Job Description

Job title: Clinical Informatics Specialist

Work Location: Kono

Department: Strategic Health Information Systems (SHIS)

Report to: eHealth Manager

Line Management

Ye s/ No

Organization Profile

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our work i n Sierra Leone: Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health centre and to referral hospitals.

Position Overview

In Sierra Leone, electronic medical records (EMR) make a major contribution to PIH efforts to strengthen healthcare systems. PIH and its partners pioneered the development of OpenMRS, an open-source electronic medical record system. PIH-SL, SHIS in collaboration with the SIS Boston, develops and supports the electronic medical record system in use in the rural District of Koidu (Kono District Hospital) and Wellbody health center, with patient records supporting care for HIV, TB, NCDs, Mental Health and maternal and child health.

The Clinical Informatics Specialist is working under the supervision of the eHealth Manager and the strategic orientation of the SHIS Lead. This position is the technical associate of the eHealth unit for all digital health interventions happening at the Koidu Government Hospital ( KGH ) and at the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCoE), in particular, for the pre and post implementation phases of the KGH Electronic Medical Records extension at MCoE. In support to the Koidu DHMT and PIH-SL’s Strategic health information systems (SHIS), in their mission of uplifting digital health interventions in Kono, this position is providing valuable technical health and nursing informatics insights. I n improving the collaboration among IT professio nals, clinical stakeholders and data managers. This position also presents a fantastic learning and growth opportunity for a candidate interested in a unique overseas job with Partners in Health Sierra Leone.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Actively Develop and extend tools to facilitate the improvement of data quality ,data use and system adoption ;
•  Actively particip ate in interoperability and Data Warehouse projects on OpenMRS , CommCare and DHIS-2 ;
•  Ensure high fidelity of electronic and paper data to actual operations;
•  Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including clinicians, administrators, data analysts and IT professionals, to identify clinical and reporting work flows for the MCOE;
•  Conduct interviews and workshops with MCOE staff to understand their needs and challenges prior during and after MCOE launch . Translate these requirements into clear and concise business and techn ical specifications for the EMR;
•  Mentor and build technical capacity in digital goods implementation within SHIS eHealth Unit comprised of eHealth offic ers, junior software developers;
•  Communicate and collaborate closely with the Boston- SIS and MedInfo teams on any digital health projects par ticularly related to RMNCH;
•  Develop communication materials and training programs to facilitate smooth transitions and promote user acceptance of digital health system s (EMR, PACS, mHealth , HIE );
•  Communicate and collaborate closely with SHIS managerial level ;
•  L iaise and communicate periodically with the Boston SIS department regardi ng knowledge sharing activities;
•  Collaborate with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) to scale up MCOE and ensure compliance with government protocols and i nitiatives;
•  Provide technical input on all Health I T-related procurement decisions;
•  Work with the health statistics Manager and the healthcare senior data analyst in the monitoring of dynamic PBI dashboards .

Education and Work Experience Requirements:

•  Master’s in medical, nursing or clinical informatics in computer scien ce or any other relevant fields;
•  Medical or nursing degree is an added advantage ;
•  Minimum of 3 years experiences in the field of global health/nursing informatics ;
•  Familiarity with front-end languages and libraries (e.g. HTML/ CSS, JavaScript, XML, jQuery) and back-end languages (e.g. Java, Python) and JavaScript frameworks (e.g. Angular, React, Node.js) and Version Control Git (git hub. / git Lab ) ;
•  Familiarity with databases (e.g. MySQL, MongoDB, NoSQL), web servers (e.g. Apache) and UI/UX design ;
•  Strong critical an alysis and data analysis skills;
•  Proven ability to exerci se sound judgment and diplomacy;
•  Ability to stay organized and focused on operational plan, project’s milestones and deliverables while managing daily multiple assignments, prioritize workflow, adapt to fluctuatin g workloads, and meet deadlines;
•  Ability to take initiative and work with minimal direction;
•  Demonstrated ability to interact professionally within culturally divers e settings;
•  Excellent communication skills; ability to identify, clarify, and negotiate competing viewpoints ;
•  Expertise building relationships and community with stakeholders including end users ;
•  Intellectual curiosity and willingness to read, learn and apply recent innovations in clinical informatics ;
•  Outstanding verbal , written and interpersonal communication skills ;
•  Willingness to comply with the code of ethics of health information professionals .

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partner In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Social Justice

We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.

“We refuse to accept that any life is worth less than another”.

Method of Application

Interested candidates are required to apply through our website: www.pih.org/employment . In your application, please ensure to include names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) referees not later than 12:00 pm GMT (Midnight) on Wednesday 5th November 2023 .

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