Program Overview: 

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.  

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs. 

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:  

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management. 

AFHP Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (the Platform) implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.  

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised.

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s health sector through the Australia Fiji Health Program (AFHP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

The program’s high-level End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) are:

• Improved systems are used by MHMS and health workers for evidence-based planning and resource allocation (workforce and budget), clinical care, digital health and medical supply chains; and 
• Targeted healthcare facilities equitably deliver improved primary health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and non-communicable disease (NCD) services. 

The funding for the program is approximately AUD 45million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities (interventions) to achieve the program’s objectives where implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs).

AFHP is designed to support the MHMS achieve the goals and objectives in its Strategic Plan and Annual Operational Plans, and AFHP’s workplans are targeted to support specific components of the Ministry’s plans.

Recent natural disasters such as cyclones, and public health emergencies in Fiji including COVID-19 have highlighted major challenges for pandemic preparedness and response during epidemics and other health emergencies. In this context, around 10% of program funding will be allocated for MHMS to assign to emerging needs and priorities as they arise. Funding may be allocated toward preparedness and responses to public health emergencies, or related opportunities for reform and innovation. 

Position Summary:

The Clinical Coding and Health Information Officer will provide support to the Senior Statistician to improve the quality of morbidity and mortality coding in Fiji and support other health information improvement initiatives. The role will include clinical coding, clinical auditing, data analysis and reporting, and provide support on capacity building (including undertaking trainings), quality assurance and coordination to improve health information more broadly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage all clinical coding functions within the MHMS Data Management and Analysis Unit, under the direction of the Head of Health Information.
• Accurately code patient episodes using ICD-10-AM with knowledge of coding using ACHI and ACS.
• Organise and conduct as necessary coding and medical records training across all Fiji health facilities.
• Take a lead role in improving the quality of both morbidity and mortality coding across Fiji.
• Provide expert advice to medical records units in all hospitals across MHMS.
• Lead the transition from ICD10-AM Ver4 to ICD10-AM Ver 11, considering all training, software and data migration implications.
• Support the implementation and then customisation of the latest version of the IRIS software and coach MHMS staff in its use
• Contribute to the development of Health Information, Medical Records and Records Access policies and standards
• Provide advice on code groupings to be defined in the planned data reporting repository and associated reporting tools.
• Identify and address risks within projects.
• Perform other duties as required.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to: 

• Project Manager, Digital Health  
• Senior Statistician in MHMS

Other: 

• MHMS IT Team   
• Australia Fiji Health Program team  

Selection Criteria:

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in health information or equivalent.
• Certifications in ICD-10-AM Coding, International Classification of Diseases, and Medical Terminology. Diploma in Clinical Coding would be advantageous.

Experience 

• At least five years’ experience with coding and auditing of causes of morbidity and mortality using ICD-10 (or above) codes.
• Knowledge and skills in running coding audits using the Australian Coding Benchmark Audit (ACBA) Tool.

Knowledge and Skills 

• Strong understanding of medical terminology and ICD-10AM, Australasian College of Health Informatics (ACHI) Coding standards and the Australian Coding Standards (ACS).

Personal Attributes

• Multi-tasking, good planning skills and highly organised with good time management techniques.
• • Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a team and sustain effective communication with the stakeholders.
• Strong written and oral communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Service-oriented approach, with a commitment to supporting the operational / corporate environment of MHMS and FHP.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.

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About the Team
Abt is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation & Energy. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3000 staff in over 50 countries.