IT Networking and Medical Informatics Coordinator, Partners In Health, Malawi

Placement Organization: Partners In Health
Placement Location: Neno, Malawi
Eligible Citizenship: Malawian

About: Partners In Health (PIH) is a non-profit corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through service delivery, training, research, and advocacy, PIH works globally to bring the benefits of modern science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair.  PIH currently has programs in Haiti, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Burundi, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic, and Boston.

PIH has been working in Malawi since 2007 supporting the Ministry of Health to strengthen the health system and provide good quality health care in the Neno District.

Position Overview: The IT Networking and Medical Informatics Coordinator will work closely with the IT Manager and the MEQ Director  in order to ensure that our systems are maximizing value for our patients.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with network administration at health facilities supported by Partners In Health
  • Bandwidth management and optimization using open source software and dedicated hardware tools
  • Expansion of network coverage area with Wide Area Network design and implementation
  • Installation and management of backup power systems for critical network hardware
  • Management of computer systems including software updates, software and hardware troubleshooting
• Support server administration for the Electronic Medical Records systems, file servers and network management servers
  • Server setup, including installation of OpenMRS, an open source web-based electronic medical record system programmed in Java, a point-of-care system programmed in Ruby On Rails, and other systems
  • Management of server software updates and backups for servers and databases
  • Troubleshooting software problems in OpenMRS and others systems
  • Creation of new content for the Electronic Medical Record systems, including the creation of new HTML forms for data entry in OpenMRS and  new reports using the OpenMRS reporting framework and the Business Intelligence Reporting Tool, an Eclipse software package
  • Creating new modules in Java to extend OpenMRS functionality
  • Expanding the point-of-care system with new functionality for clinical workflows, data collection and information representation
• Use electronic systems to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations systems at Partners In Health
  • Evaluate stock management systems and suggest possible improvements to track consumption of medications, consumables and other products; develop systems for accurate forecasting and supply chain management
  • Evaluate and implement changes to quality improvement measures to enhance pharmaceutical supply chain management
  • Strategize with management and assess appropriateness of applying electronic systems to other work areas

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or another relevant field or relevant work experience
• Knowledge and experience in the following areas:
  • Network administration
  • MySQL server and Linux server administration
  • Web application development in Java and/or Ruby on Rails
• Comfortable living in a rural area with ability to take initiative and work with minimal direction
• Exposure to issues relevant to public health and international development
• Fluency in Chichewa
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to interact professionally and with sensitivity with diverse staff, clients, health workers and partners including the Ministry Of Health
• Willingness to take on additional work outside of the job description as required by PIH

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with alternative energy and power backup systems a plus

Living Conditions: Fellows will be provided with a room in a modest staff guesthouse in Neno, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Neno is a rural setting and fellows will have limited access to urban centres. Fellows will receive health insurance and a living stipend of $650/month, and an award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year. Flights to and from the placement site and all other costs associated with GHC programming are included, including $600 in professional development funds.

*Note: the living stipend and completion award may be paid out in USD or local currency, as determined by the placement organization

To apply to this position click here: http://ghcorps.org/fellows/apply/application/