Clinical & Patient Care Coordinator

Reports to: Country Director

Additional Manager: GRID Health Programs Manager

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Patient Care Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and efficient operation of the Spine Program within JDC Ethiopia. She is responsible for:

Spine Program Clinical Oversight:

• Implementing policies, make work schedules, delegate assignments, organize clinic days and supervise the efforts of the staff members under the spine project to ensure competence and effective use of resources.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the Spine Project’s annual activity plan and timeline with specific focus on clinical care.
• Lead outreach, training, and screening campaigns for the Spine Program and coordinate local and international referrals for surgery, prioritizing treatment at St. Paul where appropriate and facilitating international referral for cases requiring services unavailable locally.
• Prepare timely program, donor, and management reports, including clinical data, program achievements, patient outcomes, and relevant patient stories.
• Ensure patients receive the highest standard of care throughout their medical journey, including pre-operative, surgical, and post-operative phases.
• Coordinate the clinical operations of JDC-supported activities at the National Spine Center in close collaboration with St. Paul’s clinical and administrative teams.
• Coordinate surgical planning and scheduling, including maintaining the surgical pipeline/waiting list and ensuring patients are ready for surgery.

Patient Care and Monitoring

• Record patients’ medical information and vital signs. Take history of new patients.
• Conduct Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) and International Normalized Ration checks.
• Accompany patients to clinics & hospitals for investigation and treatment.
• Monitor and report all aspects of patient care, including symptoms, physical condition, diet, and activity levels.
• Conduct home visits and dress the wounds of post operated patients that are non-ambulatory.

Communication and Coordination

• Communicate with patients and families to schedule and follow up on appointments, tests, and treatments, while providing needed nursing support.
• Prepare patients for and assist with examinations or treatments.
• Coordinate with surgeons, anesthesia, operating room, inpatient wards, laboratory, imaging, and other relevant teams to facilitate timely patient care and surgeries.
• Coordinate and facilitate outreach campaigns.

Documentation and Inventory Management

• Supervise and maintain medical and nursing supplies inventory, ensuring adequate stock levels, timely ordering, and proper use of resources

Clinical Assistance and Compliance

• Assist Dr. Hodes at Clinic.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.
• Perform other duties as directed by the supervisor.

Data Management

• Collect, organize, and maintain accurate patient medical records, including test results (x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, lab results), while ensuring proper filing, digitalization, and secure entry into JDC’s database.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or a related health field, with a valid professional license where applicable.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience, preferably in hospital, surgical, orthopedic/spine, or patient-care settings.
• Experience in patient care coordination, including pre- and post-operative care.
• Strong program coordination and administrative skills, with ability to manage multiple activities, schedules, documentation, and follow-up.
• Strong report writing and communication skills, including preparing program/donor reports, patient stories, and other documentation.
• Ability to communicate professionally with partners, hospitals, government counterparts, and international medical teams.
• Strong data management skills, including maintaining patient records, tracking program indicators, and supporting reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Amharic.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently and across multidisciplinary teams.