BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64028560

Requisition No: 843962 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64028560

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64028560 

Salary:  $42,733.20 - $44,870.15 

Posting Closing Date: 01/12/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Internal Agency Opportunity

Applicants accepted only from Department of Health employees, (includes OPS, Career Service, SES or SMS employees).

Applicants will not be accepted from outside the department.

Specific Responsibilities:

This is a Biological Scientist II position responsible for detecting, controlling and preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in Palm Beach County to promote long, healthy life and allow every individual to attain his or her full health potential. This position works in field, office and clinical settings, and may have to visit jails. Work is performed under the supervision of the Biological Scientist Ill-SES. This position requires independent judgment, initiative, applying general knowledge of business practices and skill in applying instructions to accomplish various job functions.  This position serves in a professional capacity, providing direct disease intervention and public health awareness activities including but not limited to partner services, case investigations, screening, counseling and referral services of individuals exposed to or at-risk of infection from Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis or other biological agents. This position will be cross trained in STD/Hepatitis surveillance and field operations. Serves as a backup to the Tuberculosis (TB) program and perform contact Investigations and TB Surveillance. Perform phlebotomy routinely and conduct confidential field investigations.

 

This position is a designated sensitive position and is required to maintain confidential information in accordance with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures. State and local confidentiality and security policies related to STD and TB surveillance and investigation data in accordance with Florida Statutes (FS) 384, 392, 381.004, 960-003; Florida Administration Codes 10D-3, 64D-2, 64D-3; and local Health Department guidelines. As such, the incumbent is responsible for maintaining and securing confidential databases: e.g. Surveillance Tools And Reporting System (STARS), Health Management System (HMS). Abiding by Internal Operating Procedures (IOPs) and Technical Assistance Guidelines (TAGs) related to STD and HIV/AIDS and other CHD functions including IOP: STDs; Policy: Security 7.4 and TAG for HIV/AIDS TAG: I, 7, II, 15, 18, and 17.

 

Conducts field investigations to provide partner services to individuals infected with or at-risk of STDs including Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS or other infections. Locates patients to conduct epidemiologic interviews and educate them regarding their infections and risk reduction; provides referral to appropriate medical care and verify appropriate treatment; develops plans to locate and refer their sex and needle sharing partners and others at risk for infection for medical evaluation; performs cluster interviews with persons determined to be potential information sources for known cases; performs field serologic screenings for individuals considered to be at risk. Consults with providers or lab personnel to stimulate case reporting; obtain information on cases; accommodate partner services for private patients; and provide current information on diagnosis and treatment. Verifies demographics and clinical information from Electronic Health Record (EHR) within HMS. Documents all investigative efforts in the STD epidemiologic database STARS.

 

 Ensures notifiable STD's are reported by healthcare providers and laboratories in accordance with Florida statutes. Ensures positive tests for diseases are entered to STARS. Communicates with providers, hospitals, laboratories, and other health care facilities to obtain demographic, laboratory, clinical or other specific information; arrange medical evaluations and treatments for a client; and/or provide information on current reporting / treatment guidelines for communicable diseases. Record searches various databas