Obstetrician Team Leader

WHAT IS MSF ?

Médecins Sans Frontières/أطباء بلا حدود  بلا أطباء (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project started in Sept. 2013 in Shatila, where MSF currently manages an outpatient center for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), vaccination services with transversely integrated mental health services and health promotion, and referrals for patients who require services beyond the scope of MSF activities. Additionally MSF opened a women’s health center with sexual and reproductive health care.
During 2018, low risk deliveries were relocated from Shatila to Rafik Hariri University Hospital compound, where MSF runs a Birth Centre. MSF took this as an opportunity to work together with external partners as catalyst for change around midwifery model of care and demedicalization of deliveries. The antenatal care services remains in the camps, to serve the most vulnerable women.
In Bourj el Barajneh camp, besides the above mentioned activities, MSF provides in addition home based care for those patients who are housebound or bedridden often due to an advanced NCD disease.

MSF BIRTH CENTER (BC)

The MSF Birth Center is unique in Lebanon, in its objective to develop a midwife led model of care. The midwives are responsible  for all of the deliveries and are only required to consult the obstetrician in case of complications. The model focuses on low risk pregnancies. There is an assesment room for all patients being followed in ANC, including the higher risk cases and they may attend at any time to be assessed. The most important role of the obstetrician is to manage any complicated cases either in BC or prior to referral to another hospital, and to be active in teaching, coaching and empowering of the midwives and nurses to help develop the midwife led model of care.

Here is a short video about BC

This position will primarily be located in the MSF Birth Centre located in the ground of RHUH, whilst maintaining its independence, the BC will collaborate closely with RHUH and in Bourj el Barajneh Camp.

Part time possible (minimum 60% )

Night and weekend shifts (minimum 1 night and 1 weekend shift per month)

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervising the clinical activities and guaranteeing the quality of obstetrical care of the ANC and PNC consultations in the Family Center and of the delivery care in the Birth Center.

Implement and monitor the obstetric and gynecological protocols and procedures in collaboration with the midwife activity manager, in order to improve women’s reproductive health and to reduce pregnancy, delivery and neonatology risks.

This will be done in accordance with MSF policies, protocols and universal hygiene standards and in multidisciplinary collaboration with other medical doctors and midwife services, in order to provide a high quality Mother and Child Health (MCH) care to the target population.

Follow medical ethics, and those of MSF, with respect of the patient’s autonomy, dignity and cultural and religious beliefs, focusing on patient centered care of high quality.

DETAILED ACCOUNTABILITIES

Supervising, supporting and evaluating the obstetricians.

Planning and organizing obstetricians work (areas, days, absences, visits, holidays, rosters etc) and coaching them in their work with special focus in following all appropriate protocols and procedures.

Ensuring teamwork and a professional relationship between midwifes, nurses and obstetricians.

Developing a patient centred approach.

Supervising obstetrician clinical activities during the antenatal consultations (with special focus on ultrasound, ensuring the quality and accuracy of the ultra sounds), delivery with special focus on complicated deliveries and post-natal consultations.  

Ensuring that the staff on duty knows, implements and follows the universal hygiene standards/ precautions, bio-hazard prevention and infection control in Family Center and Birth Center ensuring high standards of hygiene in the working environment

Responsible for ensuring that all the administrative procedures, patients’ data and documents are filled in correctly and registered for compiling monthly reports reflecting the activity in Family Center and Birth Center.

Responsible for ensuring that the obstetricians are able to identify, receive and provide care to the victims of the SGBV in collaboration with the midwives, nurses and psychologists in Family Center and Birth Center.

Ensure the implementation of MSF clinical policies, tools, guidelines and protocols related to obstetrics and gynecology in order to minimize clinical risk and to extend best reproductive practices.

Plan and supervise the HR associated processes (recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal/external communication) of the obstetrical staff (MDs) in order to ensure staff have all the relevant protocols and their skills are appropriate and they offer a patient focused service.

Plan and implement training programs  to improve people’s capabilities and their active participation in influencing the targeted population using preventive practices, (note training will also cover the MWs and nurses within the teams). This will be done in close coordination with the MWAM.

Ensure all Obgyns are aware of the biomedical equipment available and follow the correct usage protocols.

ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Assist in developing a patient focused environment in all of the centers. We aim to provide a welcoming, supportive and informative service to our beneficiaries. The service should be male friendly, encouraging involvement in clinic visits and the decision making process.

Ensure patient confidentiality and respect towards all patients. 

Supervise the day-to-day obstetricians’ clinical activities according to MSF protocols, through case reviews, side-by-side coaching sessions and regular follow up, file analysis etc.

Review MSF protocols, proposing new ones if necessary.

Ensure and supervise the implementation of protocols by obstetricians in order to improve the quality of the healthcare given to the target population and prevent any complication due to staff malpractices.

Develop a monitoring system of the individual skills of the obstetricians (Logbook, clinical evaluation etc.)

Participate actively in the annual project planning.

Plan, organize and supervise the obstetricians in their OPD activities (ANC, management of victims of sexual violence…)

Monitors the correct selection of patient eligible for referrals and cooperates with MWAM and referral supervisor on the follow up and data collection of these cases.

Supervises the correct data collection and recording by the obstetricians on the patients ‘file.

Participates in the reports related to Family Center and Birth Center, including the analysis of data.

Train obstetricians in the rational usage of medications, by following the protocols. Encourage and develop methods to limit the external prescription of medications that are outside of the clinic protocols.  

REQUIREMENTS

Education : Essential - Medical degree (MD) with specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology +Registration with the Lebanese Order of Obstetricians

Desirable experience : Essential previous certified working experience of at least two years in Obstetrics. Desirable previous experience with MSF or other NGO’s in developing countries

IT skills: Essential computer literacy (word, excel)

Soft Skills: Results and Quality Orientation,  Teamwork and Cooperation,  Flexibility,  Commitment,  Stress management