Overview
The Medical Escort will conduct pre-travel medical assessments, provide clinical management during transit, and hand over beneficiaries to appropriate counterparts in the destination country.
Key Responsibilities
- Undertake pre-departure preparations including familiarization with medical files and planning with the IOM medical team.
- Ensure submission of Medical Information Form (MEDIF) or Medical Information Form for Air Travel (MEDA) to the airline and receive approval.
- Examine all aspects of the trip in advance, including flight duration, layover, medical facility access, and special travel arrangements.
- Become familiarized and agree with the IOM medical movement (MM) focal point on the written Medical Escort Plan (MEP).
- Obtain emergency contact information for use in transit, at the port of entry (POE), and at the final destination (FD).
- Review the content of the medical escort’s kit and request additional medication or medical equipment as needed.
- Become familiarized with the medication and dosing regimen for the beneficiary(ies) and confirm adequate supply.
- Ensure several copies of Medical Escort forms MH06-B and MH06-D are prepared, and one set of forms MH06-A and MH06-C.
- Ensure a mobile phone with international roaming is available and in good order.
- Introduce him/herself and brief beneficiary(ies) and their families on the MEP prior to travel.
- Ensure that the escorted beneficiary(ies) is/are fit to travel prior to departure.
- Perform fitness-to-travel check before each travel segment.
- Board together with the beneficiary(ies) in charge for travel, assisting them with embarkation and disembarkation.
- Introduce him/herself to airplane cabin staff, briefly explain the ME’s duties and engage their assistance in case of a medical emergency.
- Provide medical assistance, as well as non-medical support, to other beneficiaries travelling under the auspices of IOM as needed.
- Stay in close proximity to the beneficiary(ies) throughout the movement.
- Follow the MEP, and constantly monitor the condition of the beneficiary(ies) in charge during movement.
- For beneficiary(ies) with cardiac or respiratory disease, regularly monitor their blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
- Monitor blood oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
- Use portable blood glucose monitors for beneficiaries with diabetes.
- Bring any medical emergency or significant deterioration in a passenger’s condition immediately to the attention of the cabin crew and captain, and give the passenger immediate medical assistance.
- Document all clinical observations and interventions clearly in the IOM Observation and Intervention Report (MH06-B).
- In case of significant deterioration of the beneficiary’s condition that results in travel deviation or a need for special reception arrangements, immediately notify IOM staff.
- Stay with the patient until released by the IOM staff in sending or receiving missions, as well as the medical personnel assuming further care of the patient.
- Report to IOM staff on arrival at the POE.
- If same-day connections are not possible at the POE, stay at the same hotels as beneficiaries.
- If the beneficiary’s condition is unstable or deteriorates at the point of transit, contact local IOM staff for advice and assistance.
- At the end of the itinerary, hand over the escorted beneficiary(ies) to a responsible entity.
- Ensure that any un-escorted onward travel connections are completely understood by the beneficiary(ies), accompanying family members, non-medical escorts, or partner agencies.
- Upon handover of the beneficiary(ies) to the receiving party, fill in the Migrant Handover Notification Form (MH06-D) and get it signed by the receiving party.
- If the receiving party is not a medical professional, provide the medical records and a copy of the Observation and Intervention Report (MH06-B) to the beneficiary(ies) or his/her guardian.
- If the medical handover appointment is the day after arrival at the final destination, arrange accommodation with or as near as possible to the beneficiary and be available to assist at all times until handover occurs.
- If any special medical equipment was obtained for the beneficiary’s use during the movement, ensure that it is returned, or booked to return, to the IOM POE or an external service provider.
- Submit the Migrant Handover Notification Form (MH06-D), the Escort Report Forms (MH06-A and B), the Medical Escort Checklist (MH06-C), the medical escort kit and the mobile phone (if provided by IOM) to IOM [Pakistan] within 1 (one) week of return to the duty station, unless agreed otherwise.
- Medical escort should remain communicable by phone and email through the escort trip on the ground and at least until 24 hours after the handover for any eventual need.
- In a situation of travel-related incident or the complaint alleged against the escort, information requested from the escort must be honoured even after performing the escort duty.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned.
Required Experience
- Minimum of two years of clinical experience post-residency/specialty training;
- Proven expertise or post-graduate diploma/degree in clinical specialization in the fields of Internal Medicine/Cardiology/Pulmonology/Emergency or Trauma Medicine/Pediatrics/Obstetrics-Gynecology and Psychiatry;
- Clinical expertise and/or specialization in public health, health care administration, or healthcare management is an advantage;
- Professional continuous clinical experience, preferably in a multidisciplinary hospital setting.
- The last clinical posting should be within the last two years;
- Good knowledge of standards of care in clinical medicine;
- Excellent bedside manner;
- Knowledge of patient safety and infection prevention and control;
Qualifications
- University Degree in Medicine from an accredited academic institution;
- A valid license to practice in the country of his/her residence/citizenship;
