Job Purpose

The Senior House Officer/ Medical Officer will provide quality health care to patients  and  continuously  evaluate  and  improve  the quality  of care provided  by the institution to meet patient treatment goals.

Key responsibilities:

Assess and manage patients by:

• Conducting daily ward rounds
• Reviewing and examining patients consistently by performing such duties as taking case histories, conducting physical examinations, and ordering diagnostic laboratory and radiology studies.
• Monitoring patients’ progress on a regular basis.
• Participating in clinics on a regular basis.
• Initiating discussions with patients and care givers to enable better diagnostic and therapeutic medical care and services.
• Engaging with nursing and ward staff in ensuring that all treating equipment is functional and available for patient care/treatment
• Availability of support services in the process of treating patients; particularly when referred by other specialists to AKUH,N Hospital by:
• Participating in establishing various planning parameters for addressing referral cases received at AKU,N:

Attend to emergency cases:

• Assist in the examination and observation of emergency cases by performing such duties as taking case histories, conducting physical examinations, and ordering diagnostic laboratory and radiology studies.
• Attend to critical patients in a timely manner.
• When necessary, carry out privileged and potentially life-saving emergency surgical and medical procedures.
• Liaise with consultants and various departments:  Initiate timely discussions with relevant consultants/ departments to arrive at the best treatment plan for specialized cases.

Counselling & Patient Education

• Educate patients on wellness, prevention and early detection.
• Provide materials, resources and referrals to patients, family members/care givers.
• Educate patients on informed consent, choice of attending physician and right to seek second opinion.

Administration & Professional Development

• Participate in departmental committees and internal business meetings.
• Attending & presenting at CMEs
• Develop and implement personal learning objectives.
• Participate in teaching of interns, elective students and nurses.
• Role model junior colleagues
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills with colleagues and clients.
• Readiness to take extra duties.
• Participate in all team efforts as departmental needs arise.
• Periodically initiate and participate in clinical research activities, Institutional quality improvement and patient  safety activities

 Qualifications, Experience and Skills required:

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
• Registration by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board
• Valid Certificate in Advanced Life Support (ACLS and above)
• Certificate in Advanced Trauma life support
• Successful internship completion plus one year post internship experience
• Demonstrate competency and dexterity with all equipment utilized in the hospital environment
• Good communication skills and a good team player
• Ability and desire to continuously develop professionally.
• Demonstrates respect for diversity and is cultural-sensitive and applies ethical principles appropriately.
• Seeks and accepts advice and adheres to strict deadlines.
• Clinician traits of patience, compassion, responsibility, honesty, respect for others, self-awareness, logical thinking and intellectual curiosity
• A clinician with a demonstrated constructive management of medical errors.
• Good Counseling and patient education skills
• Ability to manage work-related stress
• Microsoft Office Application computer skills
• Able to work with minimal supervision while being punctual and accountable.