Public Health Officer

The position serves as the Health Officer in accordance with California Health and Safety Code, sections 101000-101300. The Health Officer has authority to enforce public health codes and invoke quarantine and isolation orders as necessary for public health protection. The incumbent exercises independent medical judgment subject to statutory requirements of State, Federal and Local laws, rules and regulations.

Roles and Responsibilities 

Typical functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics.  The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Provides overall medical direction and guidance for the Public Health Department and is responsible for enforcing local health orders and ordinances, regulations prescribed by the California Department of Public Health, and State statutes relating to public health.
• Develops and issues health orders as necessary to protect public health.
• Serves as, or designates someone to serve as the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC), under Health and Safety code 1797.153 and oversees the medical response of the department in the case of local disaster.
• Consults on and provides medical advice/recommendations on public health activities including, but not limited to: public health laboratory services, disease prevention and control including tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), immunizations and health and sanitation measures.
• Serves as TB Controller for the County.
• Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of the program work of county public health  professional, managerial and clinical staff in conjunction with the Public Health Director.
• In cooperation with the Public Health Director, develops long-range public health management and public health policy goals, objectives and evaluations.
• Assists with the review and approval of medical protocols utilized within the department.
• Provides or directs treatment and care for patients in the department’s clinics and/or medical field operations.
• Supervises morbidity and epidemiological studies and their distribution to medical professionals, public agencies and the general public.
• Directs the issuance and recordation of birth and death certificates and provides vital statistics information to the California Department of Public Health.
• Acts as a medical and public health advisor to the Board of Supervisors, the County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and to a variety of other agencies and individuals such as physicians, hospitals, advisory boards and committees, schools, elected officials, jail and juvenile hall medical programs, day-care centers, skilled nursing facilities, shelters, environmental health specialists, food handlers, and the general public.
• Acts as medical expert and County authority on questions from animal services regarding rabies; directs animal services personnel in all rabies situations; communicates with the public and acts as spokesperson on rabies.
• Attends and participates in a variety of department-sponsored coalition meetings, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan healthcare provider meetings, and local community meetings and coalitions that support public health programs.
• Maintains a close and collaborative working relationship with the Public Health Director, CAO, Board of Supervisors, and other public health providers; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge

• Reportable diseases including: clinical features, laboratory and diagnostic tests, modes of transmission, preventive measures, and related medical terminology
• Protocols and evidence-based practices for the control and containment of diseases and outbreaks.
• Practices and protocols for department clinic services, such as reproductive health, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment, spirometry, travel, immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for childhood and adult immunizations.
• Public health disease surveillance practices and procedures, including systematic evaluation of surveillance systems and data quality.
• Epidemiology, principles and practices of research design, descriptive and analytical epidemiologic methods, as well as descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests.
• Federal, state and county laws, rules, regulations, codes and ordinances related to public health.
• Health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation.
• Cultural norms affecting health and disease transmission among specific populations in Butte County.
• County and department policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of legal, ethical and professional rules of conduct.
• Local health systems, community resources and various community service programs.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to the work performed.

Skills

• Critically interpret data to examine for trends, unusual patterns, and errors.
• Prepare clear, accurate, well-organized reports, correspondence, policies and other written materials.
• Identify community assets and resources, and effectively presenting demographic, statistical, program and scientific information to public and professional audiences.
• Work effectively with individuals and groups to develop solutions for public health problems.
• Establish, maintain and foster effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies, contractors, vendors, community groups, the public, and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative analyses, interpret, draw conclusions, summarize, and present information and data in an effective manner.
• Understand, interpret, and apply pertinent laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances and County policies and procedures relevant to the work performed.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment relevant to the work performed to complete tasks.

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Graduation from an accredited medical school; and
• Two (2) years of experience in a management, supervisory or leadership role in public health or clinical settings.

Certifications and Licenses