Specialist: Clinical Research Protocols

The Road Accident Fund’s mission is to provide appropriate cover to all road users within the borders of South Africa; to rehabilitate and compensate persons injured as a result of motor vehicle accidents in a timely and caring manner; and to actively promote safe use of our roads.

Purpose of the Job: Reporting to Manager: Policy and Research, the successful incumbent is accountable for working with clinical data for the collection, analysis, maintenance and use of quality data to support the development of evidence-based treatment protocols.

Key Performance Areas

Organize and Manage Health Information Data and Ensure its Quality, Accuracy, Accessibility and Security

• Search and review data in adherence to requirements of the clinical research team.
• Search applicable databases for information and ensure that data used is accurate and up to date.
• Develop health management information system (configuration and data structures) aligned to the objectives of the team.
• Ensure rigor of literature accessed across all research projects.
• Develop and implement SOPs for data searches and access.

Maintenance, Collection and Analysis of Data

• Develop processes that ensure data accessibility, analysis and storage.
• Ensure that databases are up to date and ensure training and understanding of appropriate databases by the clinical research team.
• Filter search results according to specifications.
• Define the data management framework compromising of search criteria, turn- around times for data requests and quality assurance.
• Plan, manages and requests resources for assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain project plans, specifications and documentation in line with SOP requirements.

Policy Review and Implementation

• Contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policy, procedures and processes.
• Keep up to date with effective policy and practice execution strategies.

Reporting

• Prepare and submit regulation reports as and when required to provide progress updates and/or inform management decisions.
• Develop reports/ policies/ procedures and guide the process through the alignment of the documents to the overall RAF’s Strategy.
• Develop functional reporting systems, for management, projects or performance reporting.
• Prepare proposals, briefings, presentations, reports, and other documentation and provide management information both verbally and in report format.

Stakeholder Management

• Provide data management expertise within the team.
• Work as a member of a holistic protocol development team.
• Constructively engage and liaise with team members in the protocol development team towards achieving collective goals.
• Stay abreast of new scientific developments and expand the network of collaborative partners by attending workshops, technical working groups and academic engagements.
• Provide regular training to staff on clinical topics within the team as well as within other teams in the organization.
• Work closely with ICT to ensure that the infrastructure is compatible across all relevant data points.

Administrative and Report Writing

• Compile monthly reports on data searches, utilization, contribution to protocol development and clinical query resolution 
• Collection of relevant statistics to inform future decisions
• Ensure processes are in place to have accurate and timeous information on databases and data management.
• Run data cleaning and status reports.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree/ Advanced Diploma in Health Sciences Nursing, Pharmacy related qualification.
• Valid registration with the relevant Statutory body (SANC, SAPC, HPCSA etc).
• Certification in evidence-based medicine and/or treatment protocol development will be an added advantage.
• Relevant 5 - 7 years’ experience in a Managed Healthcare environment or similar in data sourcing, collection and navigation.
• Experience working with treatment protocols and guidelines.
• With experience working with medical databases, navigating large data quantities and data outputs.
• With experience working with ICD 10 codes, CPT codes, NAPPI codes Experience in Functional Capacity Evaluation and associated reports and tariffs applicable.
• With experience working with coding systems (ICD 10, CPT and NAPPI codes).

Technical, Managerial, and behavioral competencies required

• Communication.
• Network and Alliances
• Planning, Organising and Coordinating
• Ethics and Values
• Client Service Orientation
• Change management
• Conflict management
• Policy conceptualisation and formulation
• Risk Management
• Programme/ project management
• Stakeholder development and relations
• Reporting
• Computer literacy.
• Display a basic understanding of evidence-based medicine
• Knowledge of medical terminology and legal aspects of health information
• Good understanding of data search engines and intelligent data extraction
• Understanding of data research principles
• Ensure quality, accuracy, accessibility and security of data
• Knowledge of health data standards
• Knowledge of “managed healthcare” or financial risk assessment principles (environment)
• Knowledge of standards within the health industry
• Knowledge of the legislation governing RAF, policies and procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of the RABS Bill and its benefits
• Knowledge of the National Health Act, RAF Act, and other health related legislation such as the Medical Scheme’s Act, etc.

NB: “RAF offers Total Employment Cost packages with no additional contributions from the Employer, successful candidates are required to structure their packages in a manner that will suit their needs”.

The Road Accident Fund subscribes to the principles of employment equity and preference will be given to People with Disabilities.

Applicants who have not received any correspondence from us within six weeks from the closing date can consider themselves unsuccessful

Security Vetting shall be conducted on all prospective employees

It is the applicants’ responsibility to have foreign qualification evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and to provide proof of such evaluation.