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Staffing Solutions Organization LLC (SSO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Public Consulting Group, is focused on delighting clients with world-class managed staffing and talent consulting services. SSO is committed to a diverse workforce, which is a reflection of our clients and the people they serve

Medical Lab Scientist is part of Maine CDC in Augusta, Maine 

The mission of the Healthcare Epidemiology Program is to work to eliminate Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) by collaborating with federal and state stakeholders across the healthcare continuum, and the public

Objectives of the program include:

1) Responding to healthcare facility public health threats such as outbreaks related to medical devices or procedures and emerging/re-emerging pathogens that express a high resistance to antimicrobial agents or have the ability to spread quickly (e.g. Ebola, COVID-19, carbapenemase-producing organisms, Candida auris);

2) Conducting surveillance or accessing data relevant to HAI and AR;

3) Use that data to reduce and prevent HAIs and AR in Maine by working directly with healthcare facilities and stakeholders

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Respond to all reports of emerging MDROs (eMDROs), per department protocols (e.g., conduct case investigations, determine point of eMDRO acquisition and potential exposure risk to other patients)
• Coordinate colonization screen events with healthcare facilities and regional public health laboratory
• Utilize data to target healthcare facilities for point prevalence studies to assess unrecognized burden of eMDROs
• Collaborate with state public health laboratory regarding eMDRO testing capacity
• Pattern/trend eMDRO case data to identify clusters of cases

•  Communicate and collaborate with HAI Infection Preventionist on eMDRO cluster/outbreak investigations

• Function as the HAI/AR point person for updating the Notifiable Conditions rule as it pertains to eMDROs and program needs

• Collaborate with Public Health Emergency Management on State of Maine Special Pathogens response activities and documents

• Partner with Project Firstline staff to develop state-wide web-based education for HAI and infection prevention and control topics

• Develop and host state-wide education on eMDROs (e.g., on-site, webinars)

• Other duties as assigned

Expected Deliverables:  Weekly activity report.  Monthly project progress report, if applicable

In-State Travel:  Up to 20-30% in-state travel anticipated.  In-state travel may include local, regional, or state meetings. Occasionally, due to geographic distance, this may result in the need for overnight travel.  Travel reimbursement for routine business will need approval of the Department Program Manager.  Reimbursement to the employee shall be in accordance with current State policies/procedures vs. via Provider.

Out-of-State Travel:  Limited opportunities may be available for staff to attend conferences, meetings, education and/or training events. Travel reimbursement for out-of-state travel will need approval of the Department Program Manager and the Department of Health and Human Services.  Reimbursement to the employee shall be in accordance with current State policies/procedures vs. via Provider.

Schedule: A summary of work schedule, including normal working hours, on-call expectations, allowed time off (which is non-billable), ability to work remote.

Normal working hours:  Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, with one-hour lunch.  Alternate work hours possible, however, will need approval by the Department Program Manager.  Expectation of overtime is rare and likely limited to emerging/re-emerging public health threats response (e.g., COVID-19, medium to large scale HAI event response).

These positions may be part-time or full-time (full-time defined as 40 hrs. per week). 

On-call Expectations:  This position does not come with a routine on-call expectation.  However, during times of a public health response to an emerging or re-emerging threat (e.g., COVID-19), some call, usually for limited time may be necessary.

Allowed time off:   Any requests for non-billable allowed time off will need approval by Department Program Manager.

Ability to work remotely:  This position will likely be eligible for some remote work; however, employee must live within Maine to travel to healthcare facilities in Maine.  Employee may have access to a local State of Maine public health offices, in six location across the state, via a shared/drop-in space with use of conference rooms and shared office equipment.  When working remotely, travel to any local state public health office or other location for staff or project meetings will not be eligible for travel reimbursement but will be part of salary. 

Public Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to celebrating diversity and intentionally creating a culture of inclusion. We believe that we work best when our employees feel empowered and accepted, and that starts by honoring each of our unique life experiences. At PCG, all aspects of employment regarding recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, company-sponsored training, education, and social and recreational programs are based on merit, business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, citizenship status, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. PCG will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. PCG believes in health, equality, and prosperity for everyone so we can succeed in changing the ways the public sector, including health, education, technology and human services industries, work.