Senior House Officer/Medical Officer, Critical Care Unit at Aga Khan University Hospital

Job Purpose

The Critical Care Senior House Officer (SHO) will perform clinical functions within the Critical Care units of the Aga Khan University Hospital - Nairobi. The SHO’s clinical duties will include assessment and management of Critically ill patients in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the High Dependency Unit in the Hospital under the supervision of a Critical Care Consultant.

The Critical Care SHO will report to the on-call Critical Care Consultant for clinical duties and to the Medical Director of Critical Care for administrative duties.

Key responsibilities

Assess and manage patients:

• Participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds in the ICU & HDU per the monthly schedule/rota under the supervision of the Critical Care Consultant.
• Perform Critical Care procedures within their defined competence in the ICU & HDU under the supervision of the Critical Care Consultant.
• Assess and examine patients, order and interpret diagnostic studies, develop care plans, update patients, their families, primary care providers and other consultants. This will be done under the supervision of the Critical Care Consultant.
• Consultation outside the Critical Care Units: Assist in the initial assessment and triage by telephone, other electronic means or in person of potential critical care patients by providing assessment, management, and triage advice to non-critical care medical providers. This will be done at the direction and supervision of the Critical Care Consultant.
• Participate in the review and development of appropriate policies and procedures for patients’ health care to formulate best practice guidelines.
• Participate in the meticulous use of resources by working closely with other members of the clinical care team to reduce errors and waste, improve skillfulness and resource utilization.
• Participate in departmental research and academic activities, institutional quality improvement and patient safety activities by occasionally presenting in weekly Morbidity and Mortality meetings for the section of critical care.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by Critical Care Medical Director as well as participating in all team efforts as departmental (DOM) and sectional (Critical Care) needs arise.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills required:

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or equivalent
• Successful internship completion plus one-year post-internship experience
• Registration by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council
• Have valid Basic Life Support & Advance Cardiac Life Support (BLS & ACLS)
• Basic computer skills required; electronic medical record knowledge is an added advantage.
• Demonstrates competency and dexterity with all equipment utilized in the hospital environment
• Demonstrates Clinician traits of honesty, integrity, compassion, patience, responsibility, respect for others, self-awareness, logical thinking and intellectual curiosity, while applying ethical principles appropriately.
• Seeks and accepts advice and adheres to deadlines
• Good communication skills and a good team player
• Punctual and respects commitments made
• Good Counseling and patient education skills
• Ability to manage work related stress
• Able to work with minimal supervision while being punctual and accountable.