Job summary
This is an exciting role for an enthusiastic and experienced Biomedical Scientist or nurse to play a key role within the multi-disciplinary Anticoagulation Monitoring Service. You will be part of a friendly, specialised team dedicated to improving patient safety and experience. We have a collaborative approach to providing a modern, patient-centred service.
Anticoagulation is a high risk medication, relevant to all areas of medicine. The role will focus on the IT aspect of the service and includes dosing of anticoagulation patients using dedicated software. You will also help manage the day to day running of clinics and deal directly with queries from patients, carers and a wide range of Health Care Professionals.
The service has recently transitioned to a point of care model so the successful applicant will also provide a dosing service and support within community settings, so travel between clinics within West Essex and East and North Herts is required, hence own transport required.
You will play a pivotal role in maintaining and improving Quality in the department as well as being innovative in how the service progresses. You will use your knowledge andQMS experience to deliver a high quality service for our patients and commissioners.
You will need to be an excellent communicator as you will need to talk to patients, provide information and reassuranceandclearly explaintheir treatmentto them. A positive and caring and attitude is essential.
Main duties of the job
- As HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist or NMC registered nurse, you will participate in delivery of anticoagulant service with focus, innovation and best evidence based practice, ensuring the safety of our patients.
- Responsible for dosing patients including appropriate dose adjustment. Training will be provided on the use of DAWN AC software
- Responsible for the IT aspects of the service, including IT based projects.
- Support the NEQAS Programme and use of equipment to perform INR tests. Requirement to establish a dedicated venous INR testing platform may be required.
- active role in teaching other team members.
- active role in assuring UKAS related standards.
- active role in VTE prevention
- Help run and coordinate the Community Anticoagulation Clinics, dosing from base and remotely in community clinics.
- Ensure staffing levels and rotas are in place to deliver clinics at all times.
- Provide expert specialist education and counselling to anticoagulant patients, co-ordinating seamless care between outpatient, inpatient and primary care.
- Provide education to patients on the wards and ensure processes are in place to support the timely discharge of anticoagulant patients.
- Ensure patients receive sufficient written education regarding anticoagulation and VTE prevention and are signposted to relevant online information at the start of their treatment.
- Ensure anticoagulation patients are reviewed appropriately
- Regularly perform audits relating to anticoagulation and VTE
About us
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is committed to an open and fair culture and the overall approach expected within the organisation is one of help and support, all staff are expected to follow this approach.
The Princess Alexandra promise to our patients as identified by our values which will contribute to improving our patient experiences:
Patient at heart- Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts
Everyday excellence - sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong giving the ability to learn from both.
Creative collaboration - Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care.
We believe in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main responsibilities;
Technical:
- To support the IT in the department, liaising with providers, developing and progressing the Anticoagulation Service
- To perform routine INRs and point of care INR monitoring following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy.
- To interpret and validate INR results, including validation of high INR results, according to the SOP.
- To set up and maintain equipment for INR testing
- To troubleshoot equipment for INR testing when necessary
- To train other staff in the use of equipment
- To liaise with supplier of POCT meters when equipment is faulty
- To ensure POCT meters are used correctly and within operational limits
- To maintain appropriate internal and external quality assurance, informing Senior Biomedical scientist of non-conformance issues.
- To use the laboratory information system, as appropriate to the post
- To liaise with IT regarding technical issues with hardware and software
- To receive and process goods as appropriate and monitor and maintain consumable stocks
- To be aware of the cost of resources and to work as economically as practical in achieving objectives
- service monitor reagent and consumable levels, giving adequate notification of stock depletion to service management.
- Ensure compliance with good work practises required for the standards of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) including Health and Safety.
- Deal with result enquiries from patients and other HCPs using appropriate systems
- Enter the results accurately onto the laboratory computer system.
- Ensure appropriate and safe disposal of laboratory waste is followed.
- Follow laboratory Health and Safety policies, including treatment and disposal of spills.
- Demonstrate and train junior members of staff in all aspects of the correct handling and processing of samples, ensuring they adhere to Health and Safety policies.
- Advise and guide junior members of staff in the day-to-day maintenance of consumables where necessary.
- Participate in staff meetings and staff updates.
- Ensure continued professional development is current and on-going.
DAWN Anticoagulation (AC) System management
- Responsible for system maintenance and updates
- Responsible for the dosing of patients including appropriate dose adjustment and specifying next test date etc.
- User training
- Adding/deleting new users
- Creating coded comments
- Creating new letters.
- Updating the clinic diaries.
- Updating Normal Lookup & Anticoagulant tables.
- Familiar with advanced system management settings including - clinic view settings, message management and printing.
- Perform NPSA audits and reports as required recommend/carry out service improvements where appropriate.
- Troubleshooting internal and external interfaces.
- Patient management
- Adding/deleting patient records.
- Letter management
- Creating & updating patient events.
- Creating & updating patient reviews with GPs/Nurses.
- Managing patients who DNA.
- Managing domiciliary visits.
- Providing KPI data to Stakeholders as directed by the service lead
- Running reports from Dawn
- Maintaining AMS dashboard to ensure it is kept up to date.
- Liaising with Synertec (off-site letter printing) and troubleshooting when necessary
- Ensure interfaces working correctly each day and troubleshoot when necessary
R&D
- To play an active role in development of systems for the AMS to provide a modern, efficient and safe service.
Education
- Provide highly specialised advice concerning care for patients requiring anticoagulation therapy in the outpatient setting in line with Trust Policies, Nice Guidelines and NPSA18.
- Deliver expert education and patient information both written and verbal for patients requiring anticoagulant treatment.
- Communicate and liaise with the multidisciplinary team to promote effective, quality anticoagulant care across acute trust and primary care.
- Liaise closely with other services involved in the provision of anticoagulation including Pharmacy, Anticoagulant Nurses and Clinical Haematology Team.
- Contribute to clinical audit. Act on results where improvements may be made to the service.
- Promote an awareness of quality assurance/clinical governance contribute in monitoring and reviewing the service provided and be aware of new innovations of treatment and trials that are happening in other trusts and care settings.
- Responsible for initiating patient reviews with GP/Nurse.
- Confident in communicating with patients over the telephone and face to face.
- Participate in the development, formulation, implementation and monitoring of Anticoagulation policies and guidelines
- Ensure confidentiality is respected at all times.
- Ensure compliance with the Trusts Health and Safety guidelines, in order to provide a safe environment for staff, patients and relatives throughout the anticoagulation department by undertaking:
- Regular risk assessment where appropriate
- Proper use and regular maintenance of equipment
- Reporting injuries to staff/patients
Reporting of any incidents, accidents or potential risks. Investigate and take appropriate action where necessary
Specific job roles:
- To manage and develop IT aspects of the AMS
- Assist in the delivery of the anticoagulation service on site and in the community
- Anticoagulation Monitoring using DAWN AC Software
- Education and Training for staff and patients for anticoagulation and VTE prevention
- Quality
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main responsibilities;
Technical:
- To support the IT in the department, liaising with providers, developing and progressing the Anticoagulation Service
- To perform routine INRs and point of care INR monitoring following standard operational procedures and validate according to departmental policy.
- To interpret and validate INR results, including validation of high INR results, according to the SOP.
- To set up and maintain equipment for INR testing
- To troubleshoot equipment for INR testing when necessary
- To train other staff in the use of equipment
- To liaise with supplier of POCT meters when equipment is faulty
- To ensure POCT meters are used correctly and within operational limits
- To maintain appropriate internal and external quality assurance, informing Senior Biomedical scientist of non-conformance issues.
- To use the laboratory information system, as appropriate to the post
- To liaise with IT regarding technical issues with hardware and software
- To receive and process goods as appropriate and monitor and maintain consumable stocks
- To be aware of the cost of resources and to work as economically as practical in achieving objectives
- service monitor reagent and consumable levels, giving adequate notification of stock depletion to service management.
- Ensure compliance with good work practises required for the standards of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) including Health and Safety.
- Deal with result enquiries from patients and other HCPs using appropriate systems
- Enter the results accurately onto the laboratory computer system.
- Ensure appropriate and safe disposal of laboratory waste is followed.
- Follow laboratory Health and Safety policies, including treatment and disposal of spills.
- Demonstrate and train junior members of staff in all aspects of the correct handling and processing of samples, ensuring they adhere to Health and Safety policies.
- Advise and guide junior members of staff in the day-to-day maintenance of consumables where necessary.
- Participate in staff meetings and staff updates.
- Ensure continued professional development is current and on-going.
DAWN Anticoagulation (AC) System management
- Responsible for system maintenance and updates
- Responsible for the dosing of patients including appropriate dose adjustment and specifying next test date etc.
- User training
- Adding/deleting new users
- Creating coded comments
- Creating new letters.
- Updating the clinic diaries.
- Updating Normal Lookup & Anticoagulant tables.
- Familiar with advanced system management settings including - clinic view settings, message management and printing.
- Perform NPSA audits and reports as required recommend/carry out service improvements where appropriate.
- Troubleshooting internal and external interfaces.
- Patient management
- Adding/deleting patient records.
- Letter management
- Creating & updating patient events.
- Creating & updating patient reviews with GPs/Nurses.
- Managing patients who DNA.
- Managing domiciliary visits.
- Providing KPI data to Stakeholders as directed by the service lead
- Running reports from Dawn
- Maintaining AMS dashboard to ensure it is kept up to date.
- Liaising with Synertec (off-site letter printing) and troubleshooting when necessary
- Ensure interfaces working correctly each day and troubleshoot when necessary
R&D
- To play an active role in development of systems for the AMS to provide a modern, efficient and safe service.
Education
- Provide highly specialised advice concerning care for patients requiring anticoagulation therapy in the outpatient setting in line with Trust Policies, Nice Guidelines and NPSA18.
- Deliver expert education and patient information both written and verbal for patients requiring anticoagulant treatment.
- Communicate and liaise with the multidisciplinary team to promote effective, quality anticoagulant care across acute trust and primary care.
- Liaise closely with other services involved in the provision of anticoagulation including Pharmacy, Anticoagulant Nurses and Clinical Haematology Team.
- Contribute to clinical audit. Act on results where improvements may be made to the service.
- Promote an awareness of quality assurance/clinical governance contribute in monitoring and reviewing the service provided and be aware of new innovations of treatment and trials that are happening in other trusts and care settings.
- Responsible for initiating patient reviews with GP/Nurse.
- Confident in communicating with patients over the telephone and face to face.
- Participate in the development, formulation, implementation and monitoring of Anticoagulation policies and guidelines
- Ensure confidentiality is respected at all times.
- Ensure compliance with the Trusts Health and Safety guidelines, in order to provide a safe environment for staff, patients and relatives throughout the anticoagulation department by undertaking:
- Regular risk assessment where appropriate
- Proper use and regular maintenance of equipment
- Reporting injuries to staff/patients
Reporting of any incidents, accidents or potential risks. Investigate and take appropriate action where necessary
Specific job roles:
- To manage and develop IT aspects of the AMS
- Assist in the delivery of the anticoagulation service on site and in the community
- Anticoagulation Monitoring using DAWN AC Software
- Education and Training for staff and patients for anticoagulation and VTE prevention
- Quality
Person Specification
Application form
Essential
Desirable
- Experience in Anticoagulation
Interview
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Experience of IT projects
Person Specification
Application form
Essential
Desirable
- Experience in Anticoagulation
Interview
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Experience of IT projects
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
