive technical functions, comprehensive medical record reviews
• Maintains high security integrity of databases through use of encryption
• Develops and implements QA for data submitted by providers for RVCT reporting
• Abstracts medical records from hospitals, private providers, and clinics
• Conducts FVs to locate clients and conduct interviews in hospitals, homes, workplaces, jails, community centers
• Collects specimens in client homes, workplaces, jails, community centers
• Provides education to outside agencies (schools, hospitals, clinics, etc.)
• Provides testing and counseling at any site named in a TB case
• Drives personal vehicle and conduct FVs before 8am / after 5pm as needed
• Inputs and scans patient data into EHR
• Greets and registers clinic patients
• Inputs RVCT patient data and laboratory results into state databases
• Requires conducting FVs in all weather conditions (excessive heat, cold, rain, etc.)
• Requires handling and transport biomedical waste (blood, sputum)
• Requires conducting sputum collection in nonstandard sites / environments with physical challenges (no chair, no table, no heat or air condition, bug ingested, unclean, etc.)
• Lifts, carries pushes, pulls supplies for outreach events or from purchasing dept
• Walks in unstable environments, entering dilapidated housing / bldgs

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications

Required

Required within six (6) months of hire

Employment Testing

Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below :

Basis of Rating

A recruitment consultant will evaluate all applications against the posted qualifications. The city may also conduct additional skill assessment tests, in addition to the panel interview

Supplemental Information

The City of Corpus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.