BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64030815 1

Requisition No: 850063 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 64030815 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64030815 

Salary:  $35,317.36 

Posting Closing Date: 04/06/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive Opportunity

Specific Responsibilities:

This is a Biological Scientist II position in the Tuberculosis (TB) Program at the Northeast Health Center. This position is responsible for surveillance activities within Palm Beach County Health Department - TB Program and works with others in an effort to accomplish the goals of the unit and the Health Department. Work is performed under the supervision of the Senior Human Services Program MGR - SES. This position requires independent judgment, initiative, applying general knowledge of business practices and skill in applying instructions to accomplish various job functions.

This position is designated as a sensitive position and is required to maintain confidential information in accordance with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures. Maintain state and local confidentiality/security policies as related to data and information in accordance with Florida Statute 392, Florida Administrative Code 64D-3 Health Department guidelines. Confidential Information sets include Social Security Data and clinical information. This position has responsibility to view and update confidential information.

Responsible for Surveillance activities within Palm Beach County Health Department – TB Program. This position works in close coordination and serves as a backup for the TB Control Program Records Technician. Generates reports upon request and provides oversight for data integrity regarding information being entered into HMS and TB medical records and updates the TB database on an ongoing basis. Responsible for Classes B1, B2 notifications, referrals and EDN records. Responsible for linking patients to services. Receives and processes reports from Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) clients. Reviews reports, prints records and keeps individual folders on CDC EDN A, B1, B2, B3 reports. Ensures registration of EDN clients in HMS. Produce follow up reports and updates to the TB Control Section and CDC. Makes phone calls, send certifies letter and conduct field visits to locate patients as needed.

Schedules appointments for clients and input progress notes. Calls clients to inform of the date/time of the appointments, mails certified letters with appointments slip and documents. Follow up with the client’s appointments as needed. Sends client’s EDN records to the Medical Records office of the Health Department Health Centers for medical evaluation. Continue monitoring all EDN patients until submitted and completed in EDN system and EDN TB Data spreadsheet. Documents updates and outcomes on HMS progress notes, TB Data spreadsheet and EDN TB-Follow up worksheet. Responsible for the Unaccompanied Children (UAC) notifications and referrals and linking them to services. Produce follow up reports and updates.

Responsible for notified and tracking of interjurisdictional referrals of LTBI patients. Receive, track, and report on the status of all LTBI referrals for PBC and will be responsible for assuring all forms from Palm Beach County are complete and reports documented before they are returned to the Bureau of TB and Refugee Health and other counties in Florida. Serves as the backup registering inter-jurisdictional TB suspects and cases clients in HMS. Initiates care coordination, assigns initial classification, enters X-Rays, HIV and TB Screening test results and updates. Follows up on pending and unreported data and update data if available at the time of receiving inter-jurisdictional reports. Provides the information to the Lead Nurse Case Manager (NCM) for prioritization and follow up. Serves as a backup for Records Technician duties regarding TB cases and suspect’s reports, registration in HMS, classification and processing of all demographic and clinical data. Assign reports of cases and suspects to nurse case managers when covering for Records Technician.

Requests information from the network of private hospitals and doctor’s office and follow up with pending information to completion. Assists in the processing EPI information data during large contact investigations and registration in HMS.

Evaluate and track activities related to linking LTBI patients from the Migrant Clinicians Network and Department of Correction (DOC) to clinic services, and make referrals as needed. Keeps records and ensure all notification letters are sent to patients released from a correctional institution. Ensure released inmates are located and linked to LTBI services. Provide a response to notifications according to current timeframes.

Assist keeping IGRA database at the health center level. Responsible for all related data entry of medical information obtained from private physicians is entered in the HMS system and kept on medical records.

Attends training courses, staff and team meetings for the TB Program

Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to collect, record and analyze data relating to records.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to make decisions in a timely manner.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other.
• Knowledge of computers and basic software applications

Qualifications:

Licensure/registration/certification requirements:  N/A

Other job-related requirements for this position:

• Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Working hours: (A) Daily from 8:00AM to 5:00PM (B) Total hours in workweek 40

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

851 Avenue P, Riviera Beach, FL  33404

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.