Job Details

ROLE DESCRIPTION

At MBHS, the Emergence Care Officer works within a multidisciplinary team to deliver non-emergency and emergency medical/trauma response care 24 hours a day.  He/she is often the first point of contact for patients and assists in stabilising and transporting patients to and from the hospital. All our ECO work shifts and often rotate between first aid stations and the MBHS clinic.

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITY

• Ensure that standard operating policies and procedures are followed in keeping with international standards for non-emergency and emergency response protocol and MBHS Standards of Care.
• Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls calmly, professionally and promptly.
• Demonstrate ability to work competently in emergency and urgent care situations and provide thorough assessment, treatment of illness or injury at the scene and en route to the clinic/hospital.
• Ensure that individual knowledge and practice is up-to-date in order to perform required duties.
• Must be accessible at all times when rostered to be ‘on call’ for shift work.
  Communicate effectively with the emergency department, medical doctors, Chief Medical Officer, Clinic Manager and paramedics to obtain instructions regarding further treatment and if medical evacuation is needed.
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times.  Make ethical decisions related to consent and confidentiality.  Any breach in patient confidentiality will result in disciplinary action.
• Be adaptable, flexible and professional  in working in the various sites as assigned.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Emergency and Primary Care Services

• Travel to locations where emergency medical services are required in as prompt and timely a manner as possible.
• Administer basic and advanced life support to patients on the scene and en-route to the clinic/hospital.
• Carry out thorough assessment on the illness/injury to establish and prioritise medical procedures to be followed.
• Use proper rescue and medical techniques when extracting/transporting victims of accidents, sudden illness and trauma cases.
• Treat patients on the scene and prepare for safe transfer to a Mary Begg facility.
• Communicate immediately with the Emergency Services Coordinator/Chief Medical Officer/ Clinic Manager to request medical evacuation of ill or injured patients, when necessary.
• Maintain order at the scene, including crown disbursement and restraint of family and friends.
• Inform the clinic of the patient’s arrival via ambulance and update the emergency doctor or doctor on call of the patient’s diagnosis, condition and any treatments administered during transport for prompt medical care upon arrival.
• Maintain hygienic and safe work environments in compliance with company policy.
• Understand your role in site emergency response and disaster plans and ensure all FAS staff are oriented to the Major incident plans of their sites .
• Ensure that areas for triage and multiple casualties are identified.
  Ensure that critical medical supplies and equipment are pre-packed and available for emergency use at dispersed sites or during patient transport.
  Participate in simulation exercises organised by MBHS management for disaster planning.
• Support FQM mine First Aid Stations (FAS) in transfers and evacuation of patients, where necessary.
• Continually demonstrate adherence to the Infection Control Policy, especially maintaining proper hand washing technique. Use and maintain correct personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves.
• Ensure appropriate disposal of clinical waste in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Coordinate requests for non-emergency transports in accordance with standard protocol.
• Comply with all national legal regulations.
• Conduct ongoing training with FAS staff in both emergency and non-emergency topics relevant to FAS operations.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

• Must be a qualified ECO with a Diploma in Emergency Medical Care
• Must be registered and licensed with the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) to practice emergency/ trauma care.
• At least two years’ experience working as an Emergency Care Officer in a medical setting is required.