COPE Contact Tracer 116 views

Job Description

Position Title: Contact Tracer

Reports to:Contact Tracing Supervisor

Location: Gallup, NM, with possible on-site work at healthcare facilities in Navajo Area

Position Type:Full-time;includesweekends and/or evenings

Organization Description:

Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) is a Native-controlled, community-driven non-profit 501(c)(3) entity based in Gallup, NM. COPE’s vision is to eliminate health disparities and improve the wellbeing of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The three areas of strategic focus for COPE’s work are: 

• Improving health care delivery to Native families through community-based outreach and health systems strengthening.
• Increasing access to healthy foods and promoting food sovereignty in tribal communities.
• Strengthening local capacity and partnerships to bring about system-level change.

Project Overview:

In the context of COVID-19, contact tracing is a means of virtual outreach and support that achieves three important goals: stopping the spread of COVID by isolating cases and contacts, improving health outcomes by monitoring symptoms and connecting individuals to care for COVID and related health conditions, and caring for wellbeing through social and emotional support. Contact tracing is a critical pillar for controlling any communicable disease – and remains essential to stop new clusters of infection, even as Navajo Nation’s COVID vaccination exceeds U.S. coverage rates.

Contact Tracers are a community-based professional workforce and many of their skills and roles map onto the broader healthcare profession of community health workers (CHWs). The contact tracing program provides an opportunity to address the root causes of systemic challenges; not only do Contact Tracers assist with collection of epidemiologic data and support isolation and quarantine to stop the spread, but they also provide daily accompaniment to families affected by COVID and related health issues – connecting patients to resources, checking on symptoms, referring to medical care, and providing emotional support.

Position Overview:

Contact Tracers (CTs) receive joint supervision from Case Managers (for clinical aspects) and Contact Tracing Supervisors. The local Case Managers will overseeCT’s daily clinical supervision and work assignments.Contact Tracing Supervisors will be responsible for scheduling and time reporting, performance evaluation, quality assurance, and training corresponding to non-clinical supervision.

CTswill use a secure web-based platform (CommCare) to call all individuals diagnosed with COVID and their contacts. They will ask about symptoms,immediate needs (like food, PPE, etc), refer them for testing according to established protocols, and provide them with instructions for quarantine/isolation.They are required to follow all Navajo Nation and IHS Navajo Area Office scripts, policies and procedures and comply with IHS training regarding confidential information related to personal information. CTsmust record all data accurately in the CT system and may not provide any clinical or medical advice, even if they have medical training. The CommCare system and team support will allow the caller to report any issues that require immediate or non-urgent follow-up.

CTs must attend virtual team huddles with the site case manager on their shift days, frequent meetings with their Program Supervisors, and weekly and ad-hoc refresher training sessions. All CTs must be credentialed through Navajo Area Indian Health Services or Navajo Department of Health byregistering as a Contact Tracing volunteer and completing training requirements. The 30-hour CT training and certification requirements were developed in conjunction with NDOH, NAIHS and HCOC Case Management Leads to reflect the core competencies and skills required to carry out case investigation and contact tracing. Contact Tracers will undergo registration in the ESAR-VHP system, which includes a background check. They will also complete IHS Confidentiality/HIPAA Training, IHS Information Security Awareness Training and Mental Health First Aid Training.

This position reflects aperiod of service until 6/30/2022; however, this period may be adjusted, as needed, to meet the evolving needs on Navajo Nation.

The principal responsibilities of the position include:

• Carry out case investigation, contact tracing, and follow-up calls
• Communicate with contacts in a professional and empathetic manner
• Collect and record information on symptoms into the secure Contact Tracing platform (CommCare)– and as requested other site systems
• Provide contacts with approved information aboutNavajo Nation quarantine procedures, and if appropriate, refer them to testing according to protocol and/or to a Community Connector for social resources
• Follow provided scripts to inform contacts about the importance of quarantine andwhat to do if symptoms develop; Contact Tracers are not permitted to provide information that is not included in the script
• Maintain frequent communication with the Site Case Manager and Contact Tracing Supervisor during shifts
• Ability to work remotely and on-site at assigned health care facilities as needed
• Shifts may include weekends and evenings as assigned
• Maintain HIPAA standards, Privacy Act and service unit specific policies, protocols, and data security standardsat all times.
• CTs may be required to use their own telephone, computer, and electronic equipment
• CTs must have access to reliable internet and reliable cell phone reception; they will also be requiredto have a private area to work where they can maintain confidentiality when making calls
• May carry out other duties, tasks, and assignments, as directed

Qualifications:

Required:

• High school diploma, or equivalent required
• Local knowledge of Navajo culture and local Navajo health system required.
• Ability to reflect Diné values and be role model in positivity for partners and staff.
• Must reside within Navajo Nation or the surrounding area to be able to assist onsite at a Navajo Area IHS health when needed
• Honesty, accountability, and transparency with a commitment to equity in Indigenous communities.
• Ability to exhibit a professional, positive attitude, empathy, and strong work ethic.
• Understanding of working in an organization and respect for the chain of command.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required and ability to interact professionally during a time of crisis and stress
• Ability to show empathy to support distressed individuals
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Critical thinking and sound judgment required
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Ability to speak, read, and write English
• Proficiency with computers and Office 365 required
• Favorable background check required
• Immunization documentation required

Preferred:

• Navajo language capability preferred
• Experience as a contact tracer (on Navajo Nation)
• Affiliation with Navajo Nation and/or familiarity with Navajo Nation’s Chapters

Work Conditions:

• The Contact Tracer likely will need to work outside normal business hours to meet job requirements in supporting health facility teams for contact tracing support sites
• Must have own reliable transportation and be willing to use it for work travel as needed
• Must have separate private space for virtual work, high speed internet, and excellent cell phone connectivity