Referral Focal Point – Wadi Khaled, Akkar – 100 % activity

-Function responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that all referrals are approved according to the patient referral criteria established by the mission. Evaluate each referral proposal and validate according to agreed upon criteria.
• Ensuring the management of patients referred .
• Together and in coordination with the project team and the logistics department, organizing the movement of patients, guards and accompanying medical staff (when necessary).
• Referring/accompanying the patient to the most appropriate hospital, according to the patient's pathology and the competencies/specialties of each of the selected structures and according to the mission's referral policy, to ensure the best possible care.
• Ensuring regular monitoring of the patient's progress, with regular visits to the health facilities, participation in ward rounds of our patients, and discussions if necessary with the staff, making sure that the treatment is given and the diagnostic tests are performed within the established criteria;
• Ensuring that MSF patients do receive timely their treatment (are not being kept unnecessarily )not hang around in the chosen hospitals for no logical reason in order to avoid additional costs for MSF
• Informing the medical coordination in case of difficulties in management.
• Taking care of administrative issues related to referrals (completion of patient files, counter-referrals, per diem, invoice control, appointments, etc.).
• Ensuring the regular update of the referral table of each project, and send them on a weekly basis for a good follow-up of the evolution of referred patients.
• Ensuring that the counter-referral file is sent to the projects once the patient is discharged from the health facility.
• MSF focal point in the hospitals where the patients are referred, were the interlocutor with the nursing staff (nurses, doctors, surgeons) and administrative staff of the health structures involved.
• If necessary, supporting the department in other areas related to patient management (sending samples, tracking specific drugs with the Ministry of Health and others).
• According to the national staff health policy, following up on patients (MSF staff) referred to the selected hospitals. Evaluate/validate/schedule (in communication with medical coordination) needed services outside the framework agreement.

-Specific activities:

• Cross-checking all invoices to ensure they align with provided services, coordinating this process with Makassed, Notre Dame De La Paix (NDP), and Halba focal persons.
• Informing the Project Medical Referent, Midwife Activity Manager, or Nursing Team Supervisor about any challenges or difficulties linked to patient management, follow-up, and invoice discrepancies from referral hospitals.
• Supporting the Project Medical Referent in liaising with other partners to verify the availability and quality of care at referral facilities.
• Undertaking other health-related services as required to best achieve the project’s objectives.
• Ensuring that all referred patients access free healthcare, and escalating any breaches of this rule by referral facilities.
• Making prompt and relevant decisions about patient referrals, such as referring all weekend patients to Halba due to the absence of an anesthesiologist during that period.
• Providing a summary report on the project's referral activities.
• Monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the referral system, and making recommendations for improvements as needed
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with local health facilities and providers, to ensure smooth and effective patient referral processes.
• Performing any other tasks as requested by the hierarchy.

-Required qualification:

Education

• Essential: A recognized nursing or midwifery degree, diploma, or bachelor's degree.
• Essential: A valid Ministry of Public Health practice license as a Nurse or midwife in Lebanon.
• Essential: A certificate of registration at the order of nurses or midwives in Lebanon.

Experience

• Essential: 2 years of previous work experience as a nurse or midwife in hospital settings
• Desirable: 2 years of previous experience in Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or other (I)NGO’s

Languages                            

• Essential: Full professional proficiency in both Arabic and English language
• Desirable: Elementary to limited professional proficiency of the French language.

Knowledge

• Essential:  Intermediate computer literacy in using MS-office applications (including but not limited to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

Competencies

• Results and Quality Orientation L2
• Teamwork and Cooperation L2
• Behavioural Flexibility L2
• Commitment to MSF Principles L2
• Stress Management L3