Consultant

The Consultant/ Associate Consultant of the NHG Population Health Community Medicine department is a specialist in one of the following fields: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, or Palliative Medicine. He/she would have completed their specialist training, obtained their specialist license, and have been accredited by their respective Specialist Accreditation Boards. The Consultant role would have met the requirements of completion of their period of Associate Consultancy as stipulated by their specialties. Apart from clinical duties, the scope of work includes involvement in either education, research, quality, or administrative roles.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Actively leads the team in ensuring high quality and safe care within their zone or team.

· Develop and review Job Instructions and Job Improvements for department work processes as well as training and equipping staff to carry out their work correctly, safely and conscientiously.

· Help promote a working environment of collegiality and effective teamwork. This would include addressing any disciplinary issues within the team, with the respective professional leader.

· Depending on their area of interest, develop research and education capability within the department.

· Leads change within the team or zone which is in line with the overall vision and mission of the department.

· Perform any other duties including administrative and committee work as directed by Head of Department and Chairmen Medical Board.

All Services

· Carry out their duties as directed by the Community Medicine Head of Department in accordance with the policies and guidelines set by the Hospital, NHG Health, and the Ministry of Health.

· As senior staff, to exercise responsibility for patient care and provide leadership to all levels of staff – including teaching, training, and research.

· Responsible for patients within their team, whether the patient is under the care of the nurse, an allied health professional, a pharmacist, or a health coach.

· To avail themselves for case discussions in their teams, regardless of who may be the one providing care.

· Communicate with patient/ patient’s legal guardian/ individuals designated by patient on the patient’s conditions. For unconscious/ mentally incompetent patients who have not designated anyone, the Consultant/ Associate Consultant may communicate with the patient’s next-of-kin or responsible family members.

· Responsible for signing death certificates in services where this is applicable.

· Responsible for the compilation of all confidential mortality reports for submission to the Chairman Medical Board through the Head of Department, where applicable.

· Represents the service at coroner’s inquest or other medico-legal hearing involving patients under their care unless a particular doctor in subpoenaed by name.

· Attend departmental meetings, clinical incident meetings, and multidisciplinary meetings.

· Attends and participates in the teaching sessions organized by the department or the campus.

Community Health Team Service/ Other Home Care Equivalents

· Provides transitional home care for patients discharged from the hospital as a part of the multidisciplinary team.

· Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and acts as the medical lead in such rounds.

· Responsible for reviewing all investigations done by the community health team service/ other home care equivalents team.

· Be the medical liaison person with other home care teams and with hospitals.

· Reviews medications and appointments to determine their adequacy and suitability.

· Provide supervision in the medical aspects of care of patients under the care of the team.

· Responsible for all patients who are receiving medical care within the team. Reviews any adverse events and readmissions in patients under the service and collates such information for the Head of Department.

Community Health Programmes or Equivalents

· Provides medical support in the review of medications, the review of appointments, and patient assessment including geriatric screening in the community when the nurse or health coach is unable to locate their primary physician or if the patient does not have a primary physician.

· Provides training in medical aspects of patient care to providers in the community.

· Responsible for all patients who do not have a primary physician and are receiving medical care within the team.

Nursing Home

· Assist the nursing home in the systematic review of patients according to guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.

· Assist the nursing home in infection control, medication management, restructured hospital outpatient clinic appointments, quality management and investigation of adverse events.

· Supervises the of triaging patients, performing advanced care planning, and performing family conferences with respect to end-of-life care in the nursing homes.

· Reviews or provides telephone consultation of patients who suffer from acute deterioration and initiates a suitable management plan.

· Be the medical liaison for cases admitted to other institutions or are co-managed by other teams.

· Responsible for the care of patients within the zone.

· Leads the team in the delivery of end-of-life care within the zone.