Research jobs in Singapore

Woodlands Health (WH) envisions personalised and quality healthcare for the community of the future. It will co-develop and integrate services with community stakeholders and extend care beyond the hospital into the community and homes.

The Podiatrist is a health care professional who assesses, treats, and manages a variety of foot conditions. Podiatrists see dermatological conditions ranging from ingrown toenails to corns and calluses. Lower limb complications arising from medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritic conditions, also managed by Podiatrists, are further addressed by preventative foot care education, accommodative measures such as custom made insoles and advice on corrective footwear.

Podiatrists are also integral part of a multi-disciplinary team and work to manage conditions in the area of ankle and foot problems, working closely with allied health professionals and doctors of various disciplines. The aim is to optimize functional recovery, in collaboration with other members of the team, and ensure a high standard of clinical practice and conduct, and participate actively in continual professional development.

As a podiatrist, the job scope may require a rotation in clinical duties to varied settings and may require multi-tasking by taking on duties of a higher level, (e.g.: Senior I Podiatrist) in the absence of the latter. In some cases, a senior grade podiatrist may require supervision and guidance for the assessment and treatment of patients with multiple complexities.

Clinical Competencies and Duties

• General Competence
• Treatment of biomechanical disorders of the foot (e.g.: pes planus, pes cavus, hallux-abducto valgus etc)
• Treatment of dermatological disorders of the foot (e.g.: dystrophic nails, calluses, corns etc)
• Wound care management
• Management of vascular disorders of the foot in diabetes
• Training and education
• Provision of advice on foot health and prevention of foot disorders
• Assessment and treatment in community settings, such as nursing homes
• Specific Competence
• Nail surgery
• Preventative screening in the diabetic foot
• Prescription of foot orthotics / supports
• 4 layer compression bandaging
• Research / Clinical projects/Others
• Manufacture of total contact insoles
• Total contact casting
• In the required competences above, be able to:
• Assess patients abilities, problems and needs
• Interpret and analyze findings
• Develop podiatry intervention plan
• Implement podiatry intervention strategies
• Evaluate podiatry intervention
• Document patient podiatry records accurately
• Demonstrate professional behaviour appropriate to podiatry
• Independent in handling caseload allocated and to provide coverage as necessary
• Conduct group programs, classes / home visits as required, maintain accurate, up-to-date medical reports in continuity of care and engage actively in patient and care-giver education
• Monitors inventory, maintenance of equipment and assists to make recommendations for procurement of equipment
• Maintain statistics on workload as needed by the department and hospital and delegates responsibilities to staff in podiatry section as required
• Performs deployment and rostering of staff for the Podiatry Section to ensure adequate coverage of clinical duties and coordinates daily operations of the podiatry section and contributes to improvement of work processes
• Assists in planning and developing of services in podiatry for the department and regulate the finances and workload of the podiatry section to ensure cost-effectiveness
• Assists to evaluate manpower needs and assist in the recruitment of new podiatry staff, in consultation with the manager
• Chairs professional group (section) meetings
• Maintains good teamwork within a multidisciplinary professional group and monitors professional conduct of podiatrists / podiatrist assistants
• Report to senior podiatrist / manager, seeking advice and providing feedback on service delivery and improvement and be involved in continuous professional development of skills and knowledge in podiatry and uphold high standards of clinical practice and ethics in podiatry
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of the hospital and department and ensure proper charging procedures
• Liaise and maintain good working relations with other healthcare professionals within the hospital and with outside organizations
• Engage in continuous improvement projects in relevant work areas as directed by superior

Academic Contribution

• Provide clinical education for undergraduate podiatry students on attachment programs
• Present In-services and talks to department and public
• Perform on the job training for podiatrist assistants
• Co- present in workshops and seminars locally

Supervisory Role

• Supervise therapy assistants in the work group
• Supervise and assist with appraisal of junior podiatrists
• Provide clinical orientation for new podiatrists

Quality Improvement

• Adheres to patient quality service
• Contribute actively to department’s service quality improvement projects / initiatives
• Show Professionalism in all aspects of job functions

Research Contribution

• Under supervision, assist and successfully complete research projects
• Presents at recognized local and overseas scientific conferences