The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) believes in the importance of the continued exchange of knowledge and development of relationships with healthcare professionals from around the Caribbean region and beyond. Clinical Attachments and Observerships are unpaid and provide the opportunity for regional and international healthcare professionals to gain an overview of the services offered at the QEH.
Clinical Attachments are “hands on” and may include general skills such as patient interaction, coordination with nurses and staff and a general sense of hospital working. However, observerships provide placements with an opportunity to observe and gain and understanding of clinical practice within the specified specialty. Persons on observership placements will not have direct patient contact or take on any sole responsibility. All persons will be supervised at all times.
Requirements
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status;
- Police Certificate of Character
- CARICOM Skills National Certificate (if applicable)
- Medical/Professional Registration (if applicable)
- Evidence of adequate financial support
- Current resume
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- A formal request on the visitor’s home organization’s letterhead with:
- Name/Names of the placements
- Objectives
- Requested date and length of visit
- Hospital units where the clinical attachment/observations will occur (list of preferences)
- Letter of good standing from the visitor’s home organization
- Copy of health insurance policy or card
- Proof of mandatory immunizations
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella – two (2) full doses
- Varicella – Titers or proof of vaccination
- Proof of negative TB test within the last 12 months of the requested visit. If positive and >10mm, proof of a clear chest radiography or clearance via a physical examination by a qualified physician is required.
- Hepatitis B: Immunization is a series of 3 injections
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis, and Polio;
- Immunization against diphtheria and tetanus is generally valid for ten years. Maintenance of up to date immunization status is required.
- Vaccination with acellular pertussis as an adolescent or adult is recommended. A single dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) is sufficient.
- Primary immunization against polio is sufficient.
Program Fees
Department / Training Period
Cost in BDS$
Barbadian
Students
Regional
Students
Intl.
Students
Food and Nutrition
Partial Dietetic Internship
Clinical Nutrition/Food Service
–
$375
per week
$500
per week
Medical Imaging and
Ultrasound Clinical Training
–
$375
per week
$500
per week
Rehabilitation Clinical Training
–
$375
per week
$500
per week
Medical Services
Observership
–
$500
per week
$750
per week
Clinical Attachment
–
$700
per week
$1050
per week
Nursing Services
Clinical Placement
–
$400
per week
$600
per week
Code of Conduct and Ethics
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT PROHIBITED.
The healthcare professional who is serving on a Clinical Attachment/Observership must engage in professional and appropriate conduct at all times. Examples of unprofessional conduct include, but are not limited to: breaches of patient confidentiality, abusive language, sexual or other harassment and verbal or non-verbal conduct that is harmful or intimidates others, or operating beyond competency level.
ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS PROHIBITED.
The use of alcohol or tobacco products is NOT allowed in The Queen Elizabeth Hospital or its facilities.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IS PROHIBITED.
Sexual misconduct in the practice of a health care professional means the violation of the professional relationship through which the health care professional uses such relationship to engage or attempt to engage the patient, or an immediate family member, guardian, or representative of the patient, or to induce or attempt to induce such person to engage in verbal or physical sexual activity.
PROTECTION OF PATIENT’S PRIVACY
The health care professional who serves on the clinical attachment/observership will come into contact with verbal and/or written confidential patient information; any disclosure of the same to the healthcare professional shall be treated as confidential information and shall not be disclosed to any unauthorized person(s) without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer.
Any breach of the Code of Conduct and Ethics will be treated as professional misconduct under the Medical Profession Act, No. 1 of 2011.
QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BUSINESS CONFIDENTIALITY
The health care professional who serves on the clinical attachment/observership may come into contact with proprietary business information. The health care professional agrees that all proprietary business information of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital disclosed to the health care professional intentionally or unintentionally shall remain confidential and not disclosed to any person or party, other than relevant officers or employees of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer.
All proprietary materials or documents which are made available to the health care professional or which come into the health care professional’s possession shall be returned to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the end of the programme.
MOBILE DEVICES AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Health care professionals are prohibited from using mobile devices or social media to disclose any protected health information, Queen Elizabeth Hospital business records, information which is confidential or proprietary. Health care professionals may not post or share photos/videos taken on The Queen Elizabeth Hospital property without the prior written consent from the Chief Executive Officer.
CLINICAL RISK UNIT
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has a Clinical Risk Management Unit the primary purpose of which is to maintain a safe and effective health care environment for patients, visitors, and employees in order to reduce harm to patients and consequential loss to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Therefore medical practitioners who are serving under a clinical attachment must report all adverse incidents to the Clinical Risk Management Unit. If the incident relates to an employee of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, then that incident must be reported to the Human Resources Department and the appropriate form completed.
An ‘adverse incident’ refers to an unintended injury, complication or event over which health care personnel could exercise control and which is associated in whole or in part with medical intervention. Adverse incidents MUST be reported immediately or soon after the occurrence. Adverse incidents include, but are not limited to:
- Delays in diagnosis/treatment
- Anaesthetic complication
- Falls by patients or visitors
- Medication errors
- Failure to obtain consent
- Failure to obtain consent to administer blood
- Blood exposure
- Unsecured sharps or medication
- Death
- Brain or spinal damage
- Surgical procedure on the wrong patient, wrong surgical procedure, wrong-site surgical procedure
- Surgical procedure unrelated to patient’s diagnosis or medical condition
- Required surgical repair of injury resulting from a planned surgical procedure where the injury was not a recognized specific risk, as disclosed to the patient and documented through the informed consent process
- Unexpected outcome
- Retained products and/or objects remaining from a surgical procedure
ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTIONS
Any violation of the policies outlined herein by a health care professional who is serving on a clinical attachment/observership programme may result in automatic removal from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and will exclude the health care professional from re-entering the system in the future.
Disclaimer
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board endeavours to provide a safe and educational environment for all persons with whom it has a responsibility inclusive of staff and visitors. However, healthcare professionals who are serving under a Clinical Attachment/Observership are taken to understand that The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board cannot totally eliminate certain risks, for example, exposure to infections, injury, unpleasant sights, sounds, odours, et al during the period of visit and as such The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board may not be held liable for these incidents, or resulting incidents, should they occur.