About the Role
The Department of Health is excited to announce a position for a Medical Officer Grade 1 to 3 specializing in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, Cape Town. This role plays a crucial part in ensuring the smooth clinical coordination between the Division of Cardiology and the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. As a Medical Officer, you will be at the forefront of patient care, overseeing triage, referral management, and waiting-list oversight, which directly impacts the quality of healthcare services in the community.
In this vital role, you will contribute to departmental governance and continuous quality improvement initiatives, ensuring that patients receive optimal pre-operative care and communication between cardiology and surgical teams. Your dedication will not only enhance patient outcomes but also strengthen the healthcare delivery in the public service sector, making a meaningful difference in the lives of South Africans.
About the Department
The Department of Health is committed to providing accessible, equitable, and high-quality healthcare services to all citizens. Its mission is to enhance the health status of the population through effective governance, quality improvement, and sustainable healthcare practices. Working within this department means becoming part of a larger mission to improve public health and ensure that all South Africans receive the care they deserve.
What You’ll Do
- Coordinate patient flow between the Division of Cardiology and the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
- Manage triage, referral processes, and oversight of surgical waiting lists.
- Facilitate pre-operative workup and ensure effective communication between cardiology and surgical teams.
- Maintain and update the divisional Claris FileMaker patient management database.
- Ensure real-time transplant recipient and donor matching data is accessible 24/7.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team discussions and combined cardiology-cardiac surgery meetings.
- Conduct data quality assurance and generate reports for clinical governance and audits.
What You’ll Need
- An appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Practitioner.
- Registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner.
- For Grade 1: No experience required for SA-qualified candidates; 1 year of relevant experience post-registration for foreign-qualified candidates.
- For Grade 2: Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Medical Practitioner for SA-qualified candidates; 6 years for foreign-qualified candidates.
- For Grade 3: Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a Medical Practitioner for SA-qualified candidates; 11 years for foreign-qualified candidates.
- Sound understanding of cardiothoracic surgical care pathways and referral systems.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively across departments.
- Proficiency in database management and the ability to generate reports for clinical governance.
How to Apply
Please submit your application before the closing date as late applications will not be considered.
Requirements
Minimum educational qualification: Appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Practitioner.Registration with a professional council: Registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner.
Experience: Grade 1: None after registration as Medical Practitioner with the HPCSA in respect of SA qualified employees.
1-year relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognized foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
Grade 2: A minimum of 5 years’ appropriate experience as Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
Grade 3: A minimum of 10 years’ appropriate experience as a Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
A minimum of 11 years’ relevant experience after registration as a Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
Competencies (knowledge/skills): Sound understanding of cardiothoracic surgical care pathways, referral systems and clinical prioritisation.
Understanding of the operational challenges of public sector health care delivery, including equity, governance and service sustainability.
Ability to coordinate patient flow between Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in a structured and clinically appropriate manner.
Proficiency in database management and data entry, with the ability to develop and maintain Claris FileMaker databases.
Develop SQL databases.
Ability to generate reports and interpret data for clinical governance, audit and waiting-list management.
Meticulous attention to detail and a systematic approach to clinical record-keeping and data integrity.
Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively across departments.
181 Computer literacy, including proficiency in standard office applications and clinical information systems.
Job Duties
Clinical coordination of patient flow between the Division of Cardiology and the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, including triage, referral management and waiting-list oversight.Contribution to departmental governance and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Facilitation of pre- operative workup and communication between cardiology and surgical teams.
Oversight of waiting-list patients including follow-up, risk stratification, escalation and documentation.
Attendance at combined cardiology-cardiac surgery meetings and multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions.
Maintenance and updating of the divisional Claris FileMaker patient management database, surgical waiting list and follow-up registry.
Maintenance of real-time transplant recipient and donor matching data, accessible on a 24/7 basis.
Data quality assurance, integrity checks and generation of reports for clinical governance, audit, morbidity and mortality review, and external reporting.
Participation in combined cardiology-cardiac surgery meetings, multidisciplinary team discussions, and departmental governance meetings and M&M’s.
Daily attendance during working hours to maintain patient flow coordination and database operations.
Availability to ensure real-time transplant recipient and donor matching data is accessible and current at all times.
