Key Relationships:
• FCO Health and Welfare team
• Nursing team.
• Expatriate Team members, providers, travel agents, aircraft operators, air ambulance suppliers, overseas medical teams, airline medical clearance departments, transport providers and other departments within the group.
Job Profile:
Working as part of the Expatriate nursing team, the role requires the provision of a Monday-Sunday 08:00 – 22:00 nursing service responding to the medical advisory demands of the companies clients, in particular but not exclusive to the Expatriate Team.
There is a requirement to
• Manage all aspects of HealthCare for FCO clients whilst abroad
• Review all new and ongoing medical cases
• Assess each case taking into account; medical need; local facilities; age of patient and cost of care
• Provide advice and recommendations on the management and repatriation requirements for each individual
• Be aware of the limitations of travel for sick and injured individuals
• Have an in depth knowledge of the relevant airline medical clearance guidelines
• Answer calls, upload cases into the Case Management System (CMS)
• Provide medical advice to clients as necessary
• Monitor invoices incoming from the FCO International Provider Network
• Liaise with the Administrative team particularly on cases where there is concern about invoices or costs.
• Liaise with assistance co-ordinators to ensure patients receive the highest standard of medical care
You will be involved in providing medical support and advice to assistance co-ordinators enabling them to manage cases more effectively. You will have clear decision making skills and demonstrate an advanced level of clinical knowledge yet recognise your limitations and seek advice/assistance where necessary. You will provide professional leadership, collaboration and negotiating skills to ensure the needs of the patient are met under the terms of their insurance policy. You will contribute to the ongoing professional development programme providing education sessions as required within your area of expertise. You will contribute to the development of clinical audit, guidelines, protocols and policies as required.
Key responsibilities:
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge, skill and competency in the assessment of individual cases
• Assist in the assessment of pre-posting clearance as required
• Assist in the assessment of those applying for frequent traveller clearance
• Perform initial telephone medical assessment with treating medical team (or review initial written medical report)
• Take first call and initial case details for FCO members and their families, non insured individuals, airline crew members and other specific clients
• Formulate a plan of care identifying when a medical assessment is necessary, arranging medical provider, providing guarantee of payment for foreign providers, and liaising with individuals and employers as required.
• Monitor on-going cases prioritising according to: medical need, local facilities, age of patient and cost of care and re-assesses at appropriate intervals
• Negotiate with treating medical team and assistance co-ordinator to ensure that medical expenses guaranteed are within the terms cover
• Recognise potential cases at risk from deterioration and ensure appropriate measures are in place to manage ongoing care
• Notify duty doctor and Operations Manger of very ill, very young/old, pregnant patients and cases requiring high cost care in order that management of case may be escalated
• Recognise when workload becomes unmanageable and effectively utilise available resources to ensure continuity of case management
• Utilise all resources available in order to establish accurately a patient’s medical condition and repatriation requirements
• Identify individuals that may have a relevant past medical history declared or not on their pre-travel medical declaration
• Liaise with the assistance co-ordinator and, where necessary, the patient’s GP to obtain any relevant PMH
• Understand the legal requirements of the UK Access To Medical Records Act 1988 and DPA 1998 and ensure that such requirements are adhered to at all times
• Provide repatriation advice taking into account the country of origin and local facilities, due date of return and likelihood of clinical deterioration, medical condition and requirements during travel, safest and most cost effective means of transport, airline medical clearance guidelines and company repatriation guidelines
• Complete airline Medical Clearance (Medif) forms accurately and ensure appropriate assistance has been requested via the ticketing agent
• Provide company repatriation team with sufficient medical information to ensure appropriate medical escort can be sourced
• Liaise with treating medical team overseas, medical escort and patient’s home medical facility to ensure ongoing care is maintained once patient has been repatriated
• Identify patients requiring intensive care, spinal, haemodialysis or complex care and ensure that hospital admission has been confirmed prior to repatriation
• Carry out a pre-repatriation fitness to fly call with a patient to ensure that repatriation plans are appropriate and individual’s medical condition has not deteriorated
• Provide simple non-diagnostic medical advice to any individual calling for assistance
• Medically audit provider invoices when requested
• Act in a collaborative manner, yet provide clear decision making skills in consultation with other members of the team
• Show awareness of the budgetary constraints of the role and work with team members and managers to ensure delivery of a cost effective service
• Act with autonomy within current professional guidelines and recognise own limitations, seeking advice and assistance where necessary
• Provide technical knowledge and support to assistance co-ordinators on medical matters
• Comply with the company policies and procedures
Other requirements/Responsibilities:
Communication
• At all times act in a professional, polite and courteous manner towards others
• Ensure written communication is legible, relevant, objective and accurate
• Maintain accurate case management database
• Comply with the company Policy Guidelines of Confidentiality and maintain confidentiality of staff, patients, clients and the company
Skills Training and Education
• Act as a knowledgeable resource with the ability to share information across the team
• Assist in the development of, and participate in: clinical audit; guidelines; policies and protocols as required
• Identify areas of learning opportunities within the team
• Undertake and participate in performance review identifying own personal development needs and taking action to achieve new skills and knowledge
• Actively undertake action to ensure that awareness is maintained of new and current nursing issues and changes within the clinical management of disease and illness commonly affecting travellers
• Acts as a credible role model
• Maintain clinical skills and expertise as defined by Line Manager
Other
• Offer support and guidance to team members
• Is professionally accountable for own practice and decisions made and adheres to the NMC Guidelines
• Current Annual Practising Certificate
