SUMMARY

The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program in the Center for Health Care Quality, California Department of Public Health is responsible for the prevention, surveillance, and reporting of HAI in California as mandated by the Health and Safety Code. With support from federal funding, the HAI Program employs infection preventionists, public health educators, epidemiologists, and other staff to develop strategies and perform activities for the prevention of and response to HAI and antimicrobial-resistant (AR) infections.

Under the general supervision of the HAI AR Supervisor, the AR Coordinator will be responsible for implementing a multi-year strategy to prevent and contain the emergence and spread of AR. The AR Coordinator will work directly with local public health, healthcare facilities, public health, and clinical laboratories to promote and coordinate AR containment activities across the state. The HAI Program’s multi-year strategy includes working with clinical and public health laboratories to facilitate testing to detect and report AR pathogens and providing technical assistance to local health departments and healthcare facilities to implement response activities to investigate and contain the spread of AR.

This is a temporary, grant-funded, full time, benefitted position. This position is expected to last through July 2024 and may be extended should funding become available.

The salary range for this position is $74,430 to $83,000 per year.

Interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter with the application.

If hired for this position, applicant will be required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 prior to the start date or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying the applicant for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Investigates and responds to reports of AR cases and outbreaks in coordination with the AR Supervisor. Responds to local health departments and healthcare facilities regarding AR pathogen containment recommendations. Collects case history and all necessary follow-up information during AR investigations. Coordinates support from HAI Program Public Health Medical Officers and Infection Preventionists during investigations, including organizing calls and onsite infection prevention and control assessments. Participates in HAI Program AR Prevention and Response Team meetings by providing updates about new and ongoing AR investigations.
• Serves as a primary HAI Program interface for coordinating laboratory and epidemiology aspects of AR containment. Facilitates communication about AR issues and isolates with national, state, and local public health and clinical laboratories. Develops and provides AR education. Facilitates processes for sharing AR data among laboratory and epidemiology personnel. Coordinates laboratory activities involving the HAI Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) AR Lab Network including following up on alerts, tracking AR testing requests and results, and recruiting laboratories for targeted surveillance projects.
• Performs epidemiologic analysis of AR data in collaboration with HAI Program epidemiologists. Supports the development, design, and implementation of AR-related surveillance and prevention projects in alignment with the HAI Program Analysis Plan. Creates and administers surveys to augment surveillance data. Analyzes surveillance data collected from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other providers. Interprets data, writes summary reports, presents findings, and prepares information for scientific publication and presentation at professional meetings and conferences.
• Monitors progress of state-mandated and federally funded AR activities. Develops progress reports. Tracks, summarizes, and reports the AR-related performance metrics in the HAI Program performance management plan. Participates in the development and writing of applications and supporting documents for external funding.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs other duties as assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to document and keep track of extensive detail from case investigations and provide written accounts and progress summaries
• Demonstrated ability to apply epidemiologic methods to evaluate HAI surveillance data
• Competent with computer and application skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint
• Experience with SAS or R preferred
• Ability to create presentations using PowerPoint required, and experience presenting information to public health practitioners, healthcare workers, and consumers preferred

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE

• Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine, or related field required
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting data
• Knowledge of healthcare-associated infections, infectious diseases, or microbiology preferred

OTHER SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and abilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team comprised of individuals across different agencies, disciplines, and locations
• Ability to work with diverse professionals and to train and educate healthcare providers
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Able to organize and manage multiple priorities and projects
• Task-oriented, takes initiative, and follows through to complete assignments

PHYSICAL DEMAND

Stand: Occasionally

Walk: Occasionally

Sit: Frequently

Handling / Fingering: Frequently

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 30 lbs.

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs.

See: Constantly

Taste/ Smell: Not Applicable

KEY

Not Applicable: Not required for essential functions

Occasionally: (0 - 2 hrs./day)

Frequently: (2 - 5 hrs./day)

Constantly: (5+ hrs./day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Remote/hybrid locations will be considered with a requirement to work in the office in Richmond, CA, on occasion. Candidates within commuting distance of the San Francisco Bay Area preferred.

Must have functioning internet access at remote location.

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages minorities, women, veterans, and disabled to apply.