JOB DESCRIPTION
Medical Officer Special Scale
ENT Department
Position Title: / Medical Officer Special Scale (MOSS)Organisation Unit: / ENT Department
Location: / Whangarei Hospital, Northland District Health Board
Responsible to: / Clinical Head of Department, ENT Services, NDHB
Clinical Director, Surgical Services, NDHB
General Manager, Clinical Services, NDHB
Primary Functions of the Position: / The MOSS along with colleagues will have an overview of and a responsibility for providing comprehensive secondary and some tertiary (as appropriate) ENT care for people of Northland.
Functional Relationships
The MOSS, ENT Department, will develop and maintain excellent relationships with:
Internal / External· ENT Surgeons
· Clinical Nurse Managers in relevant departments
· Nursing staff, House Officers and Registrars involved in ENT service
· Patients and their families
· Chief Medical Advisor
· General Managers / · Tertiary specialists and referral hospitals
Key Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes
Northland District Health Board has established a set of values by which the organisation will respond, in part, to achieving its goals and objectives through their workforce. The following Values and supporting statements are expected behaviours of each individual employed with NDHB:
Values / Supporting StatementPeople First
Tangata I te tuatahi / People are central to all we do
Respect
Whakaute (tuku mana) / We treat others as we would like to be treated
Caring
Manaaki / We nurture those around us, and treat all with dignity and compassion
Communication
Whakawhitiwhiti korero / We communicate safely, openly and with respect to promote clear understanding
Excellence
Taumata teitei (hirangi) / Our attitude of excellence inspires success, competence, confidence and innovation
The position of ENT MOSS encompasses the following major functions or key result areas:
· Patient Management
· Education
· Personal Development
· Quality Improvement
· Ethical and Legal Safety
· Treaty of Waitangi
· Health and Safety
The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:
Key Responsibility Area / Expected OutcomesPatient Management / · Provide for patients a safe, competent and respectful service in the management of their conditions
· Communicate adequately with patients and/or their caregivers on their condition and treatment ensuring that patients’ rights are protected at all times and any necessary consents are organised before treatment
· Ensure that appropriate records of patients are maintained
· Ensure efficient use of Northland DHB’s resources of staff and facilities, by the application of effective and economical patient management techniques
Education / § Provide such tuition and lectures to Northland DHB staff and others as may be required by agencies such as the College Training Scheme for the fulfillment of Medical Council and hospital training requirements, and to instruct, monitor and advise those staff under the direct surveillance and overview of MOSS’s
§ Provide specialty advice as requested by the General Manager
§ Be involved in health promotion and disease prevention activities appropriate to the specialty
Key Responsibility Area / Expected Outcomes
Personal Development / § Keep informed of developments and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge pertinent to the specialty to meet professional/college guidelines
Quality Improvement / § Be concerned and involved in processes which promote continuous quality improvement of the Surgical Service (including quality improvement, medical audit and peer review)
§ Ensure that supervision of Resident Medical Officers occurs to meet requirements of the clinical environment and statutory organisations and that appropriate reports are provided to meet the requirements of the Medical Council
Ethical and Legal Safety / · Ensure that any lawful and ethical instructions of the General Manager or Clinical Director are carried out in a proper manner
§ Report promptly to the General Manager any untoward incidents or occurrences, especially those which may give rise to complaints or legal action against Northland DHB, always acting with the constraints required by patient confidentiality
Treaty of Waitangi / · Contribute to the promotion of the principles of Treaty of Waitangi and the involvement if Māori within the decision making process for their health and independence, within District Health Board management processes and procedures
· Include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within all aspects of the role and its outcomes
· Ensure that consultation and engagement processes include appropriate mechanisms to meet the need of Maori in a culturally appropriate and safe manner
· Attend the Northland District Health Board Treaty of Waitangi Training
Health & Safety / · Ensure compliance with designated responsibilities detailed in Northland District Health Board’s Health and Safety Policy
· Promote an environment of physical, occupational, cultural, ethical and legal safety
· Observe safe work practices, rules and instructions relating to work, and be pro-active in hazard management
· Willingly cooperate in the achievement of all health and safety goals and initiatives by:
- Practicing and observing safe work methods;
- The use of safety equipment;
- Reporting unsafe conditions or equipment; and
- Reporting and documenting all accidents or incidents
Service Responsibilities
i. / General ServiceResponsibilities / § Details of sessional responsibility are described in individual employment contracts.
§ Share responsibility for the assessment and care of patients at Whangarei Hospital on a rostered basis at weekends, when colleagues are on leave, and otherwise as mutually agreed.
ii. / Outpatient Service
Responsibilities / § Conduct specialist clinics on a regular basis as required at other regional Northland clinics.
§ When on-call at Whangarei Hospital will provide a telephone MOSS service for Northland, being available at all times to give advice to medical practitioners and other appropriate parties, including ward referrals from other services.
§ When on-call at Whangarei Hospital will provide an acute review service for individual cases in Whangarei Hospital.
iii. / Patient Contact
Responsibilities / For Inpatient Services:
The MOSS will aim to ensure the following:
§ Participation in a roster with colleagues to provide continuing specialist cover for the evaluation and management of patients.
§ When rostered on duty be available by telephone and as necessary in person to advise the Resident Medical Officer/GP managing the patient and where appropriate to assume responsibility for that patient.
§ On telephone contact, assess whether the patient can be safely managed without direct personal involvement.
§ Patients are monitored, investigated and treated appropriately.
§ Patients and caregivers are properly and adequately informed about the treatments and procedures.
§ Special procedures and investigations are carried out by self or by a member of the team under supervision to a degree deemed appropriate by the consultant.
§ All necessary forms, consents, reports and documentation are completed.
§ Elective surgery is performed within Northland DHB’s booking system guidelines.
§ Ensure handover of information regarding patients of concern to on-call team.
§ Refer to tertiary services as appropriate.
Discharge Procedures:
§ Appropriate discharge procedures are undertaken, involving communication with those parties involved in the care of the patient in the community.
§ Followup outpatient visits occur as necessary.
Indirect Patient Duties:
§ Other functions supportive to the core clinical task, such as report writing, letter to General Practitioners on patient condition and treatment, attendance in Court if required, discharge plans, data collation and interpretation, are carried out.
§ Regular and appropriate consultation occurs with other specialist colleagues and other health professionals (within and outside Northland District Health Board) to facilitate the management of patients. Refer to tertiary services as appropriate.
vi. / Other Duties / General Administration:
The MOSS shall:
§ Attend and contribute to Northland DHB meetings as requested/approved by the General Manager, Clinical Director or Clinical Head of Department.
§ Keep up to date with Northland DHB matters. Actively participate in discussions re service planning and provisions.
§ Prepare reports as required.
§ Attend as required by the General Manager, Health & Safety updates and Treaty Workshops.
Clinical Supervision:
§ Delegate tasks and responsibilities appropriately to clinical support staff according to the skill levels of individuals.
§ Provide written guidelines on the medical management of patients for junior medical and nursing staff.
Self Education:
§ Practice using current knowledge and skills in relevant clinical areas, actively utilizing up to date medical journals, books and other relevant literature.
§ Attend conferences and courses related to clinical practice.
Quality Assurance:
§ Ensure all documentation and processes are clear and meet the regulations of Northland DHB and other purchasing agencies requirements.
§ Actively participate in appropriate clinical audit programmes.
Demonstrate commitment to culturally appropriate services:
§ Seek advice from cultural advisors and/or Kaumatua as appropriate.
§ Have a working understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance to health.
§ Work in partnership with groups and individuals, being conscious of the cultural background and ensuring that they are not culturally or ethnically at risk.
Variation of Duties
Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the position. Duties and responsibilities can be amended from time to time either by additional, deletion or straight amendment by the Clinical Director Surgical Services to meet any changing conditions, however this will only be done in consultation with the employee.
Person Specification
Essential
· Registerable in NZ as a Medical Practitioner
· A New Zealand driver’s licence
· Current Practicing Certificate from the Medical Council of NZ
Experience
Essential
· Proven work history in a hospital setting
· Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
Awareness and Understanding of
Essential / Desirable
· The Treaty of Waitangi and its application to the health setting
· Privacy Act (1993) and Health Information Privacy Code (1994)
· Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992) / · Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
· New Zealand Council of Healthcare Standards
Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Desire to enhance/develop services that meet the changing needs of Northlanders
Personal Attributes
· Ability to participate positively and work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
· Ability to be flexible, versatile and open to change
· Developed interpersonal skills
Performance Development Review
An initial review of performance will be conducted after three months, with an annual review thereafter.
An individual Development Plan will be developed to reflect the contribution this position is expected to make towards achieving the team’s objectives and measures. Key result areas will be developed and agreed at this time.
Authorised by:Signature:
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Acceptance
Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.
Position Title:Signature of employee:
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Information about the Position
The ENT Department at Whangarei Hospital consists of 3 part-time Otolaryngologists.
We provide secondary surgical services to Northland (which extends from North Cape to Wellsford). The population of Northland is 140,000.
We act as base hospital for the regional hospitals.
There are three other hospitals (Kaitaia, Dargaville and Bay of Islands) in Northland DHB and two run as separately funded primary care units (Rawene and Kaeo) who also refer to us. Regional clinics occur on a regular basis.
The ENT Department does fortnightly clinics in Kaitaia. Hospital cars are provided if necessary for the drive or a charter flight service (fixed wing) operates for clinicians to attend clinics at Kaitaia Hospital.
Surgical patients are accommodated in the day stay ward and a long stay surgical ward. ENT patients go to Wards 3 or 2.
Auckland, as our tertiary referral centre, is only two hours away and we have ready access to their expertise by both phone and as a referral centre for continuing care.
The department works cooperatively and meets weekly for journal club, M & M sessions, audit and managerial reviews.
Northland is a subtropical area of New Zealand with extensive coastline, some of it isolated, some of it not. It is an ideal area for fishing, boating, diving and surfing etc. There are good opportunities for many outdoor pursuits (but no snow skiing!)
Whangarei City has undergone much growth and development in the last few years and now boasts many good restaurants, active theatre groups and many visiting artists, and is known country wide for its annual Garden Festival and Opera in the Garden.
It is only one hour away from the Bay of Islands and two hours from the excitement and entertainment of Auckland if that is what you desire.