Duty Medical Officer

General:

• A professional approach must be adopted with all patients, staff and visitors.
• Must work within their level of experience and competence and highlight verbally and in writing to the nurse in charge if they are being asked to work outside the level of their competences.
• To provide medical cover, routine and emergency, during hours of duty and work in conjunction with the other DMO’s to provide a 24 hour service to the hospital.
• To clerk in and assess urgent admissions as required when the relevant consultant is not immediately available.
• To undertake a morning and evening ward round daily and if possible with a member of the nursing staff when available ensuring patients are visited where appropriate. To make an entry in the patient’s notes as appropriate following ward rounds or any other patient examinations, communication or procedures.
• To receive a hand-over report on patients from the alternative DMO’s when commencing duty and to attend the ward areas both at morning and evening to enable and establish consultant communication.

Consultants:

• Under no circumstances should DMO’s seek consent for operations or procedures on behalf of a Consultant. DMO’s must seek consent for any procedures that they intend to undertake.
• To communicate any medical problems or concerns to Consultants.
• To act, as may be reasonably required, on behalf of the Consultant in their absence when requested.
• To undertake within their level of experience and competence certain medical procedures required by the Consultants.

Nursing staff and patients:

• To liaise with nursing staff regularly (at least every 3-4 hours) to check on patient progress, or more frequently if their condition necessitates. To see patients at the request of nurses in charge and carry out examinations of patients.
• To supervise the daily clinical management of all patients in conjunction with the nurse team and under the guidance of Consultants and attend all post operative patients on day of operation and every day following.
• To respond to calls from the ward relating to patient care.
• To discuss medication on discharge with patients and write a discharge summary if requested.
• To assist in the day to day functions at the hospital and any other reasonable tasks, within their level of experience, requested by the hospital.
• To administer intravenous medications
• All patient information is confidential and must be respected as all times.
• DMO’s should be able to interpret Consultant and Nursing Staff requests.

Clinical Practices:

• To be familiar with the hospital’s corporate care pathways.
• To administer injections for investigations when required.
• To provide urgent medical attention and urgent treatment to staff or visitors in case of accident or sudden illness in liaison with the senior nurse on duty
• To undertake emergency procedures as required (including resuscitation), taking the lead as necessary.
• At night DMO will undertake a patient’s records audit as indicated by the Ward Manager and will review Patients File and Discharge Summary.
• To ensure that all consumables used during procedures shall be correctly charged to patient accounts and that all policies regarding revenue capture are adhered to.
• To remain on the hospital premises whilst on duty.
• In the event of a DMO’s not attending for duty, the previous DMO’s must remain until a replacement is found ensuring continuous cover.
• To comply with all hospital policies and procedures in particular those relating to Health and Safety at Work.
• Ensuring the highest standards in patient care are maintained.
• Reporting to senior management, as well as liaising between administrative and medical staff.
• Ensuring consistent and accurate medical recordkeeping practices.
• Supervising, and mentoring healthcare professionals and collaborating with consultants.
• To attend meetings to discuss issues, incidents and accidents with NS / Ward Manager
• Dress must be neat and smart in accordance with the hospital dress code.
• Jewellery and watches should be worn in accordance with the hospital’s dress code to comply with infection control guidelines.
• RMO’s have no admitting rights to the hospital. All patients admitted must be under the care of a Consultant with admitting rights to the hospital.

Hospital Pharmacy:

• To countersign any drug instructions given by Consultants over the telephone and satisfy prescribing requirements throughout the hospital, as requested by nursing staff by checking their validity, safety and need.
• To communicate as often as necessary with the hospitals’ Pharmacist in relation to the patient’s prescription and to adhere at all times.
• In exceptional circumstances, the DMO’s may be called to dispense drugs. The DMO’s must therefore be aware of the necessary procedures.
• The DMO’s is not allowed to self prescribe.
• Prescribing for staff is only permissible in an emergency

OPD / Wards:

• Physical examination & Systematic examination of patients.
• Patients History taking.
• Explaining patients regarding Test
• Insurance of in-patients, follow up & query solving for uninterrupted claims.   
• History and physical examination on admission.
• To see the patient within 30 minutes of admission and complete Initial assessment sheet by 2 hours for stable patients.
• To leave clear instructions with nursing in-charge regarding their availability for attending to admission.
• To take ward rounds twice in a day or frequently, according to the condition of the patient and write brief progress note.
• If the ward Doctor is unable to see a patient in time he/she should make alternative arrangement for another Doctor to promptly see the patient.
• To interact with respective consultants regarding the ward patients and assist him / her at rounds.
• To check medical discharge summaries regarding

a)      Correct Name

b)      Age

c)      Gender

d)      Date of Admission

e)      Date of Procedure & Course in the hospital

f)       Date of Discharge

The Communication about the Critical results of the patient to the consultant should be timely, accurately and promptly.