State of Maryland

A Health Services Specialist III is the advanced level of work in the field of public health investigation work coordinating a specialized chronic or contagious disease program aimed at the identification, control and/or eradication of chronic and communicable diseases.  Employees in this classification may provide guidance and direction to lower-level Health Services Specialists and other health workers.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Health Services Specialist Supervisor or other higher-level health professional.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Health Services Specialist III is differentiated from the Health Services Specialist II in that the Health Services Specialist III performs advanced level duties coordinating a specialized chronic or contagious disease program, while the Health Services Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, organizes and develops the activities of a local or headquarters chronic or communicable disease control program;

Coordinates program activities with local groups and agencies such as police, board of education, medical societies and veterinary associations;

Conducts studies relating to the extent of immunity status of a community;

Prepares reports describing the nature of problems identified from collected data;

Directs the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the control or prevention measures;

Plans and organizes health educational programs and provides materials for health training courses;

Assists in preparing budget requests and program plans;

May serve as an expert consultant in the area of responsibility to other health programs, private physicians and the general public;

May provide guidance and direction to lower-level Health Services Specialists and other health workers;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of public health and of the objectives, scope and functions of the State and local health laws and regulations;

Knowledge of interviewing and investigating techniques used in the epidemiology of chronic and communicable diseases;

Knowledge of health educational materials available and techniques for presenting them effectively;

Knowledge of methods and practices in the control of chronic and communicable diseases;

Ability to plan, organize, develop, administer and coordinate a public health program with other public health activities;

Ability to meet and work with the public to promote understanding and support for the program;

Ability to investigate, compile, analyze and evaluate epidemiological and statistical data relating to the needs of the community and the effectiveness of the program;

Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely;

Ability to provide guidance to and train lower-level Health Service Specialists;

Ability to assist the health officer in developing and executing new phases of the program;

Ability to deal with health problems with firmness and tact;

Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, physicians and other health care staff, and patients.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major or a minimum of thirty credit hours in one of the biological or physical sciences.

Experience: Three years of experience in public health investigation work.

Notes:

1. Candidates must indicate on the application form the courses and total number of credits in the required courses.

2. Candidates may substitute one additional year of experience for the thirty credit hours in one of the biological and/or physical sciences of the required education.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in Public Health from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Public Health Officer or Preventive Medical Officer classifications or Public Health Officer or Preventive Medical Officer specialty codes in the public health investigation field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E -Health Care Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.