The LCS Lead will provide consultancy services in provision of advisory services on Clinical quality improvement for cataract services. The consultant, in conjunction with the Foundation’s medical and country office team, will provide technical support to the Ophthalmic teams from partner programmes spread across the country.
SCOPE OF WORK
The LCS Lead assignment is focused on but not limited to the following: -
Help improve quality of care for patients who use services supported by The Foundation through its partners.
Understand, demonstrate, and promote The Foundations’ strategy on continuous quality improvement and minimum standards (preoperative, intra operative and post operative).
Support and follow the implementation of a regular and routine CSOM by all partners and design a system for partners to track and report SUIs (serious untoward incidents)
Advise, coach and/or mentor partner clinical staff in their journey in quality improvement.
Become an advocate for the quality work and work with partners to present quality improvement achievements to key stakeholders including Ministry of Health meetings.
Support a yearly national CQI workshops that may be organized and delivered along with FHF-Kenya country office and medical advisor of the foundation. Follow implementations agreed plans.
Help to establish and Support Hospital Quality Teams to fulfil at least two PDSA cycles per year in any domains of quality improvement with focus on clinical quality.
Collaborate and work closely with Hospital Quality Champions (HQC) in their respective program areas.
Build the capacity of Hospital Quality teams.
Support locally led programming, advocacy and funding geared to improve clinical quality initiatives.
General advisory role in the medical aspects of Cataract programs and activities and how they can be improved to create impact.
Monitoring progress of implementation of SOPs for Cataract management, recommendations by the FHF Regional Medical Advisor (Africa) and to identify the problems that are hindering implementation of the agreed policies / programs.
Oversee implementation of policies related to good clinical practice and procedures that need to be carried out with regards to ensuring quality in clinical care
Advice on quality Improvement activities; gaps in quality of care, gaps in adherence to care, and opportunities for improvement.
Advise teams on evidence-based practices and assessment of innovation and emerging technology.
Support partners to conduct some relevant operational research that aimed at service improvement.
Review and monitor competence, identification of training and development needs of clinical staff to support provide hands on trainings and mentoring for improved service delivery.
Advise and encourage clinician’s participation to add more value and quality to the hospital.
Discuss with the teams and document establishment of a quality assurance and improvement strategies for the project.
Document and discuss with hospital medical superintendents and County Directors of Health on the agreed recommendations for future follow up.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Pertaining Quality and standards:
Guide program team to integrate quality issues, appropriate training including FHFK and FHF strategic tools while developing proposals and planning for service delivery.
Plan and support the program team for training of clinical staff of partner hospitals that includes training needs assessments, recommending training programmes, develop plans and schedules including liaison with FHF and partner hospitals.
Facilitate partner eye clinics to assess and develop Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) for patient care and safety to that of internationally accepted standards.
Support partners to implement CSOM system and periodically review the data for service improvement.
Provide oversight/quality assurance system during cataract surgical outreaches / camps.
Actively participate in monitoring of quality of care and services, clinical training and recommend areas of improvement.
When necessary, assess the skills of eye care team including surgeons and provide when possible or recommend a skill enhancing training or CMEs (continuous medical education) in another institution.
Serve as a focal person for matters related to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives on cataract service pathway and serve as liaison for FHF Kenya with key stakeholders including MOH and others. This will involve supporting CQI activities on eye care service delivery in general and on cataracts services in particular.
The consultant will have introductory and induction meetings with FHF’s medical advisor to be appraised with current CQI initiatives in the Foundation. Subsequently support other CQI efforts (trainings, workshops, CSOM, supporting MSAT and other relevant tasks) in Kenya. This will be carried out with support from FHF medical team.
Be ready to build self-capacity through enrollment in quality improvement training including short term (3 weeks) course at IHI (Institute for Health care Improvement), participate in and in time become faculty at FHF supported face to face and virtual CQI workshops.
Attend and complete 24 weeks FHF’s blended CQI training (presentations and e-learnings).
The LCS lead will serve as faculty to deliver various trainings to partners pertaining to CQI. S(h)e will closely support partners to carry out CQI tasks including ensuring implementation of facility level CSOM.
Approach:
FHF-Kenya in collaboration with MOH will support the selection of a senior consultant ophthalmologist. The consultant will be serving on part time base (30% of his/her time – approx. 30 days annually) as the local clinical support for Kenya. The consultant will closely work with MOH and the foundation's country office team and medical advisor.
Deliverables:
The following deliverables are expected from the consultant:
A report on the recommended template highlighting recommendations and action plan relating to the scope of work.
A tentative work plan detailing how the consultant intends to engage in CQI initiatives.
Provide a monthly report on CQI initiatives delivered.
The Foundation will provide the following:
Focal person to support in undertaking the assignment.
Provide organisational clinical quality policies, minimum standards, essential ophthalmic items list, position statements on cataract services, documents required for desk review.
Give feedback on the approach proposed to undertake the CQI initiatives.
Provide feedback on draft data collection tools, reports and other deliverables.
Advise on the usage of the data collected for service improvements.
Support coordination between the consultant and partners during the entire consultancy period.
Payment of agreed consultancy fees.
Schedule:
The assignment is expected to start on October 1, 2024, and end on September 31, 2025, for an estimated duration of 30 working days spread out as per below timelines. This will include desk reviews, fieldwork, interviews, and report writing and final presentation to FHF. Data collection will take place in at least half of the project counties agreed between the consultant and FHF Kenya.
Tentative Timeframes:
October 2024 – September 2025 – one visit per project area per quarter (Subject to changes depending on circumstances).
LCS lead qualifications
The LCS Lead will be contracted to a reputable eye hospital or an independent and experienced consultant Ophthalmologist who will work closely with The Foundation staff and MOH in the design and implementation of the CQI initiatives. The Foundation seeks to engage the services of a reputable eye hospital / an independent individual that have the following experiences and expertise in eye health.
Hospital – with strong policies and procedures on quality and capacity to mentor other hospitals.
A registered and experienced Ophthalmologist, preferably a subspecialist in one ophthalmology field.
Strong knowledge and experience working with the Kenyan health care systems and overall understanding of Kenyan health sector policies especially on Kenya quality model for health (KQMH).
Strong analytical skills
Ability to work independently, proactively seek information and manage feedback and input.
Willing to travel to county hospitals.
Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili
The following additional skills and experience are highly desirable:
Knowledge and experience in eye health and a sound understanding of programs and strategies relating to eye health in Kenya.
Confidentiality
The consultant/s agree to not divulge confidential information to any person for any reason during or after completion of this contract with The Foundation. Upon completion or termination of this contract, the consultant undertakes to return to The Foundation any materials, files or property in their possession that relate to the business affairs of The Foundation. The consultant is responsible for safety, security and administration of primary and secondary data collected from FHF or otherwise.
Intellectual Property
All intellectual property and/or copyright material produced by the consultant whilst under contract to The Foundation remain the property of The Foundation and will not be shared with third parties without the express permission of The Foundation. The consultant is required to surrender any copyright material created during the term of the contract to The Foundation upon completion or termination of the contract.
