Health Technician (Disease Investigator) - Tohono O'odham Nation Healthcare

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporary relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary:

The Health Technician (Disease Investigator) provides a variety of support duties associated with disease investigation and surveillance for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and other communicable diseases, as well as other health promotion activities.

Scope of Work:

This position is located within the Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care, Sells Hospital, San Xavier Health Center, Santa Rosa Health Center, and San Simon Health Center. This position is assigned to the Public Health Nursing (PHN) Department. Incumbent works under the supervision of Director of Public Health Nursing and works closely with the Public Health Nurse.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Sets-up and maintains a patient registry for the Public Health Nursing department. Manages program data entry. Maintains records and reporting systems per established clinic site and TONHC policies and procedures.
• Records patient health data into RPMS, EHR or other systems such as MEDSIS, PRISM; and research records for data entry.
• Utilizes systems for investigations and surveillances of communicable diseases.
• Makes home visits and explains sexually transmitted infections, complications, and treatments. Investigates possible disease sources by interviewing patients and contacts and reviewing associated information to local authorities, carriers, and all spread cases related to the disease incident.
• Makes home visits independently to selected patients to elicit information, explain informed consent, deliver and explain referrals and appointments.
• Delivers prescription medication, instructs the patient in proper medication use, and discusses possible side effects, as directed by the PHN or other primary care providers.
• Obtains urine specimens and performs venipuncture when necessary for specific laboratory tests. Takes vital signs; temperature, height, weight, blood pressure, and elicits history of the present complaint.
• Conveys health teachings and instructions of the PHN and other health care providers to patients using knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. Communicates to health care providers the health problems, needs, and responses of patients.
• Conducts community outreach activities and public health presentations. Participates with local community groups in the planning of health activities.
• Participates in community vaccination events. Understands the non-clinical roles and assists where needed.
• Operates various GSA vehicles for home and clinic visits to carry out PHN department objectives. Conducts visits to remote communities and homes over sometimes hazardous roads or in hazardous weather conditions.
• Assists with inventory, purchasing, ordering, storing supplies, and ordering program supplies or promotional items.
• Maintains compliance with all mandatory training requirements.
• Maintains health knowledge through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops and trainings.
• Contribute to a team effort.
• Integrates concepts of Tohono O'odham cultural values, beliefs, and practices as appropriate.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, traditions, and geography.
• Knowledge of communicable diseases and medical terminology to facilitate understanding of patient's medical records and the collection of patient medical information for use by clinical providers.
• Knowledge of overall public health practices and procedures, the cause, spread, and control of communicable diseases; investigative and interviewing techniques and procedures; and community resources for public health education and treatment.
• Must possess in-depth knowledge in performing communicable disease investigations; applying interview techniques; documenting and reporting activities manually and using computer-based systems; and maintaining required confidentiality and security of information encountered.
• Ability to communicate effectively and interact with various personnel (tribal staff, other health care professionals, community members, outside agencies, etc.) and maintain working relationships.
• Must possess excellent knowledge of patient confidentiality policies and Privacy Act, abiding by all federally mandated privacy regulations when dealing with a patient's medical information, whether oral or written.
• Ability to obtain lab specimens/perform venipuncture technique; interprets basic lab results and informs patients of lab results.
• Knowledge of common communicable disease treatment modalities and the ability to communicate this information to medical providers and patients and their families.
• Knowledge and skill are sufficient to provide safety, security, and privacy for patients and keep patient information confidential.
• Knowledge of Basic Life Support to maintain a current CPR certification.
• Thorough knowledge of the Privacy Act of 1974 mandates the incumbent to maintain the confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and personnel records.
• Knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191 (HIPAA).
• Ability to work extended hours and various work schedules.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma.
• One year of clerical experience.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements:

• Must possess Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification.
• Within six (6) months of hire, the employee must complete the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Disease modular training program and pass the CDC Passport to Partner Services course.
• Upon recommendation for employment, a criminal background and fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for hire.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years).
• Must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.
• Must submit a 39-month driving record with the employment application.
• Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more. The work requires extensive driving between communities. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. The employee may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, odors, wetness, temperature and noise extremes, fumes, hazardous materials, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, and toxic agents. Some work is required inside hospital wards, exposing the employee to contagious diseases. Exposure to persons under the influence of drugs and alcohol is possible.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.