Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Epidemiology Assistant

Job Description:

The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) is the lead agency entrusted by the people of the state of Georgia with the ultimate responsibility for the health of communities and the entire population. The agency is seeking a candidate for the position of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Epidemiology Assistant within the Division of Epidemiology. The Maternal Child Health Epidemiology Section (MCH EPI) of the GDPH is seeking an individual to assist with fulfilling the deliverables of a pilot NAS surveillance project based on the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) NAS Standardized Case Definition (SCD). The Epidemiology Assistant’s duties will include obtaining medical records for mothers and infants with suspected exposure to relevant substances, adhering to the CSTE SCD for the selected jurisdiction in Georgia; tracking the status of each medical record request and assisting with data management; and linking toxicology results received via electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) to the NAS reporting module. The Epidemiology Assistant will assist with ongoing communication efforts with facilities to inform existing reporters of changes to the NAS case definition and reporting module, as well as onboard non-reporting facilities to begin reporting NAS; participate in any phone and/or conference calls with CDC and CSTE; and collaborate extensively with existing DPH staff performing NAS surveillance.

MCH EPI houses several teams, including the Health Surveys Team (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and oral health surveillance), Perinatal Epidemiology Team (maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, preconceptual health), and the Newborn Surveillance Team, which is comprised of birth defects surveillance, surveillance of in utero exposures to specific diseases, and newborn screening. This opportunity is with the Newborn Surveillance Team in MCH EPI. The Newborn Surveillance Team is responsible for implementing, analyzing, and disseminating the results of relevant surveillance activities, including the ongoing NAS surveillance performed at GDPH. In this position, the Epidemiology Assistant will gain experience in managing data, requesting medical records to be abstracted in fulfillment of surveillance activities of a novel notifiable condition, and communicating with a diverse group of stakeholders. Such tasks are essential to daily functions, without which, surveillance would not be possible. This pilot project will inform the epidemiology of NAS and future iterations of the CSTE SCD. An ideal candidate must be a strong communicator, attentive to detail, and able to adapt to changing guidance.

Job Responsibilities & Performance Standards:

1. Obtain medical records for mothers and infants with suspected exposure to relevant substances, adhering to the CSTE Standard Case Definition for the selected jurisdiction in Georgia

2. Track the status of the records request progress for each individual identified for follow-up

3. Communicate CSTE SCD reporting requirements to current NAS reporters and non-reporting facilities, performing outreach to reporters via email, phone, webinars, and site visits, as necessary; onboard non-reporting facilities for reporting

4. Link toxicology results received via ELR to the NAS reporting module

5. Expand access to electronic health records (eHR) by contacting facilities and communicating surveillance needs

6. Assist with case review, data entry, and creation of communication materials

Minimum Qualifications:

· Experience performing surveillance activities, including the use of the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS).

· Demonstrated experience meeting deliverables of awarded opportunities (grants, contracts, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, preference will be given to applicants who possess the following:

· Prior work performing similar surveillance activities

Contact Dr. J. Michael Bryan at  Michael [dot] Bryan [at] dph [dot] ga [dot] gov if interested.