VIRGINIA Department of Health
COVID-19 Positions
Contact Tracer
To apply for the Contact Tracer position please click the following link and submit your resume: CONTACT TRACER
The Contact Tracer is an entry level public health professional responsible for identifying and contacting individuals who may have come in contact with persons recently diagnosed with an infectious disease associated with an outbreak or pandemic. Contact Tracers are responsible for gathering details about each contact of an ill individual (case) identified during the course of a public health case investigation. Information collected for each contact includes, but is not limited to: basic demographics, potential exposures to known case(s), current health status (including an assessment for current symptoms consistent with illness), and screening for membership in a high risk group (e.g., healthcare workers, residents of congregate care settings).
Job duties include:
Interviewing & Data Collection
Calls newly diagnosed patients and contacts of newly diagnosed patients to gather information and inform contacts of potential exposure.
Communicates with contacts in a professional, empathetic, and culturally sensitive manner.
Collects and records information on demographics, current symptoms, current health status, and possible high-risk settings into Contact Tracing/Contact Information Management system.
Health Education
Provides contacts with approved information about state quarantine procedures, and if appropriate, refers them to testing according to protocol.
Following established procedures and/or script, incumbent will inform contacts about the importance of quarantine and what to do if symptoms develop.
Provides contacts with relevant healthcare resources as appropriate.
Data Entry & Maintenance
Utilizes established database(s) to identify newly diagnosed patients and contacts for tracing efforts.
Inputs data collected (i.e. symptoms, contacts, etc.) into database and assures database is kept up to date
Provides data from Contact Tracing efforts and calls to Epidemiologists and/or Health Educators as necessary.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
An understanding of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality (e.g., to those who might overhear their conversations).
Excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that they can build and maintain trust with patients and contacts.
Resourcefulness in locating patients and contacts who may be difficult to reach or reluctant to engage in conversation.
Understanding of when to refer individuals or situations to medical, social, or supervisory resources.
Cultural competency appropriate to the local community.
Preferred Qualifications:
Understanding of the medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.
Basic skills of crisis counseling, and the ability to confidently refer patients and contacts for further care if needed.
Knowledge of or coursework in medical terminology.
data analytics coordinator
To apply for the Data Analytics Coordinator position please click the following link and submit your resume: DATA ANALYTICS COORDINATOR
The Data Analytics Coordinator is a public health professional who analyzes data related to the COVID-19 pandemic and data collected as a result of the public health response to COVID-19. The Coordinator will analyze data on the occurrence of disease in communities and within subpopulations in communities, and assess the impact of disease in terms of disease counts, rates, hospitalizations, medical services utilization, outbreaks, and deaths, as well as the progress made in case identification, testing, and contact tracing. Data, once quality assured, will be analyzed using advanced statistical analysis and data visualization tools to track trends and patterns in disease occurrence. Data for the region will be compared with that for other regions, the state, and the nation. The position will contribute to the overall understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Virginia and the effects of the pandemic response.
Job duties include:
Data Analysis
Export data from statewide data systems used to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia. Merge and manage data as necessary to generate fields necessary for the planned analyses.
Utilize statistical analysis tools to calculate frequencies, rates, and relationships in the data and ensure the data are clean and well-understood prior to developing additional outputs/reports.
Resolve any problems in data quality and completeness. Work with those providing the data as necessary to address issues that are identified.
Data Visualization
Apply data visualization tools to create data displays that are useful to demonstrate trends and patterns in disease occurrence in the community and disease risk in different populations.
Compare data with similar analyses developed elsewhere.
Data Interpretation and Use in Pandemic Response Planning
Generate reports, displays, interactive online tools, etc. to make data available to government leaders, public health officials, community partners, and the public. Ensure output is easy to use and clearly understandable to different audiences.
Communicate any disturbing or unexpected findings to supervisors or others as appropriate. Position data, data visualizations, and reports so they can be most useful in assessing the pandemic, pandemic response to date, and plans for the next steps that can be implemented to control the spread of disease in the community.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Master’s level degree (or equivalent experience) in the following: (1) public health or epidemiology; (2) health informatics, computer science, information science or information systems; or (3) public health research or health services research.
At least 1 year of documented experience in public health or population health.
At least 1 year of documented experience in the following: public health informatics, health or clinical informatics, information systems, information science, computer science, or information technology.
Ability to clearly communicate technical issues to non-technical staff and management, both orally and in writing.
Extensive experience with any of the following: Epi Info, SQL, REDCap, Tableau, Microsoft Access.
Preferred Qualifications:
Skill in using disease surveillance data systems (NEDSS Base System preferred).
Knowledge of public health practices, communicable diseases and disease control, and disease reporting/surveillance.
Understanding of medical terminology related to infectious diseases.
Data manager
To apply for the Data Manager position please click the following link and submit your resume: DATA MANAGER
The Data Manager is a public health professional responsible for ensuring the collection and analysis of case, contact, and other public health data at the local health district level in accordance with sound epidemiologic methods, disease surveillance procedures, statistical formulas and data management techniques. Verifies data accuracy and resolves discrepancies. Identifies systematic problems and proposes resolutions to improve data quality. Assists other staff in appropriately using surveillance software applications and analytic tools, including providing training. Maintains frequent contact with health district staff and end-users of data in order to verify data, resolve inaccuracies, and meet user needs. Ensures data systems are used according to criteria established for statewide application. Generates reports on disease statistics and other data needed for the work unit.
Job duties include:
Data Assessment
Trains case investigators and contact tracers in data systems established for managing the data they collect. Ensures that data entry and quality assurance procedures are understood by all system users.
Troubleshoots problems to reach solutions to ensure ongoing availability of systems necessary for the work unit.
Systematically reviews data for completeness, quality, and timeliness. Addresses identified systematic problems to improve data quality.
User Support
Responds to user inquiries and requests for assistance. Provides additional instructions or develops FAQ documents as needed to address areas of confusion.
Stays up-to-date with system development and communicates changes with users. Informs developers at the state level of consistent problems or suggestions for system enhancements as appropriate.
Statistical Reports
Analyzes data and generates reports including general data summaries, as well as reports that detail data discrepancies, missing information, and duplicate entries. Uses data to identify ways to improve data quality and correct errors.
Coordinates with users of other data systems to create a more complete picture of the impact of the disease and the efforts in place to control its spread in the community and among different population groups.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Experience in data management and data quality assurance.
Ability to use software applications to analyze data and generate statistical reports.
Ability to prepare clear and accurate documentation and presentations of data.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with diverse audiences.
Ability to provide training to data system users.
Ability to work with a variety of computer software packages.
Preferred Qualifications:
Skill in using disease surveillance data systems (NEDSS Base System preferred).
Knowledge of public health practices, communicable diseases and disease control, and disease reporting/surveillance.
Understanding of medical terminology related to infectious diseases.
case investigator
To apply for the Case Investigator position please click the following link and submit your resume: CASE INVESTIGATOR
The Case Investigator is a public health professional responsible for receiving reports of persons suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19, locating them, and interviewing them in order to gather information necessary for public health case investigation and contact tracing. Interviews will involve gathering information about symptoms, exposures, and identifying others with whom the case has been in contact while potentially infectious. The Case Investigator will ascertain whether the case is part of a group at high risk of transmission or severe disease and provide information about the illness and methods of disease prevention and control, including the importance of staying isolated from others. The Case Investigator will monitor and document the person’s compliance with isolation protocols. he position will also be responsible for coordinating with Epidemiologists who are investigating outbreaks and disease occurrence in congregate settings and with Contact Tracers who will be responsible for contacting and ensuring the quarantine of contacts of the case. Entry of case interview data into a statewide database and assurance of accuracy of data entry required. Employee follows established policies and procedures for all case investigation functions and activities.
Job duties include:
Interviewing & Data Collection
Calls newly diagnosed cases and collects data on symptoms, exposures, and persons with whom they have been in contact while infectious.
Communicates with contacts in a professional and empathic manner, assuring them of the confidentiality of the information collected and explaining how the contact information will be utilized.
Collects and records information into statewide database and assures accuracy of data.
Health Education
Provides cases with approved information about state isolation procedures and monitors compliance with isolation.
Alerts Epidemiologists if the case is associated with a congregate or other high risk setting that requires additional public health investigation or intervention.
Following established procedures and/or script, incumbent will provide the ill individual with resources available for further information or support as needed.
Data Entry & Maintenance
Utilizes established database(s) to identify newly diagnosed patients.
Inputs data collected (i.e. symptoms, contacts, etc.) into database and assures database is kept up to date.
Provides data from Case Investigation efforts to Epidemiologists and/or Health Educators as necessary.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Knowledge of public health practices, communicable diseases, disease control, and epidemiologic methods.
Ability to manage, compile, analyze, and present data.
Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing with diverse audiences.
Ability to work with a variety of computer software packages.
Bachelor’s degree with major course work in public health, epidemiology or related field or comparable experience in epidemiology, surveillance, and public health.
An understanding of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality (e.g., to those who might overhear their conversations).
Excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that they can build and maintain trust with interviewees; ability to maintain confidentiality; judgement as to when to refer cases to other resources if needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's of Public Health or related field preferred.
Understanding of medical terminology and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.
Basic skills of crisis counseling, and the ability to confidentially refer persons for further care if needed.
The Regional Testing Supervisor is a public health professional responsible for coordinating testing activities for cases and contacts of COVID-19 within a region. Serves as coordinator of COVID-10 testing efforts within a region, providing oversight and response to COVID-19 testing requests and ensuring testing results are relayed back to case investigators, contact tracers, ordering providers, and patients. Advises on the technical aspects of testing, troubleshoots challenges, and identifies solutions. Tracks progress of testing requests and tests conducted within the region and identifies issues/barriers to testing. Conducts quality assurance of testing data and ensures accuracy of testing data for region. Communicates with local health districts to identify and resolve barriers to COVID-19 testing efforts. Coordinates with district, regional, and central office staff engaged in the pandemic response, reporting data on testing activities as requested and conferring with investigators and leadership about challenging disease testing situations Employee follows established policies, but independent judgement and actions based on a solid foundation of knowledge and experience will also need to be applied.
Job duties include:
Supervision
Coordinates with health districts in assigned region and works with case investigators and contact tracers to facilitate testing based upon needs of each health district.
Discusses challenging situations with staff and helps identify solutions.
Program management
Serves as subject matter expert, interpreting policies and guidelines and ensuring testing activities are conducted in accordance with standardized practices.
Coordinates the activities of staff to ensure all aspects of the program are addressed in a timely and complete way.
Reviews data to quantify productivity, timeliness, and compliance of with testing guidelines.
Communicates with others who are responsible for different aspects of the pandemic response to ensure seamless integration of activities.
Health Education
Provides scientifically accurate information about COVID-19 testing to community.
Quality Assurance and Coordination
Ensures data produced by work unit is accurate and reported to supervisors and leadership upon request.
Ensures all procedures are followed by staff.
Coordinates with district, regional, and central office staff to ensure the community is protected.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of the cause, transmission, treatment, and prevention of communicable diseases and other events of public health importance; methods of public health surveillance and case, cluster, and disease outbreak investigations; federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding public health and the reporting and control of disease; and biostatistics, computer data analysis and interpretation of results, and data management techniques.
Knowledge of testing methodologies (e.g., nucleic acid, antibody/antigen, viral culture) and interpretation of test results.
Demonstrated ability to lead and direct the work of others in a supervisory or project management capacity; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and evaluate progress toward meeting program goals and objectives.
Ability to collect, analyze, quality assure, interpret, and present statistical data; and communicate effectively orally and in writing with health care professionals and the general public.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's of Public Health or related field preferred.
Considerable experience in epidemiology, public health, or a related area.
Experience working with public health data systems .
Knowledge of COVID-19 and the management of the public health response to emerging infections preferred.
Understanding of the medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.
testing coordinator
To apply for the Testing Coordinator position please click the following link and submit your resume: TESTING COORDINATOR
The Regional Containment Advisor is a public health professional responsible for coordinating case investigation and/or contact tracing activities within a region. Serves as technical advisor for a team of case investigators and contact tracers, providing training, oversight, and mentorship. Advises on the technical aspects of the work processes, troubleshooting challenges and identifying solutions. Tracks progress of the unit, assessing data on productivity and timeliness of interviews and application of and compliance with interventions for cases and contacts. Conducts quality assurance of interview methods, application of confidentiality laws, and data collection. Communicates with sites affected by exposure to a person with COVID-19, advising them on steps they need to take to prevent infection. Coordinates with district, regional, and central office staff engaged in the pandemic response, reporting data on progress and activities as requested and conferring with investigators and leadership about challenging disease control situations May supervise Regional Containment Surge Team or as directed by the district, field assigned contract tracers. Follows established policies and procedures for all case investigation functions and activities, but independent judgement and actions based on a solid foundation of knowledge and experience will also need to be applied.
Job duties include:
Supervision
Coordinates with health districts in assigned region to assign case investigators and contact tracers based upon needs of each health district.
As directed by the district, may assists with supervision of case investigators and contact tracers, ensuring coordination of duties and coverage of assignments.
As directed by central office staff, may supervise Regional Containment Surge Team
Develops schedules, provides training and mentorship. Discusses challenging situations with staff and helps identify solutions.
Program management
Serves as subject matter expert, interpreting policies and guidelines and ensuring activities are conducted in accordance with standardized practices.
Coordinates the activities of staff to ensure all aspects of the program are addressed in a timely and complete way.
Reviews data to quantify productivity, timeliness, and compliance of cases and contacts with disease control requirements.
Communicates with others who are responsible for different aspects of the pandemic response to ensure seamless integration of activities.
Health Education
Provides scientifically accurate information about COVID-19 to community partners who are concerned about potential exposures to the virus in their setting and advises on steps to take to protect persons in the setting.
Quality Assurance and Coordination
Ensures data produced by the work unit is accurate and reported to supervisors and leadership upon request.
Ensures all procedures are followed by staff.
Coordinates with district, regional, and central office staff to ensure the community is protected.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of the cause, transmission, treatment, and prevention of communicable diseases and other events of public health importance; methods of public health surveillance and case, cluster, and disease outbreak investigations; federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding public health and the reporting and control of disease; and biostatistics, computer data analysis and interpretation of results, and data management techniques.
Demonstrated ability to lead and direct the work of others in a supervisory or project management capacity; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and evaluate progress toward meeting program goals and objectives;
Ability to collect, analyze, quality assure, interpret, and present statistical data; and communicate effectively orally and in writing with health care professionals and the general public.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's of Public Health or related field preferred.
Considerable experience in epidemiology, public health, or a related area
Experience working with public health data systems
Knowledge of COVID-19 and the management of the public health response to emerging infections preferred.
Understanding of the medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection
regional containment advisor
To apply for the Regional Containment Advisor position please click the following link and submit your resume: REGIONAL CONTAINMENT ADVISOR
contact tracer supervisor
To apply for the Contact Tracer Supervisor position please click the following link and submit your resume: CONTACT TRACER SUPERVISOR
The Contact Tracer Supervisor is a public health professional responsible for supervising a team of contact tracers and also performing functions of the Contact Tracer role. This includes identifying and contacting individuals who may have come in contact with persons recently diagnosed with an infectious disease associated with an outbreak or pandemic.
The Contact Tracer Supervisor will provide education about the disease, deliver guidance on minimizing the risk of potential transmission from the contact to others in the event the contact become ill, and explain the necessity for the contact to quarantine responsibly in order to reduce the risk of transmission of illness to others. The contact tracer also details specific processes for contacts to conduct health monitoring, and refers contacts for testing according to established protocols. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for gathering details about each contact of an ill individual (case) identified during the course of a public health case investigation. Information collected for each contact includes, but is not limited to: basic demographics, potential exposures to known case(s), current health status (including an assessment for current symptoms consistent with illness), and screening for membership in a high risk group (e.g., healthcare workers, residents of congregate care settings). The incumbent is responsible for collaborating with Epidemiologists and Health Educators by providing up to date data from contact tracing calls. The employee follows established.
Supervisory functions include advising on technical aspects of the work processes, troubleshooting challenges and identifying solutions; tracks progress of assigned staff, assessing data on productivity and timeliness of interviews and application of and compliance with interventions for cases and contacts; Conducts quality assurance of interview methods, application of confidentiality laws, and data collection.
Job duties include:
Supervision of Contact Tracers
Supervise a team of contact tracers. (May be remote or in person supervision).
Assist team with issues and concerns
Program Management
Serves as subject matter expert and lead Contact Tracer, interpreting policies and guidelines and ensuring activities are conducted in accordance with standardized practices.
Coordinates the activities of staff to ensure all aspects of the program are addressed in a timely and complete way.
Reviews data to quantify productivity, timeliness, and compliance of cases and contacts with disease control requirements.
Communicates with others who are responsible for different aspects of the pandemic response to ensure seamless integration of activities.
Interviewing & Data Collection
Calls newly diagnosed patients and contacts of newly diagnosed patients to gather information and inform contacts of potential exposure.
Communicates with contacts in a professional, empathetic, and culturally sensitive manner.
Collects and records information on demographics, current symptoms, current health status, and possible high-risk setting into Contact Tracing/Contact Information Management system.
Health Education
Provides contacts with approved information about state quarantine procedures, and if appropriate, refers them to testing according to protocol.
Following established procedures and/or script, incumbent will inform contacts about the importance of quarantine and what to do if symptoms develop.
Provides contacts with relevant healthcare resources as appropriate.
Data Entry & Maintenance
Utilizes established database(s) to identify newly diagnosed patients and contacts for tracing efforts.
Inputs data collected (i.e. symptoms, contacts, etc.) into database and assures database is kept up to date
Provides data from Contact Tracing efforts and calls to Epidemiologists and/or Health Educators as necessary.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of the cause, transmission, treatment, and prevention of communicable diseases and other events of public health importance; methods of public health surveillance and case, cluster, and disease outbreak investigations; federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding public health and the reporting and control of disease; and biostatistics, computer data analysis and interpretation of results, and data management techniques.
Demonstrated ability to lead and direct the work of others in a supervisory or project management capacity; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and evaluate progress toward meeting program goals and objectives;
Ability to collect, analyze, quality assure, interpret, and present statistical data; and communicate effectively orally and in writing with health care professionals and the general public.
An understanding of patient confidentiality, including the ability to conduct interviews without violating confidentiality (e.g., to those who might overhear their conversations).
Excellent and sensitive interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that they can build and maintain trust with patients and contacts.
Resourcefulness in locating patients and contacts who may be difficult to reach or reluctant to engage in conversation.
Understanding of when to refer individuals or situations to medical, social, or supervisory resources.
Cultural competency appropriate to the local community.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's of Public Health or related field preferred.
Considerable experience in epidemiology, public health, or a related area
Knowledge of COVID-19 and the management of the public health response to emerging infections preferred.
Understanding of the medical terms and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection.
Basic skills of crisis counseling, and the ability to confidently refer patients and contacts for further care if needed.
Knowledge of or coursework in medical terminology.