TAIRAWHITI DISTRICT HEALTH POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION: RESPONSIBLE TO: RESPONSIBLE FOR: Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Clinical Director and Clinical Care Manager Achieving the objectives and carrying out the key responsibilities and duties as described. DATE: July 2011 JOB SUMMARY The Employee is employed as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. The place of work or employment is within the area for which Tairawhiti District Health is responsible PRIMARY OBJECTIVES 1 To provide effective obstetric and gynaecology services to the community served by Tairawhiti District Health as required meeting service delivery specifications. 2 To provide appropriate and timely advice to staff and management on obstetric and gynaecology matters, and on professional standards of practice. 3 To participate in the professional and quality assurance activities required of senior medical staff. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1 CLINICAL PRACTICE 1.1 Outputs The Employee is responsible for the delivery of obstetric and gynaecology assessment and treatment of inpatients under his/her care to a secondary specialist level at Gisborne Hospital on a regular basis during regular hours and on a rostered basis outside regular hours. The Employee is required to work full time, which will be an average of 40 hours per week on routine duties and acute cases which result from rostered call. It is expected that the hours worked will include both clinical duties as described below, and non-clinical duties according to the needs of the Department and current ASMS expectations. 1.1.1 The regular hours of work shall generally fall between 8.00am and 6.00pm except where otherwise mutually agreed. 1.1.2 Specific outputs shall include: Three outpatient clinics per week. These may include: antenatal gynaecology colposcopy Ward rounds daily, unless arranged with colleagues Theatre Lists 1 per week minimum
The above ward and clinic work may require the Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to undertake review of laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic results, follow-up with patients, discussions with their families, junior medical staff, nursing and ancillary staff. 1.1.3 It is expected that whenever possible treatment will be on an outpatient basis, admitting when necessary for inpatient treatment. 1.1.4 Surgical sessions may vary, but in general each specialist will do one half-day list weekly. An additional OR list per week will be available for extra work, including urgent gynaecology work and elective and emergency caesarean sections. The Employee should perform an amount of surgery appropriate to meet Tairawhiti District Health s service requirements and manage waiting lists efficiently. 1.1.5 The Employee will ensure that informed consent is obtained in accordance with the employer s guidelines before undertaking any operation or procedure. 1.1.6 It is expected that the O & G Specialists will share the patient load equitably, and will provide appropriate care and follow-up in accordance with accepted practice and as provided for by the relevant governing body or bodies (the RANZCOG). This may include any necessary investigations, monitoring, therapy, procedures, surgery or referral as needed. 1.1.7 The Employee will be responsible for ensuring that timely, comprehensive and accurate written medical records are maintained according to Tairawhiti District Health Policy for both in and outpatients under their care. This will include computerised records on the patient management system (Galen) and the clinical intranet. 1.1.8 The Employee shall also have knowledge of and comply with the requirements of The Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights) Regulations 1996, The Privacy Act 1993 and The New Zealand Medical Association s Code of Ethics. 1.1.9 The Employee shall have knowledge of, and comply with, the Tairawhiti District Health organisational policies. 1.2 On call (Availability) 1.2.1 Employees will share call evenly, according to a schedule drawn up by the Clinical Director after discussion with other Obstetrician & Gynaecologist colleagues. 1.2.2 When not physically at the hospital the duty Obstetrician and Gynaecologist shall be located by telephone/cellphone or pager. He/she should respond to page within five minutes and shall be available to report to the hospital by private car within 20 minutes of receiving a call or within the minimum time required to be collected by taxi from home address or nearer. A functioning cellphone and pager will be provided at all times. 1.2.3 When on duty, the Employee s sole clinical responsibility shall be to Tairawhiti District Health. 1.2.4 Acute admitting and responsibility of acute medical problems for obstetric and gynaecology inpatients will be the responsibility of the O & G Specialist on duty. 1.2.5 Daily ward rounds (Monday-Friday) will be made to all postoperative and non-acute patients admitted by the Employee. Ward rounds on weekends and public holidays shall be conducted by the O & G Specialist on duty. 1.3 Cover for the absence of a collegue will be according to the principles as outlined in the variation for on-call as appended to the MECA 1.4 Other duties Off-site clinics on occasion will be substituted for routine outpatient clinics. These may include visiting Te Puia Hospital every one to two months or as required. Page 2 of 5
2 TEAM CONSULTATION 2.1 The Employee will see and advise on patients referred to him/her by other medical staff for an opinion. It is expected that professional advice will be provided promptly and documented where appropriate. 2.2 The Employee will consult with other health professionals as to the care of patients as appropriate and encourage and take part in team meetings planning the care and discharge of patients. He/she will be aware of and respect the role of the patient advocate, cultural concerns, and patients rights. 2.3 The Employee will maintain effective and timely communication with General Practitioners, including response to referrals and advice regarding patients, and will ensure the prompt provision of discharge summaries. 3 TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 The Employee will instruct, guide and supervise the work of the junior medical staff (Resident Medical Officers/House Surgeons) working in the service. The Employee will give clear guidelines and expectations of the service, give advice as required, participate in tutorial sessions for all junior medical staff and review the performance of junior medical staff if and when required. 3.2 The Employee will participate in the Medical Council of New Zealand s Assessment Process for Probationary House Surgeons as detailed in the MCNZ handbook Education, training and supervision for new doctors. 3.3 The Employee will participate in nurse and midwife education. 3.4 The Employee will participate in in-service education programmes. 4 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 4.1 The Employee will assist, with medical colleagues and other health professionals, in the management of the service to ensure that resources are used efficiently and patient stays in hospital are not unnecessarily prolonged. 4.2 As a major user of finite resources, the Employee will have a responsibility to use these effectively to meet the needs of patients and will have an awareness of Hospital policy including clinical practice guidelines as endorsed by the Clinical Board. 5 PERSONAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 5.1 The Employee will be responsible for keeping abreast of relevant literature, not only on clinical matters but also on medical management topics such as clinical budgeting, medical auditing, performance appraisal and quality assurance and avail himself/herself of opportunities to attend relevant conferences. It is expected that job sizing will reflect the time necessary to expedite these duties and that for full time employees this will not amount to less than four hours per week. 5.2 The Employee will be encouraged to undertake research during regular hours as time permits. It is expected that formal approval by the Ethics Committee will be obtained prior to any research undertaken or any involvement with therapeutic trials and that such activities will be conducted in accordance with Ethics Committee protocols, with progress reports made to the Ethics Committee as requested. Funding must be identified prior to any research commencing. 5.3 The Employee will be expected to enrol in the relevant Maintenance of Professional Standards Programme/College Accreditation and to complete the requirements necessary to maintain registration. 6 QUALITY ASSURANCE The employee will participate in the development and implementation of service quality assurance activities, and will participate in credentialling processes. It is expected that: 6.1 Medical standards of practice are formalised and are in accordance with the national requirements. Page 3 of 5
6.2 The Employee cooperates with colleagues to develop and maintain a medical quality assurance system which is regularly performed, and involves review mechanisms of patient care (morbidity/mortality reviews, peer review, audit, regular clinical meetings and Visiting Specialist liaison) and that the Employee participates in the gynaecology audit system. 6.3 Policies, protocols and procedures will be kept up-to-date and adhered to. 7 PERFORMANCE REVIEW The performance review will include the following: 7.1 Clinical Responsibilities: - Review of clinical work performed against job description specifications 7.2 Teaching Responsibilities: - Review of guidance and supervision of house officers and other key clinical staff and participation in tutorial sessions. 7.3 Management and Administrative Responsibilities: - Awareness of and compliance with policies and procedures as endorsed by Clinical Board. - Review of resource utilisation and participation in management of clinical resources. 7.4 Personal Educational Responsibilities: - Enrolment in the appropriate Maintenance of Professional Standards programme and evidence of satisfactory progress. - Review of all activities undertaken to maintain professional standards. 7.5 General Responsibilities: - Review of any comment by colleagues and other health professionals as to multidisciplinary involvement. - Review of any complaints received relating to care given by the Employee. - Review of any problems and/or complaints relating to interpersonal relationships with staff and patients. The appropriate Clinical Director and Clinical Care Manager will conduct the review. 8 PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS 8.1 Qualifications: The Employee will hold the Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists or equivalent qualifications as recognised by the Medical Council of New Zealand. 8.2 Registration: The Employee will be either: (a) (b) Vocationally Registered as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and hold a current Annual Practising Certificate, or Assessed by the Medical Council of New Zealand as eligible for Vocational Registration as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and hold appropriate registration enabling the Employee to practice as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in New Zealand, or (c) Will hold Temporary Registration to practise as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in New Zealand, or (d) Will hold Provisional General Registration Any variation to this stipulation must be agreed in writing by Tairawhiti District Health and the Employee. Page 4 of 5
8.3 Practice: The Employee is to be familiar with modern investigative and treatment techniques relevant to the specialty. 8.4 Professional Indemnity: The Employee agrees to take out a Professional Indemnity (Medical Defence) policy in respect of alleged professional negligence or alleged incompetent treatment of patients. 8.5 Driving Licence: The Employee will hold a current driving licence valid in New Zealand. 9 DECLARATION I accept the terms of this position description. Dr Diane Van De Mark Date / / Clinical Director Lynsey Bartlett Date / / Acting Clinical Care Manager Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Date / / Page 5 of 5