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The changing health scene- Relevance of the Medical Assistant

Dato’ Narimah Awin

Director

Family Health Development Division

(Melaka/Nov. ’06)

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RECOGNITIONRECOGNITION

ROLEROLE

RELEVANCERELEVANCE

(esp. thro’ Professionalism)

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In the context of :

CHANGING / EXPANDINGCHANGING / EXPANDINGHEALTH SCENARIOHEALTH SCENARIO

CHANGING RELEVANCECHANGING RELEVANCEAND ROLE OF MEDICAL ASSISTANTAND ROLE OF MEDICAL ASSISTANT

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The changing health scene

Client expectClient expect

Reforms

Diseasepattern

Technology

SESLifestyle

Aging

ICTMedical

FinancingStructure

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The changing relevance / role of MA – reflected in the paper presentations:

(3) The profession itself• Perkembangan profession• Memperkukuhkan profession• Pembangunan imej• Pengiktirafan diri

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(1) Some programmes(1) Family Health Development(2) NCD(3) CD (Surveillance)(4) CD (Control)

• New paradigm(1) Wellness approach

• General management• Supervision• Aduan awam• Quality

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Let us “go back to basics”

(the 3 triads)

ROLE

Responsibility

Authority Accountability

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HEALTH CARE DOMAINS

Service

Training Research

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CORPORATEVALUES

Caring

Teamwork Professionalism

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Role & RelevanceRole & RelevanceOf MAOf MA

TRAININGTRAINING

MedicalMedicalprogrammeprogramme

Public HealthPublic Healthprogrammeprogramme

RESEARCHRESEARCH

SERVICESERVICE

Requires coordination, TEAMWORKS, partnership

BPKK, Kaw. Penyakit

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Focus on:

(1) The domain of SERVICE– medical programme– Public Health programme (our

“business)

(2) The corporate value of TEAMWORK (and with it, “partnership”)

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SERVICE in PH Programs

Traditionally – PRIMARY CARE under FHD, esp. OPD/curative care in clinics (and OPD)

Emergency services (being strengthened) Family Health (MCH ‘plus’) – womb-to-

tomb, expanded scope Nutrition / dietetics

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SERVICE in PH Programs (cont.)

From simple OPD – to chronic non-com. disease e.g. diabetes, hypertension

Emerging / re-emerging info– TB, HIV/AIDS, SARS

New service – methadone replacement, PMTCT

New initiative – QAP, ISO 9000 New technology - TPC

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All these have bearing on ‘management’ function of MA

SUPERVISION

MAINTENANCE of

- clinics

- ambulance

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The wellness approach

MA to view their role & relevance in the approach and the structure

AgingSpecial need

AdultSchool Adol.

ChildMaternal perinatal

WELLNESS (LIFE COURSE)

ILL

NE

SS

& E

ME

RG

EN

CY

CL

INIC

AL

SU

PP

OR

T

NU

TR

ITIO

N

POLICY FORMULATION

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

SERVICE DELIVERY

MONITORING & EVALUATION

(RESEARCH, TRAINING, ADVOCACY etc.)

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A complex environment

A complex “team”

So to strengthen TEAMWORK

CORPORATE VALUE

CARING

PROCESSTEAMWORK

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Elements of Teamwork

1. Shared goal

2. Leadership

3. Knowledge / skills

4. Sense of belonging

1. Mutual trust

2. Creativity

3. Accountability

4. cooperation

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Teamwork requires“Smart Partnership”

What does the MA need to know / do to be

An effective team worker → high performing team

A smart partner

In an ever challenging health system ?

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HIGH PERFORMINGHIGH PERFORMING

INDIVIDUALS

TEAMS

What “motivates” you to be a high performer?

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P – Purpose

E – Empowerment

R – Relationships

F – Flexibility

O – Optimal prod.

R – Recognition

M – Morale

Teamwork Goal Leader Skills Trust Belonging Creative Accountable Cooperation

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Partners showed ……..

Know one another– strength– weakness– beliefs, values etc.

Be transparent and nurture & culture of trust

Communicate effectively

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Partners should …….

Learn how to negotiate Use platforms optimally Inculcate culture of ‘sharing’

(esp. of limited resources)

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Partnership can be challenged by:

Absence of any of the above Crisis – e.g. disease outbreak Ideological / philosophical difference

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MA’s :

To function well in the various Public Health programmes

To be a good team-members To be aware of changing health system

CONCLUSION

Relevance Role Recognition

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