GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The primary purpose of this position is to provide HIV testing and counseling services in clinical and field settings, to perform client interviews for persons testing positive for communicable diseases, partner tracking and notification, communicable disease surveillance, and to refer and connect clients into treatment and care. Part of the Communicable Disease Program, the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Clinic, provides medical examination, screening, evaluation, and treatment to clients with a focus on sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV, and syphilis; provides free and confidential HIV testing and counseling; provides STI/HIV/AIDS education to encourage and promote prevention; provide counselling about QuickStart, PrEP, and follow-up on community PrEP referral; provides STI/HIV/AIDS education to encourage and promote prevention provides referrals for immunizations, substance abuse, sexual abuse, mental health or other medical issues (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, etc.) as needed; reports all cases of bacterial STI, HIV, syphilis, and other communicable diseases to the NC Division of Public Health.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.
• Informs, counsels, and interviews patients diagnosed with syphilis, HIV and AIDS and their partners and to refer them to medical and/or psychosocial services:
• Counsel patients on PrEP medication options, financial considerations, adherence, ID provider options, STIs/HIV prevention counseling to include rapid HIV test specific counseling, and to address all questions and concerns patients may have about PrEP medications:
• Accompanies patients to the lab to initiate the rapid HIV test:
• Provide HIV rapid test results and appropriate counseling:
• Instruct patients to wait for the DCoDPH to call with confirmatory HIV results before starting PrEP medication.
• Obtains the release of information and assist patients in making their PrEP follow-up appointment if they chose to start PrEP medications on the day of the visit or at a later date.
• Receives verbal (or written) permission to call patients to give the confirmatory HIV results and to provide appointment reminder calls/follow-up calls to patients.
• Locates, notifies and counsels sex and needle sharing partners.
• Assists with patient notification for persons testing positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
• Collaborates with the Raleigh Regional Office on a weekly basis through submission of reports and cases through the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS).
• Assists Communicable Disease Program Manager and Health Director in investigation and issuing of Isolation Orders for suspected Control measures violations.
• Analyzes comprehensive and complex data to determine the source and spread of disease and plan intervention to reduce occurrence and spread of disease in the community.
• Assists and refers clients in entering or re-entering treatment and care for HIV when newly diagnosed or have become lost to care and follow-up.
• Provides pre- and post-test HIV counseling to any client encounter.
• Provides education on transmission and prevention of HIV.
• Advises clients in assessing their own risk for HIV and establishing a preventative plan for reducing their risk, including condom use.
• Documents patient encounters into the Electronic Medical Record and any other relevant source.
• Completes HIV scan forms or test requisition from NC State Lab of Public Health.
• Records patients tested in HIV logbook.
• Receives, sorts and documents HIV test results from the State Lab of Public Health.
• Refers clients needing services outside of DCoDPH.
• Maintains confidentiality of client information.
• Reviews communicable disease reports for STD/HIV from all reporting agencies in Durham County.
• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of medical terminology necessary for disease intervention and control.
• Maintain proficiency at working independently, make strategic plans, and organize daily activities to meet programmatic priorities and deadlines.
• Follow up with providers when STD/HIV report cards indicate a lack of treatment or are otherwise incomplete.
• Completes NC State Morbidity and CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance reporting forms for patients testing HIV positive.
• Ensures all person’s post-test counseled or self-reporting as HIV positive sign NC Control measures.
• Adheres to all NC and State laws regarding communicable disease.
• Initiate NC 360 Referrals.
• Remains current on all required annual training.
• Remains knowledgeable of current practices and recommendations from the CDC and NC Division of Public Health regarding STD, HIV and syphilis testing, counseling, and contact investigation; remains up to date with STD, HIV/syphilis information by attending workshops, conferences, and trainings.
• Maintains certifications as needed.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Graduation from a four-year college or university preferably with a degree in human services or science; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIREMENTS:
• Completion of the CDC developed and sponsored DIS certification (when it becomes available). Required to travel to the field and routinely available therefore a reliable personal/state car and valid NC Driver’s License is required for this position.

About Durham County

A Great Place to: Live. Work. Thrive. Durham County, North Carolina is one of the nation’s top ranked places to live, work and play! With its rich history and reputation Durham is a great place to call home. As one of the nation’s most prominent technology and research areas, Durham County is also an economic development leader among its peer counties both locally and in other regions. As the state’s 4th largest county, we are poised to continue our successes and our enviable quality of life.

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