Disease Surveillance Investigator Trainee

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

4A08
DISEASE SURVEILLANCE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE

Specialties
( AIDS ) ( Infectious Disease ) ( Bilingual )

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is public health disease surveillance and control work at the trainee level. An employee in this class learns and develops knowledges and skills in the investigation and review of case information concerning infectious diseases, eliciting and compiling epidemiological information, and locating infected individuals and their contacts to inform them of the nature of their disease and recommended treatment. Participating with higher level investigators when conducting investigations and reviewing case information, and contact with public and private healthcare providers, registries, and laboratories, are significant aspects of the work. Working conditions involve some disagreeable aspects. Assignments are performed under the close supervision of a surveillance program supervisor.

ALLOCATING FACTORS:
(The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

The employee must be learning the knowledges and skills necessary to investigate and review case information concerning infectious diseases, and to compile epidemiological information.
The employee must participate with higher level investigators to review case information and conduct investigations.
The position must be located in the Disease Control Division of the Health Department.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

All Specialties

Learns the U.S. Public Health Service Standards for disease surveillance and infectious disease control; learns interviewing and motivating principles and techniques related to the area of disease control.
Learns the techniques of infectious disease control field investigations.Learns the applicable medical aspects in the area of specialization; learns statistical methods and techniques used in descriptive epidemiology.
Observes higher level employees performing various phases of surveillance work.
Performs related work as required.

AIDS Specialty

Receives instruction in performing a variety of field and office activities which will enable the employee to conduct surveillance activities to identify Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Persistent General Lymphadenopathy/Wasting Syndrome (AIDS and PGL/WS) cases; receives on-the-job training in accepted disease surveillance methods and techniques to implement and maintain reporting and feedback mechanisms for AIDS and AIDS-related syndromes; conducts site visits of health care facilities; performs epidemiologic case investigations by interviewing patients to determine case history and source of infection; prepares epidemiologic information for inclusion in reports; reviews statistics for accuracy; consults with immediate supervisor regarding program policies, services and procedures; observes higher level employees engaged in performing various phases of surveillance work; attends forums, lectures and educational programs on AIDS services administered by the AIDS Activity Coordinating Office.

Performs related work as required.

Infectious Diseases Specialty

Receives instruction in conducting investigations of persons suspected of having or known to have communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, gonococcal infections, lyme disease, measles (rubeola), meningitis (all types), pelvic inflammatory disease, rabies, syphilis, tetanus, and others; learns interview techniques to be used with neighbors and relatives; searches files of public agencies in an attempt to locate persons; learns to educate clients and other concerned parties about the causes, symptoms, effects, and treatments of the communicable disease.
Receives on-the-job training in administering and interpreting skin tuberculin tests; delivers kits to obtain sputum samples, rectal swabs and fecal specimens; learns to use syringes and jet injector instruments to inoculate individuals; may participate in periodic immunization programs for communicable disease control.
Contacts private physicians and laboratories to explain the objectives and functions of public health disease control; solicits their cooperation in furnishing the names and address of persons identified by medical personnel as having communicable diseases.
Performs related work as required.

Bilingual Specialty

Performs the duties above in the AIDS specialty or the Infectious Diseases Specialty with members of a designated non-English language speaking community.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

ABILITY TO:

learn U.S. Public Health Service Standards for disease surveillance and infectious disease control.
learn the methods and techniques of disease control field investigation.
learn interviewing and motivating principles and techniques as they relate to disease control investigation.
learn the techniques of infectious and communicable disease control field investigation.
learn the applicable medical aspects of AIDS and AIDS related syndromes in the AIDS specialty.
learn the applicable medical aspects of communicable diseases in the Infectious Disease specialty.
learn the methods and techniques involved in administering vaccines and tuberculin skin tests in the Infectious Disease specialty.
learn statistical methods and techniques used in descriptive epidemiology.
compile and analyze data to identify health problems.
prepare reports and present findings and conclusions in a clear and comprehensive manner both orally and in writing.
employ tact, diplomacy and judgment in dealing with sensitive problems and hostile attitudes.
establish and maintain effective relationships with infected individuals, governmental agencies physicians and nurses, health care providers, representatives of government agencies, associates, and the public.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 8/92.)

EDUCATION

ALL SPECIALTIES

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university.

BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and a designated non-English language.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of appointment in the Infectious Diseases specialty.

PAY RANGE: EP14
Class Established:
CSC - 5/1985 ; Ad Board - 6/1985

Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC - 7/1992 ; Ad Board - 8/1992

TS/vp/sb

END OF JOB CLASS SPECIFICATION - 4A08

4A08DISEASE SURVEILLANCE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE

4A08
DISEASE SURVEILLANCE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE