MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS
CDC HIV COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
Background
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), Government of Jamaica, is the pre-eminent Government organization whose mandate is “To ensure the provision of quality health services and to promote healthy lifestyles and environmental practices”.
The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) is the largest health laboratory in the English-speaking Caribbean offering both public health and clinical laboratory services. It serves as the National Reference and referral laboratory for clinical and community health. The NPHL provides laboratory services for clinical and public health interventions, as well as support to the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), particularly the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), within which it falls geographically. It provides particular clinical laboratory support to the Kingston Public Hospital and Victoria Jubilee Hospital and other health institutions within the SERHA and the rest of the national public health system, as required.
The NPHL provides laboratory services including Haematology, Clinical Chemistry, Immunology and HIV, Microbiology, Histopathology, Cytopathology, and Environmental Health and Vector Research. The network of public hospitals provides Laboratory services to varying degrees ranging from basic Haematology and Clinical Chemistry to Microbiology, Immunology and Histopathology, depending on the type of facility. Some larger health centres also offer basic laboratory services.
The DisaLab LIMS is implemented at the NPHL and Saint Ann’s Bay Hospital. A number of laboratory analysers are interfaced with the LIMS. A laboratory database repository (OpenLDR) stores structured data from both DisaLab implementations. The COVID-19 analysers at the NPHL are not all interfaced directly with the LIMS. The Open PCR is not interfaced and thus results generated are not automatically pushed to OpenLDR. In addition, multiple health facilities will provide COVID-19 Antigen tests using Point of Care analysers such as the Biosensor F200.
The MOHW is currently implementating Senaite LIMS software application in collaboration with and under the technical guidance and support of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Over a period of approximately three years, the MOHW will implement Senaite LIMS in public hospitals and larger health centres. A minimum of eight (8) health facilities are targeted each year.
Position Description
Under the supervision of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Project Manager, the LIMS IT Administrator will manage operations of DisaLab and Senaite LIMS in the laboratories, all other computer applications that interface, communicate and interact with them, the interface with analysers including point of care devices and the Laboratory Data Repository (OpenLDR).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure the proficient workability of the DisaLab and Senaite LIMS and troubleshoot problems that arise with vendors.
- Maintain support portal in collaboration with Super Users and other end users by submitting and following up on instructions from vendors leading to closure of issues/tickets.
- Perform periodic application upgrades in collaboration with the LIMS vendors/consultants.
- Conduct gap analyses for selected laboratories and document equipment needs and specifications at each site.
- Work and coordinate with Laboratory personnel (including Super Users) in response to the requirements and customizations required by the laboratories and the Quality Control programme in collaboration with the LIMS vendors/consultants.
- Perform all duties for LIMS maintenance in collaboration with the LIMS vendors.
- Back up LIMS data and associated files.
- Establish/re-establish LIMS communications/interfaces with servers, computers, printers, and other devices including after upgrades or patches are applied.
- Develop/maintain automated mechanism to import results from non-LIMS analysers and Point of Care devices in OpenLDR.
- Develop program scripts to export/import LIMS data to/from external agencies and to extract data from partner labs into the LIMS
- Create and maintain analytical instrument and device interfaces for data upload into LIMS servers in collaboration with vendors.
- Establish standard and ad hoc reports within Senaite LIMS.
- Establish and maintain standard and ad hoc reports from laboratory database repository.
- Participate in training and support re LIMS implementation.
Deliverables:
Product 1: Inception Report
Product 2: Bi-monthly progress reports including all technical documentation.
Product 3: Final Report
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences, Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of work experience and formal instruction
Experience:
- Minimum of five (5) years working in Information Technology as an IT System Administrator or Database Administrator
- Experience working with a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is an asset.
Technical Competencies:
- Experience in databases and SQL queries
- Creating scripts
- Understanding of laboratory or similar industry equipment interfaces
- Experience in IT networking
Core Competencies:
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- Ability to work independently without direct supervision
- Integrity
- Confidentiality
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent team skills
Payment Milestones:
Remuneration on a monthly basis for one year
Duration of Contract:
- Length of contract: 1 year; 24 hours per week
- Starting date: May 2021
Reporting:
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Project Manager and will report to the Information Systems for Health (IS4H) Lead of the MOHW or other designated Officer.
Special Conditions:
Islandwide travel to selected health facilities may be required.
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Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of : |
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Evaluation Criteria* |
Max. Score |
Actual Score |
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Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences, Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of work experience and formal instruction |
30 |
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Minimum of five (5) years working in Information Technology as an IT System Administrator or Database Administrator |
30 |
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Expertise in databases, SQL queries and creating scripts |
40 |
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Total Score |
100 |
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Candidate must attain a minimum mark of 70 to be considered
*Key: 1 year of experience = 10 points; persons with 3 years or more experience should get the maximum score