Clinical Associate

Job Description

Unique Job Role: Clinical Assistant

Position: Clinical Assistant - Orthopaedics

Function: Clinical Services

Sub Function: Orthopaedics

Department: Orthopaedics

Reports To (Job Role / Position): Director - Orthopaedics

1. Job Purpose

Responsibility for assisting Mentor / Director and Consultants in diagnosis and delivery of clinical care in conformance with the Sir HN RFH standards of medical and service excellence

2. Accountabilities

1. Key Responsibilities: Service

• Will work under the supervision of Mentor / Director / Consultants.
• Help Mentor / Director / Consultants in conducting OPD and other clinical activities as specified and as per privileges granted
• Manage casualty cases under supervision of the consultants
• Assist in OPD based procedures like plastering, injections, K wire removals
• Guide the Orthopaedics nurse in day to day nursing activities and patient management
• Assist the OT team in ensuring adequacy of instruments and inventories for the Orthopaedics procedures. Also to ensure that the correct implants are ordered and available during the procedure
• Collate and analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose disease of the patient
• Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialized comprehensive medical care to treat / prevent / limit illness, disease, or injury under consultation of primary consultants. Identify patient's risk status and recommend appropriate intervention to minimize risk under consultation of primary consultants.
• Explain procedures, obtain consents and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patient and family
• Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary and discuss the same with the treating Consultant. Refer patient to other specialist as and when required after due intimation and explanation to patient / family as advised by the treating consultant
• Coordinate with the admission hub, OT staff and billing section for booking OT
• Follow the surgical checklist during the OT stage including surgical site marking and WHO surgical guidelines
• Prep the surgical patients, and carry out pre-op and post op care until discharge
• Conduct regular ward rounds and work at a time that facilitates efficient patient flow and meets treatment objectives to maintain continuity of patient care
• Maintain and update documentation in Hospital Information System with respect to assigned clinical responsibilities including patient history, clinical assessment, prescriptions, medications, progress notes, investigations, discharge notes and any other medical records
• Maintain clinical documentation including initial assessment, OT notes, progress notes and HOTO notes on a daily basis
• Coordinate activities of nurses, resident doctors, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff for quality care and patient safety
• Ensure accurate exchange of information during care transition and transfer of patients ensuring that patient privacy and confidentiality is duly protected at all the times
• Follow use of evidence based practice protocols to ensure patient safety
• Prepare and release discharge summaries as advised by primary consultant
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines and health professionals to develop effective and appropriate multidisciplinary treatment plans for patients
• Cover ward duties and attend to on call emergency care as per departmental rota
• Comply with CME credits as per MMC guidelines and registrations in vogue
• Participate in interdepartmental meetings, committees and perform all the responsibilities as assigned
• Participate as per the defined role during any internal / external disaster
• Ensure the following activities are completed with respect to discharge process:
• Provisional Discharge:
• Confirmation of discharge by Consultants
• Confirmation and clearance of investigations done on the day of the discharge
• Removal of all lines and tubes in coordination with Nursing team
• Mark for Discharge:
• Completion of discharge summary
• Any other responsibility as assigned by the Director on the need basis

1. Key Responsibilities: Growth

• Participate in health programs in the hospital, outreach activities, or communities for prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.

1. Key Responsibilities: Quality

• Ensure clinical care and infection control quality indicators are within the defined bench mark
• Actively participate and be accountable for implementation of all quality programs to ensure continuous quality improvement in the department
• Ensure adherence to internationally accepted standards of care, including but not limited to those recommended by JCI, NABH and other quality systems
• Follow all infection control protocols during all Orthopaedics procedures
• Actively participate in infection control and prevention activities, campaigns, awareness sessions etc.

1. Key Responsibilities: Finance

• Ensure optimum utilization of departmental resources

1. Key Responsibilities: People

• Be available to cover colleague when they are sick / on leave (within the constraints of existing workload)
• Train the new joinees on the departmental policies, SOPs and protocols
• Guide the junior medical staff and DNB students on the departmental activities and processes

1. Key Responsibilities: Innovation & Research

• Participate in clinical education, research, test medication, clinical tests to advance the practice of medicine as well as academic and teaching activities of department as required by the DNB or any Fellowship programs
• Keep updating knowledge and skills by attending and presenting at conferences and CME or similar training programs
• Actively give suggestions / feedback to further improvise services of department and growth of the department

3. Competencies

Competencies

A. Core HNH Values

• Patient First
• Excellence
• Accountability
• Respect
• Teamwork
• Integrity

B. Function-specific Competencies (Technical /Functional)

• Knowledge of departmental policies and procedures
• Aptitude towards, teaching, publication and research
• Knowledge about Infection prevention and control
• Knowledge about JCI & NABH standards
• Knowledge on use of HIS
• Knowledge about Patient Safety
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Inclination towards continuing medical education / attending conferences

The above is a broad outline on competencies required for the role. The competency definition and descriptor of proficiency level will be provided in a separate competency framework

4. Experience & Educational Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Include Additional Certification Required if any

Necessary: MBBS and MS / DNB Orthopaedics

Desirable: Fellowships in Orthopaedics

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

Type of roles (and duration) which an individual ideally should have done in his/her prior experience to be detailed

Necessary: 0-3 yrs post MS/DNB Orthopaedics

Desirable: Experience in large multispecialty hospital

7. Scope of Work

• Financial Scope (Range of financial spend): Nil
• People Management Scope (Range of no. of Direct Reports): Nil
• Corporate Coverage (hospital-wide / sub-function-wide / area wide): Orthopaedics
• Working Conditions: Possible exposure to communicable diseases, OPDs, Procedure Rooms and Wards, On shift rota

6. Key Performance Areas & Key Performance Indicators

Key Result Areas

• Clinical Care Performance
• Quality care indicators
• Patient Satisfaction Index on clinical care
• Contribution towards financial goals if applicable
• Budgeted Vs. Actuals
• Adherence to operational protocols
• Deviation from standard operating practices
• Training of team members
• % Adherence to training calendar
• No. of training hours
• Mark for Discharge
• Discharge summary release time