Public Health Advisor

Benefits

Additional Information

ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISER CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. Division/Program Summary: The Division of Disease Control's mission is to safeguard the health of New Yorkers through identification, surveillance, treatment, control, and prevention of infectious diseases, which is achieved through varied and interrelated endeavors of its seven Bureaus. The Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections' (BHHS) mission is to improve the lives of New Yorkers by ending transmission, illness, stigma, and inequities related to viral hepatitis, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. BHHS accomplishes its mission through testing initiatives; prevention, care, and treatment programming; epidemiology and surveillance; training and technical assistance; community engagement; social marketing; policy advocacy; and racial equity and social justice initiatives. New York City (NYC) has the largest and most diverse HIV epidemic in the United States. To effectively reduce HIV transmission and HIV-related morbidity and mortality, accurate surveillance data is required to guide public health decision-making. Additionally, surveillance case counts determine the allocation of millions of dollars of resources for HIV prevention as well as treatment and support services for HIV-infected persons. The HIV Surveillance Unit in the HIV Epidemiology Program (HEP) is responsible for the surveillance of HIV and AIDS in New York City and for generating the accurate case counts and complete descriptive data on diagnoses, clinical status, laboratory test results, and mortality that are needed to monitor epidemic trajectory and guide public health decision-making. Surveillance objectives include: 1) To describe HIV transmission occurring in NYC; 2) To count and describe new HIV diagnoses and new AIDS diagnoses, including timing of initial diagnosis relative to infection and progression to AIDS; 3) To count and describe people living with HIV/AIDS in NYC, including how and where they became infected, health status, care status, and vital status. Position Summary: The Public Health Advisor- Level II (PHA II) will be responsible for activities involving the collection of surveillance data during case investigations and ensuring the quality and completeness of the data. Surveillance data collection is critical in obtaining a timely and accurate picture of the HIV epidemic in NYC. The HEP PHA II may also play a critical role in helping the Program and Bureau to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on HIV epidemiology in NYC, including the effect of the outbreak on key outcomes related to HIV detection (e.g., new HIV diagnoses) and HIV care (e.g., linkage to and engagement in HIV care, and HIV viral suppression), by collecting and reviewing HIV surveillance data for all New Yorkers with HIV and those potentially co-infected with COVID-19. Job Duties and Responsibilities: - Conduct field investigations and follow-up of potential cases of HIV/AIDS as assigned in a professional and collaborative manner. Regular travel within 5 boroughs of NYC is required. - Collect data through medical chart abstractions and ensure that the data collected is complete and accurate. - Establish and maintain effective relationships with assigned providers and facilities and must maintain communication with key contacts and updates the program for changes to the facility. - Conduct routine match reviews as assigned and in a timely fashion. Matches must be completed with attention to detail. - Collect Provider Report Forms (PRFs) from medical providers and process the forms according to protocol. Check PRFs for completion and train providers in correct procedures regarding reporting. - Maintain understanding of all data collection processes and instruments. - Attend surveillance staff meetings with public health investigators and supervisors and contribute to surveillance unit meetings, in particular by communicating surveillance data collection issues and challenges to the wider group of the unit. - Perform administrative duties to support the operation of the Surveillance Unit as assigned by supervisor or leadership. Administrative duties may include staffing phone desk. - Participate in special investigations acutely related to collecting data on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on HIV epidemiology and mortality. - Attend all mandatory meetings. Why you should work for us: - Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment. o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund. o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement. o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportun