POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:Specialist Anaesthetist
Reporting To:Clinical Director, Anaesthetics and
Service Manager, Surgical Services
Location:SouthlandHospital
Position Size:As per appointment letter
The Specialist Anaesthetist shall:
1.Be responsible for providing a comprehensive anaesthetic service to a high standard.
2.Be responsible for the following specific performance goals associated with providing a comprehensive anaesthetic service:
*provide to patients a safe competent and respectful service in the management of their conditions according to their clinical priority.
*communicate adequately with patients on their condition and treatment, ensure that at all times patient rights are protected and all consents required are acquired before treatment.
*provide for comprehensive and appropriate records of patients seen and be responsible for ensuring that such records are available in accordance with normally accepted procedures.
*act as a member of the Anaesthetic Team in providing suitable cover for Southland Hospital requirements as well as additional services offered by Southern District Health Board at other locations.
*provide such tuition and lectures to Southern District Health Board staff as may be required by agencies such as the ANZCA Training Program, fulfilment of Medical Council requirements and hospital training requirements and to instruct, monitor and advise those staff under the direct guidance of the Senior Medical Officer.
*report promptly to the Service Manager – Surgical Services any unusual incidents or occurrence, especially those which may give rise to complaints or legal action against Southern District Health Board.
*ensure effective use of Southern District Health Board's resources of staff and facilities, by the application of effective efficient and economical patient management techniques.
*ensure that the standard of service provided is commensurate with Southern District Health Board's duties and intentions and Southern District Health Board's business plan with cognisance of Southern District Health Board's Policies and Procedures
*keep informed of developments in the area pertinent to speciality and maintain own skills and knowledge of speciality to professional college guidelines.
*provide speciality advice as requested by Service Manager – Surgical Services.
*promote awareness in the community of health promotion activities and disease prevention within speciality by the provision of health education.
*ensure that any lawful instructions of the Service Manager – Surgical Services are carried out in a prompt manner.
3.The SpecialistAnaesthetist shall:
*share responsibility for the specialist anaesthetic assessment and care of patients at Southland Hospital, on a regular basis during average routine hours, and on a rostered basis outside average routine hours during the week, at the weekends and on public holidays.
*be familiar with appropriate modern techniques.
*continue to keep patient hospital stay to the minimum compatible with high standards of anaesthetic care to be reviewed annually.
*provide early advice for those patients referred for an anaesthetists opinion by hospital specialist colleagues. He/She will also provide advice for General Practitioners and RMO's.
4.Clinical Duties
The Specialist Anaesthetist shall:
*carry out preoperative assessment of patients, advising and participating in their care to optimise their preoperative condition.
*provide anaesthetic services for patients in operating theatre.
*provide continuing supervision of patients in transit from theatre, in Recovery Room and postoperatively as appropriate.
*administer anaesthetics in other locations such as the Radiology Department or CT Scanner Suite, or Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Units.
*perform "duty anaesthetists" responsibilities as required for acute or emergency cases, thereby ensuring that all anaesthetising locations are covered, organising obstetric pain relief and attend emergencies to assist in resuscitation in Accident & Emergency or elsewhere.
*be responsible for services to patients in the Intensive Care Unit participating in the care and management of patients as appropriate in the absence of an Intensivist on site at Southland Hospital in accord with duty Anaesthetist's responsibilities.
*be available to be consulted by other medical staff regarding patients to be anaesthetised or regarding patients postoperative problems or other conditions in which anaesthetic skills are required.
*attend to patients with acute pain for advice or treatment and provide anaesthetic skills in the management of chronic or intractable pain, on an occasional basis.
Indirect Patient Work Remote
*report on patient examinations relating to pre or postoperative patient needs deemed necessary for such an assessment.
*attend to inquiries or needs of anaesthetic trainees either by direct supervision or remote supervision such as telephone.
*consult and liaise with the Perioperative Manager, with nurses in theatre, with anaesthetic technicians, with nurses in the Intensive Care Unit, Accident & Emergency, the Obstetrics Unit and the wards to ensure the proper management of patient is carried out as it affects the service provided.
Patient Communication
*maintain effective personal relationships with patients and handle problems sensitively, being aware of the role of patient advocates, cultural concerns and patient's rights.
*inform patient of treatment and procedures proposed and be given the opportunity to ask questions relevant to their particular needs.
General Administration
*assist the Director from time to time in administration.
*carry out all administrative duties relating to the supervision of trainees with regard to liaising between the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and trainees; to advise trainees on training requirements and examinations and to monitor the workload and supervision of trainees, informing the Director of any problems that arise.
*carry out all administrative duties associated with coordination and supervision of matters relating to peer review, clinical review and quality assurance in accordance with the ANZCA professional documents.
*consult with the Perioperative Manager or Clinical Co-ordinator in the operating theatre as to the optimum use of the facility.
Education of Others
*participate in appropriate educational activities for training specialists, other junior medical staff, medical students, anaesthetic technicians, post graduate nurses, paramedical staff and interested community groups, as requested.
*supervise the preparation of materials used in teaching.
*attend and participate in the regular teaching sessions of the Department of Anaesthesia.
Self Education
*maintain personal knowledge and skills and participate in continuing medical education as it pertains to speciality. This will require relevant literature review, participating in post graduate activities such as the Anaesthesia Home and Evaluation Learning Programme, organised by the New Zealand Anaesthesia Education Committee.
*attend post graduate meetings such as the weekly hospital clinical meeting, neonatal mortality review, meetings or other departments as appropriate and courses organised by the medical post graduate committee of senior medical staff.
Clinical Review and Quality Improvement
*ensure and review the quality of patient care by participating in peer review and quality assurance programmes in accordance with the ANZCA Professional documents.
*maintain accurate medical records, documenting observations and interventions, and with respect to data collection facilitate documenting the required information and assist with coding of anaesthetic forms.
*support the nation-wide collection of anaesthetic data by notifying all critical incidents on the forms provided as well as notifying the Anaesthetic Mortality Assessment Committee of all deaths related to anaesthesia.
Personal Competencies
*Must be a medical practitioner registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.
*Must have vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, if not they must hold a specialist qualification with will enable them to achieve vocational registration.
The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by staff in this job classification. Staff Members may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those specified.
Agreed by:
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