Public Health Data Analyst

Job Description:
Do you have a "can do" attitude, enjoy working on a dynamic team, and are a people person who wants to be a part of the fascinating field of Infectious Disease Prevention?

This is an excellent opportunity to work with a fast-paced team on a broad spectrum of health-related, interesting projects to serve Texans.

With direction from the Healthcare Safety (HCS) Data and Training Group Manager, performs highly advanced (senior-level) epidemiological work. Work involves performing data audits, highly advanced data analyzes, and communicates findings for data reported by healthcare facilities under Chapter 98 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. This includes designing and implementing data collection systems for HCS data reporting and audits; planning, directing, and conducting HCS data validation and analysis studies; and disseminating findings from audits and data analyses studies to appropriate stakeholders. HCS data includes healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and preventable adverse events (PAE) reported by healthcare facilities as mandated by Chapter 98 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and epidemiological data related to antibiotic resistant organisms, outbreak investigations in healthcare facilities, and antibiotic stewardship activities conducted by the HCS Unit Provides data management and data analysis expertise to the Healthcare Safety Unit on projects related but not limited to healthcare safety, Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), infectious diseases, Antibiotic Resistance (AR), Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO), and outbreak responses. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
(30%) Proposes and initiates epidemiological projects, including design specification and analysis, and presents project results related to Healthcare Safety reporting. Serves as subject matter expert related to Healthcare Safety Data Reporting and Validation activities. Provides quality control for data management of epidemiological investigations related to Healthcare Safety. Initiates, reviews, and provides consultation to healthcare facilities as needed. Oversees analyses of operations, reports findings, and makes recommendations to resolve problems related to HAI and Preventable Adverse Events (PAE) reporting, prevention, and control. Collaborates with different members of the Healthcare Safety Unit to develop action plans related to Healthcare Safety initiatives. Analyzes legislation to develop recommendations for policy and programmatic issues relating to sustaining, improving, and/or expansion of Healthcare Safety reporting and assists in preparation of associated budget requests.

(20%) Consultation and Technical Assistance: Provides consultative services and technical assistance to reporting facilities virtually, via email and telephone related to epidemiology. Participates in development and implementation of infection prevention collaboratives and epidemiological investigations. Coordinates with other team members in the collection of epidemiological data and serve as a surveillance coordinator.

(30%) Plans and implements validation processes, develops audit materials, maintains knowledge of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Surveillance definitions, and establishes training protocols for new and existing team members. Coordinates with Division for Regulatory Services to determine compliance with laws and regulations related to HAI. Serves as a project leader for onsite data reviews.

(15%) Determines the appropriate formats for epidemiological reports related to Healthcare Safety Data, and coordinates the technical preparation, graphics design, and compilation of finished reports. Reports the results of epidemiological investigations and data audits to the audited facilities and presents summary results to various professional, state, and national organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Texas Healthcare Safety Work Groups, Association of Professional in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Texas Society of Infection Control Professionals and Prevention. Serves as a consultant in the control of public health problems related to health care facilities and recommends interventions and control measures in response to epidemiologic findings generated by Healthcare Safety reporting.

(5%) Performs related duties as assigned that include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Ability to plan and direct programs and to supervise the work of others.
Knowledge of state and federal laws related to health care associated infections reporting, control, and prevention.
Knowledge of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions and data entry requirements.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology.
Knowledge of natural history of infectious diseases including HAIs.
Knowledge of quality assurance measures and techniques.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Knowledge of disease surveillance of antimicrobial resistant organisms, antibiotic stewardship, health care-associated infections (HAI) and preventable adverse events (PAE).
Knowledge of public health informatics and electronic database surveillance systems.
Knowledge of state and federal laws related to reporting of notifiable conditions.
Knowledge of data quality control and data quality management practices.
Skill in analysis and interpretation of health care associated infection prevention data.
Skill in the investigation and surveillance of suspected outbreaks of health care associated infection.
Skill in statistical analysis.
Skills in using Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
Skill in managing large databases.
Skill in making and understanding mathematical and statistical calculations.
Ability to apply state laws and rules regarding health care-associated reporting, control, and prevention.
Ability in the planning, implementation and evaluation of health care associated infection prevention and control measures.
Ability in education of health care professionals about health care associated infection risk, prevention and control.
Ability in the development and revision of health care associated infection control policies and procedures.
Ability in the management of health care associated infection prevention and control activities.
Ability in the provision of consultation on health care associated infection risk assessment, prevention and control strategies.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
Ability to devise solutions to problems.
Ability to operate and enter data into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) database.
Ability to work independently or with a group.
Ability to make sound judgments while working independently using own initiative.
Ability to interpret and present data analyses with different audiences.
Ability to work effectively as a team member with regional and local health department personnel and private sector health care professionals.

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