Health Officer - Tippecanoe County Government

POSITION: Health Officer for Tippecanoe County

DEPARTMENT: Tippecanoe County Health Department

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F (Varies based on need)

SALARY: $63,430 annually

Serves as the health officer for Tippecanoe County and is responsible for fulfilling legal requirements of a Health Officer as set forth in Indiana Code. Works closely with the Board of Health to develop health initiatives for the community. Supervises the County Health Department Administrator. Occasionally provides medical care to patients and oversees medical personnel who are providing care at on and off site clinics. Monitors Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use disorder, together with the medical operations team. Collaborates with clinical staff, counselors and recovery coaches. Provides patient education and referrals specific to patient's assessed needs and abilities.

Duties:

• Serves as an advocate for public health.
• Assures that a comprehensive public health program, based on core functions and the Institute of Medicine's essential public health services, is carried out by the health department staff under the supervision of the administrator.
• Consults in the diagnosis, investigation, and treatment of communicable diseases.
• Provides guidance on isolation, quarantine, and decontamination of persons within the county when necessary to protect the public's health.
• Collaborates with and supervises clinical staff (including advanced practice providers), counselors, and recovery coaches. Provides patient education and referrals specific to the patient's assessed needs and abilities.
• Serves as secretary of the local Board of Health, attending all Board of Health meetings.
• Provides reporting and expertise to the local Board of Health concerning health issues and questions.
• Assists the local Board of Health with information that is necessary to allocate resources and set policy.
• Calls extra local Board of Health meetings as warranted by county issues.
• Serves as the county registrar of births and deaths.
• Assures the county's vital statistics are reported to the state department of health.
• Assures that laws, ordinances, orders, rules, and regulations of the local and superior boards of health are enforced.
• Receives financial assistance, on behalf of the local Board of Health from individuals, organizations, and/or state or federal government with approval from the local Board of Health and county executive or city fiscal body.
• Assists in creation of annual budget and provides statistical and financial reports generated by the local health department.
• Assures that inspections and surveys of the local health department are made public except for those that are exempted by the Indiana Code.
• Assesses the county's public health needs by using demographic and other statistical data.
• Participates in community activities, particularly with local medical groups, and collaborates with community partners.
• Advises local Board of Health, county commissioners, and other officials and voluntary agencies on issues relevant to public health.
• Orders what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease in all reasonable and necessary ways to protect public health.
• Abides by all duties prescribed by the local Board of Health.

Job Requirements:

• Required: Licensed physician in Indiana with unlimited license to practice in Indiana.
• Required: Beginning July 1, 2023, any newly appointed local health officer shall complete a public health foundation training course developed and approved by the state health department (IC 16-20-1-9.5)
• Preferred: Three years' experience in a professional medical capacity.
• Preferred: Master's degree in public health.
• Preferred: Grant administration experience
• Demonstrates outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including ability to facilitate discussions.
• Demonstrates ability to work closely with Health Department Administrator for oversight of department.
• Demonstrates ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to Indiana's Public Access and Open Door law, IDOH standards, HIPAA regulations, and all other federal and state laws relating to privacy, confidentiality, and public access.
• Demonstrates ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve barriers to delivering high-quality services.
• Demonstrates strong commitment to developing, supporting, and accomplishing the Health Department's vision and strategic goals.
• Acts with proper decorum at all public meetings and when interacting with elected and appointed officials, employees, and members of the public.
• Displays ability to plan and present public speaking presentations, fundraisers, or special events.
• Occasionally works evening and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travels out of town for meetings/trainings, sometimes overnight. Serves 24-hours per day/7 days per week on call for emergent public health needs.
• Occasionally testifies in legal proceedings/court as required.
• Possesses a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

Difficulty of Work:

Incumbent's duties are broad in scope, involving many variables or considerations with interrelationships difficult to ascertain. Incumbent performs duties according to well-established standard practices of the medical profession and standard department policies and procedures, exercising independent judgment in determining appropriate treatment or referrals for individual cases.

Responsibility:

Incumbent ensures proper implementation of medical programs or health services that promote public health, research, and rehabilitation. Efforts include educating community partners and the public on access to community-based resources, and communicating efficiently with community partners, state and local officials, and the Board of Health to further public health in Tippecanoe County. The Incumbent supervises the health department administrator and medical director to ensure operations of the health department are met.

Personal Work Relationships:

Maintains a relationship with local health care providers, school personnel, hospitals, other health facilities, community service organizations, and the public to supervise operations and personnel, exchange and explain information, oversees medical care at the health department and off-site medical and MAT clinics, providing medications, treatment, and education. Works in coordination with state and local officials, the Board of Health, and community partners to further public and environmental health in Tippecanoe County Health Department.

Incumbent reports directly to the local Board of Health

Physical Effort and Work Environment:

Incumbent performs most duties in a standard office environment.. Duties involve standing/walking for extended periods, pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying objects weighing over 25 pounds, reaching, bending at the waist, crouching/kneeling, close/far vision, color, and depth perception, hearing sounds/ communication, and handling/grasping/fingering objects. The incumbent is exposed to normal hazards associated with driving, such as adverse weather conditions, and normal hazards associated with public health nursing, such as communicable diseases and blood-borne pathogens, for which universal health precautions must be followed to ensure the safety of self and others. Incumbent occasionally works extended, evening and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travels out of town for meetings/training, sometimes overnight. Incumbent remains available on call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for emergent public health needs.