Country: Georgia
Closing date: 17 Apr 2018
Since 2014, UNICEF has been providing essential technical assistance to the enhancement of the maternal and child health management information system of Georgia. It is in the framework of this cooperation, that the pregnant and newborn monitoring module (representing a part of the unified healthcare information system - the so-called birth registry) was launched January 1st 2016. The birth registry ensures registration of data through the entire pregnancy period including information on the newborn. The system is similar in structure to the Norwegian Birth Registry that has been operational since 1967. The Norwegian experts from the Arctic University of Tromso continue the partnership with Georgia's Birth registry up to now. They are working closely with local specialists to establish quality control of the Birth Registry data. All the variables entered in the registry are re-coded and reviewed in Norway by end of the year to assess the data quality and suggest the improvement actions.
The main goal of the Georgian registry is to decrease maternal and infant mortality and morbidity through efficient analysis of complete statistical data and subsequent identification of maternal and infant mortality risk factors and causes. This, in turn, allows for selection of proper healthcare policies aimed at improving maternal and child health. All medical institutions (providing this type of medical services in Georgia) must register information about antenatal visits and maternity care within 24 hours of occurrence, regardless of who is funding the medical services, be it state or personal funding. Information on the relevant medical services provided in Georgia is collected in the system regardless of the citizenship status of the beneficiary.
Registration of the beneficiaries in the system occurs through a personal identification number of the beneficiary. Regardless of the patient's migration from one institution to another, the duly authorized medical personnel with relevant access rights can view the entire medical history of the beneficiary to make informed decisions regarding the patient's treatment. The information registered in the system allows for analysis of more than 200 indicators in addition to maternal and child health basic indicators.
Importantly, this system allows for real-time monitoring of the mother's, fetus's and newborn's health condition and response, as opposed to retrospective collection of data.
Automatic exchange of information occurs or is planned with the following systems and databases: case registration module; electronic reporting (medical services provided by medical institutions), birth/death system, form 025/066 (statistical data). The system further allows for the exchange of information with the state Electronic Health Records (ECR) cloud in parallel to its launch process.
Currently, the Birth Registry (BR) is fully functional and has the potential to develop into a tool for decision making in the field of perinatal care in Georgia, as it manages the whole period from the beginning of pregnancy through the discharge.
However, the experience with the BR since its establishment two years ago, has demonstrated one serious bottleneck for the data analysis. In fact, the BR registers newborn transfer from the maternity to another hospital for specialized expertise, however, as soon as the baby leaves the maternity the follow-up treatment in the receiving hospital is not registered in the system. This hinders a comprehensive analysis of newborn morbidity & mortality and the development of respective policy recommendations.
UNICEF therefore is looking for a local specialist to develop a neonatal referral module to ensure that the essential variables related to specialized care of newborns are collected and stored for further analyses.
Support the expansion of the Birth Registry by developing and adding a neonatal referral module for specialized care to further strengthen the BR's analytical capacity.
The consultant is requested:
April 25, 2018- December 15, 2018
UNICEF Georgia's Health Specialist will provide supervision and performance review. The consultant's performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered.
The consultancy fee and - if needed - travel costs will be negotiated between UNICEF and the consultant based on an offer from the consultant. Payment will be processed as per submission of a good quality final report, as well as satisfactory and timely completion of above listed deliverables, as per the following schedule:
UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.
This consultancy does not envisage official travels. However, if this will be necessary, UNICEF will cover travel related expenses.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=512071