Nurse Consultant - Clinical Resources Unit Immunization Branch.

About Us

At The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) we are dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About the Work Unit

The Immunization Branch works to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) and ensure access to vaccine services for all people in Colorado. Functions include public health surveillance of immunization rates and uptake; access to immunization; developing high-quality, evidence-based and comprehensive immunization programs; and conducting program evaluation to enhance and use data to direct activities. The Branch manages the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), a federal entitlement program that provides vaccines at no cost for children who meet eligibility requirements, and the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS), a confidential, population-based, computerized system that collects and consolidates vaccination data for Coloradans of all ages from a variety of sources. The Clinical Resources Unit is positioned within the Immunization Branch of the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) and functions to support the branch's mission of reducing vaccine-preventable disease by developing and implementing programs designed to positively influence the uptake of immunizations across the lifespan. The Clinical Resources Unit provides clinical expertise to the Branch and advises internal and external partners to support this mission, all while addressing vaccination coverage disparities among disproportionately affected populations.

Responsibilities

• Conducts IQIP site visits with providers to assess immunization workflows, identify opportunities for process improvement, and provide technical assistance and other resources to develop action items tailored to the individual provider.
• Generates provider-level immunization coverage assessment reports for baseline and follow-up progress measurements for the IQIP cohorts.
• Provides assessment and interpretation of practice-specific immunization rates, and information regarding planning and implementation of immunization strategies that can increase immunization rates in provider settings.
• Collaborates with provider staff through 2- and 6-month check-ins to support the selected quality improvement (QI) strategies and related activities.
• Follows up with additional practice-specific rate assessments for 12 months, with consultation on QI activities and strategies, and assistance in addressing barriers to success.
• Ensures timely and accurate data entry into the CDC-developed IQIP database for each stage of the IQIP cycle.
• Develops and implements ongoing educational opportunities for public and private health care providers, local public health agency staff, partner organizations, and other agency staff.
• Provides technical assistance and clinical consultation for complex situations in which clinical judgment and experience are critical to interpret guidelines and provide clinical advice.
• Responds to queries from CDPHE VFC and CIIS staff and health care providers statewide regarding clinical immunization issues.
• Provides information on planning and implementing immunization strategies to increase immunization rates in organizations or communities.
• Provides education for immunization providers, including vaccine administration, schedules and intervals, valid and invalid doses, contraindications and precautions, missed opportunities, proper storage and handling of vaccines, documentation requirements, adverse reactions and actions to be taken, and standards of practice for immunization service delivery.
• Participates in a rotating clinical on-call system to ensure phone and email coverage for clinical questions from providers or the public.
• Provides clinical updates to the CDPHE's Online Immunization Education Module.
• Tailors public-facing materials, trainings, and the CDPHE's Online Immunization Education Module so the material can be more easily understood by those outside of the public health or clinical communities.
• Provides clinical consultation to the Immunization Branch, CIIS users, providers, and stakeholders who call the vaccine administration customer service line with vaccination or vaccination recommendation inquiries.
• Responds to queries from CIIS users and Immunization Branch staff concerning vaccine recommendations and the CIIS vaccine forecasting algorithm.
• Submits tickets to the CIIS vendor regarding vaccine and vaccine recommender questions for issues that are identified in CIIS.
• Translates vaccine recommendations for computer programming staff to ensure CIIS provides appropriate clinical recommendations.
• Collaborates with the CIIS Training and Outreach Unit to review, edit, and finalize the CIIS recommender section of the monthly CIIS User Impact document.
• Develops vaccine and vaccine recommender communications for posting on the CIIS News Feed.
• Evaluates and recommends modifications to CIIS Code Tables to ensure vaccine and vaccine name details are accurate and easy for CIIS users to differentiate.
• Implements vaccine forecaster testing following CIIS upgrades to ensure that forecasting logic is performing as expected.
• Supports the Immunization Data Unit with the annual School and Child Care Immunization Data Reporting (SCCIDR) survey.
• Participates in preplanning activities, including providing input on the SCCIDR survey during the annual change cycle window to support user access, ease of use, and understanding.
• Provides training to schools (K-12), childcare programs, colleges/universities and local public health agencies.
• Responds to user inquiries within the SCCIDR helpdesk that operates during the reporting period.
• Provides updates to the SCCIDR webpage, user guides, FAQs, and worksheets.
• Leads immunization data reporting for colleges and universities, which includes updating the reporting form, communicating with college/university partners, offering training, and reviewing and validating college/university data submissions.
• Performs quality improvement activities after the annual reporting period ends to support the SCCIDR project over time.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited institution in Nursing, Global Health, Biology, Epidemiology, Public Health, or other closely related field and current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), and three (3) years of professional experience in public health nursing, vaccination, immunizations, providing technical assistance and training, and coordination of immunization resources and education to providers and the public, or other closely related experience related to the work assigned to the position.

Additional appropriate experience in public health nursing with vaccination, immunizations, providing technical assistance, and training, and coordination of immunization resources and education to providers and the public, or other closely related experience related to the work assigned to the position, will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pediatric, adolescent, and adult clinical immunization consultation and vaccine administration.
• Experience in clinical leadership or being a program lead.
• Experience with immunization quality improvement and outreach activities for immunizing providers and the public.
• Experience in epidemiology and data analysis.
• Experience with implementing evidence-based recommendations in a healthcare setting.
• Understanding of immunization-related regulatory requirements for vaccination.

Benefits

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Retirement (PERA options), including Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans.
• Paid life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off.
• Tuition assistance.
• Wellness programs.
• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects.
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system.
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.