Disease Intervention Specialist 1-3

Posting number: OPH/SP/225004

Department: LDH-Office of Public Health

Job classification: DISEASE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST 1

Posting type: Open

Categories: Social Services, Nursing, Miscellaneous

Summary

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health

Make a Difference in Your Community and Across Louisiana! Join the Louisiana Department of Health’s STD/HIV Program and play a vital role in protecting public health through field investigations, patient interviews, education, counseling, and community outreach. This dynamic, statewide position offers the opportunity to connect directly with individuals, healthcare providers, and community partners while helping identify exposures, connect people to treatment, and prevent the spread of STD/HIV. If you’re ready for meaningful work that makes a real difference, apply today!

An ideal candidate should possess the following competencies:

Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.

Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well supported conclusions.

Using Data: The ability to collect, analyze, and use data to generate insights and inform decisions. 

Acting with Ethics and Integrity: The ability to make choices that reflect ethical standards, integrity and honesty, regardless of circumstances or personal benefit.

Adapting to Change: The ability to demonstrate flexibility in thoughts, behaviors, and actions in response to evolving circumstances or unexpected change. 

Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.

Demonstrating Business Acumen: The ability to apply business insight, data, and strategy to make informed decisions and achieve organizational goals. 

Demonstrating Emotional Intelligence: The ability to identify and understand emotions in oneself and others sand use that understanding to manage one's behavior and relationships. 

Developing Performance: Builds the future potential of others by supporting long-term growth, skill development, and career progression.

Displaying Professionalism: The ability to uphold workplace standards through consistent conduct, responsible communication, and consideration for others.

Examples of duties

Three years of experience in disease investigation and prevention activities; OR

Three years of experience in investigatory work, social services, nursing, or as a medical laboratory technician or assistant; OR

A bachelor's degree.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Supplemental information

Job Duties:

• Conducts field investigations and interviews with newly and currently infected patients to obtain and document case histories, sexual partner information, exposure risks, and disease disposition. 
• Identifies, locates, and follows up with individuals who may have been exposed to STD/HIV and maintains accurate, confidential case records and documentation. 
• Performs field follow-up with STD/HIV cases and contacts, including visits to residences and high-risk areas, to monitor treatment recommendations and encourage appropriate medical care. 
• Provides education and counseling to patients and contacts regarding STD/HIV symptoms, treatment, disease progression, prevention, and the importance of follow-up care. 
• Refers patients and contacts to appropriate STD/HIV clinics and healthcare providers for medical evaluation, testing, treatment, and preventive services. 
• Collects blood specimens using appropriate laboratory procedures, including venipuncture, and documents and maintains test and laboratory information in confidential medical records. 
• Conducts surveillance and outreach with physicians, healthcare providers, schools, clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and other community partners