EPIDEMIOLOGY SPECIALIST 53151

11/1/91 B

This is the first class in the Epidemiology series, which is composed of positions that coordinate, administer and manage epidemiology program(s). Positions in this class provide non-supervisory staff support for the detection, surveillance, containment and prevention of communicable and non-communicable disease within a health district. This class is distinguished from the Epidemiologist by the latter's responsibility to manage all epidemiological programs within a health region or to manage a specific segment of a statewide epidemiology program.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of moderate difficulty requiring the independent administration of all communicable disease control activities within a health district and providing technical staff assistance in epidemiological methods and data analysis. Consults with, advises, reviews and coordinates related work of public health nurses, health educators and Epidemiology Program Representatives assigned to the district. Provides technical supervision to district staff members in communicable disease control efforts. Provides public education and information regarding disease and epidemiological factors. Develops surveillance and analysis methods for occupationally and environmentally induced conditions. Provides technical assistance in data collection, analysis and reporting. Assists district health director and program managers with data development and analysis for programmatic issues such as productivity, services measures and health status indicators. Plans and conducts training for district staff on epidemiological methods. Investigates and develops funding resources for projects.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor.

Supervision Received: Receives direction from the district health director. May receive technical guidance from the regional Epidemiologist for specific projects or disease outbreaks.

Scope: Positions in this class administer all epidemiology programs in a health district.

Impact of Actions: Work has a moderate impact on the effectiveness of programs responsible for the timely intervention and control of communicable diseases, resulting in reduced health care and community health risks.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal and external contact with regional, district, and local health department personnel to discuss disease reports and data analysis; with laboratory services to discuss laboratory test results; with care providers, media representatives, the general public to provide information and education and to interpret laws, rules, and regulations.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the cause, transmission, treatment, and prevention of communicable and non-communicable disease; of methods of investigating disease outbreaks; of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding the reporting and control of diseases, and of biostatistics.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to develop program goals and objectives and to evaluate program effectiveness; to train staff members; to establish and maintain effective working relationships; to collect and analyze data; and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with advance course work in public health, epidemiology, or biostatistics.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This is a new class developed as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update program, effective November 1991.