MEDICAL OFFICER GRADE 1 TO 3 (CLINICAL HUB)

This position offers an opportunity for a dedicated medical practitioner to serve as a Medical Officer within the Clinical Hub of the Emergency Medical Services component, falling under the directorate of Emergency and Clinical Support Services in the Western Cape Department of Health. The Clinical Hub is a centralised, non-face-to-face clinical service that supports emergency care across the province. The role is graded from Grade 1 to Grade 3 under the Occupational Specific Dispensation, meaning that the level of appointment depends on the candidate’s years of appropriate experience as a registered medical practitioner. Entry-level applicants with no post-registration experience may apply for Grade 1, while Grade 2 requires a minimum of five years of appropriate experience for South African qualified practitioners, and Grade 3 requires ten years. Foreign-qualified applicants who are not required to perform community service in South Africa need one additional year of relevant experience at each level.

The incumbent will provide clinical leadership and governance within the EMS Clinical Hub, conducting telephonic clinical assessments, prioritisation and risk stratification of selected patients. This includes supporting appropriate EMS resource allocation, escalation and patient navigation, as well as providing clinical oversight of alternative care pathways such as Hear and Treat, Hear and Refer and non-conveyance. The Medical Officer will coordinate care across EMS, Primary Healthcare, Community Based Services, Palliative Care and Emergency Centre pathways, ensuring seamless patient journeys. The role also involves developing, reviewing and maintaining clinical protocols, guidelines and standard operating procedures, monitoring patient safety and clinical quality, and analysing and reporting on clinical activity and outcomes. Training, mentoring and clinical support to EMS and Clinical Hub staff form a core part of the responsibilities, as does supporting service redesign initiatives and contributing to the continuous improvement of the Clinical Hub model.

Candidates must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Medical Practitioner, and must be registered with the HPCSA. A valid code B/EB driver’s licence is an inherent requirement, along with a willingness to participate in after-hours operational support when required. The successful candidate will need to work within a dynamic healthcare environment, make independent clinical decisions, and provide clinical leadership. Strong knowledge of healthcare systems, emergency care pathways, patient referral processes, clinical governance, patient safety and quality improvement methodologies is essential. The ability to perform telephonic clinical assessments and risk stratification, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and computer literacy in Microsoft Office applications are also required. The ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with healthcare providers and stakeholders is important.

The package is structured according to the OSD for medical officers, and a portion of the package can be structured according to the individual’s personal needs. No payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. This is a demanding but rewarding role for a clinician who wishes to contribute to health system integration and improved access to emergency and clinical care.