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STATEMENT OF WORK

PEACE CORPS MEDICAL CONTRACTOR (PCMC) in

The services to be performed under this contract will be subject to the ultimate responsibility and authority of the Peace Corps Country Director (CD) in conjunction with medical supervision and guidance from the Office of Medical

Services (OMS) at Peace Corps Headquarters.

The required/preferred skill level of the Peace Corps Medical Contractor (PCMC) in PC (fill in the country) shall be a (specify level of provider). The PCMC shall work _______hours per week.

I. Professional qualifications:

A. Nurse Practitioners: Certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the American

Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses' Credentialing

Center, a valid registered nurse license, and a nurse practitioner license.

B. Physician Assistants: Certification by the National Commission on

Certification of Physician Assistants, Inc. Physician assistants applying for

PCMC positions while practicing in the United States, and contracted by

Peace Corps in the United States, must hold a current, active, physician assistant's license in one of the 50 states.

C. Registered Nurse: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a diploma from a three-year nursing program and a valid registered nurse license.

It shall be the responsibility of PCMC-nurse practitioners and registered nurses to maintain current and valid certifications and licenses at all times while serving as

PCMC in any country. It shall be the responsibility of PCMC-physician assistants to maintain national certification at all times while serving as PCMC in any country.

D. Physician: Valid, current, active license to practice as a physician in one of the

50 United States or country where license was obtained.

It shall be the responsibility of the PCMC-physician to maintain a current valid license to practice medicine in one of the 50 United States, or country where license was obtained, at all times while serving as a PCMC in any country.

II.

Services to be provided

1. The PCMC shall perform the following clinical care and administrative services in accordance with the policies promulgated in the Peace Corps Manual and the

Technical Guidelines. A copy of the Peace Corps Manual and Technical

Guidelines shall be provided by the Peace Corps in the country of assignment and are incorporated herein by reference. The contractor shall provide and perform the clinical and administrative services listed herein, in support of the

Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees in his/her country of assignment. For purposes of this statement of work, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) shall include Trainees.

2. The PCMC shall also provide health and medical care to such other persons as required by the Peace Corps, which may include employees and/or contractors of other United States Government agencies, including Peace Corps. In such cases, the PCMC may upon request be provided a copy of the agreement between the Peace Corps and the Department of State that provides indemnification for the PCMC.

3. The PCMC, as delegated by the Country Director (CD), is responsible for establishing and managing the in-country Volunteer Health Support Program.

The PCMC acts as both program manager and clinician. The PCMC shall perform the following functions.

A.

Safety and Security:

A.1.

With all other Peace Corps staff, share responsibility for the safety and security of Peace Corps Volunteers by remaining current on safety and security policies and procedures and making safety and security the first priority.

A.2.

Provide input for developing and updating safety and security procedures and

Reporting formats for use by staff, PCVs and counterparts.

B.

Prevention and health education

B.1.

Plan, coordinate and provide health education to Volunteers, both during formal in-country training programs, and throughout their tour, through the use of newsletters, health handbooks, individual health education sessions, and other activities.

B.2.

Provide preventive health services, including immunizations, periodic health evaluations and preventive treatments.

B.3.

Establish and maintain a monitoring program in order to ensure 100% Volunteer compliance with Peace Corps health maintenance requirements such as obtaining immunizations on schedule or taking malaria suppressants.

B.4.

Participate in the process of site selection (living and work sites); provide ongoing site evaluations. Make written professional recommendations for site improvements or changes if indicated.

C.

Clinical care

C.1.

Provide clinical care, including the assessment and management of health problems. This includes the provision of primary care for common illnesses and injuries appropriate to the contractor's training and experience and directed by the Technical Guidelines.

C.2.

Arrange for prompt diagnostic consultations with physicians, dentists, specialists, laboratories or other facilities in cases where the provision of health care requires medical skills or facilities beyond the professional capability of the contractor.

The PCMC has oversight and approval responsibilities for referred health care.

C.3.

Maintain current, complete and accurate records on all PCV consultations and treatment (including laboratory and x-ray reports) in PCV health record. This is to include counseling, referrals, individual health education sessions, telephone consultations and correspondence between the Volunteer and the PCMC.

C.4.

Establish and maintain an in-country referral network of health care providers – identify and evaluate consultants, facilities and services. Write and up-date, as required, a directory of in-country consultants and facilities.

C.5.

Coordinate in collaboration with other Peace Corps staff the evacuation of

PCVs with medical problems requiring evacuation and/or treatment not available locally to designated intermediate evacuation points, Washington, DC or Hawaii, as indicated. This may include accompanying evacuated PCVs to these points.

C.6.

Coordinate or when contractor's qualifications permit, conduct annual and termination medical and dental evaluations, including laboratory tests, for all

Volunteers in accordance with Peace Corps Technical Guidelines.

C.7.

Seek consultation with the APCMO (Africa only) and/or the Office of Medical

Services (OMS) to assist with case management and referrals when indicated.

C.8.

Seek prompt consultation with OMS for all health conditions that may present a high risk to the Volunteer or others. It shall be the contractor's responsibility to ensure that privileged information in facsimile documents or cables is protected in order to comply with medical confidentiality and Privacy Act provisions. Note that medically confidential information is NOT to be transmitted by electronic mail.

C.9.

Adhere to the Technical Guidelines for policy on the management of specific clinical conditions. If there is a compelling reason for non-adherence to the

Guidelines, consult OMS for instructions.

D.

Counseling

D.1.

Provide emotional support and short-term counseling services to Volunteers in accordance with Technical Guideline 510 "Mental Health Assessment and

Support."

D.2.

Assess Volunteers for signs and symptoms of emotional disorders and substance abuse, and provide support and referral as indicated.

D.3.

Where professional resources exist, establish a mental health referral network;

oversee referral interventions; report referrals to OMS.

E.

Program management/administration

E.1.

Establish and operate a health unit; maintain supplies of medications, health and medical equipment to meet anticipated routine and emergency medical needs.

In collaboration with the Peace Corps Country Director and the Associate Peace

Corps Director for Administration, order and stock medical supplies and equipment. All medicines, medical supplies and equipment provided or paid for by the Peace Corps shall be for the sole and exclusive purpose of treating

Trainees and Volunteers and other eligible persons, who may include employees or contractors of other United States Government agencies. No medicines, biologicals, vaccines or medical supplies will be co-mingled with the contractor's stock.

E.2.

Maintain regularly scheduled and announced office hours in the Peace Corps health unit. The schedule for regular office hours will be determine with the approval of the Country Director. The PCMC is a fully participating member of the in-country Peace Corps staff. In this capacity the PCMC may be called upon to provide health/medical care to Volunteers and other eligible personnel after duty hours and on week-ends and holidays. The PCMC will be "on-call" after hours, and on week-ends and holidays for medical and/or mental health emergencies among all personnel eligible for the PCMC's services.

Adjustments to work schedules

Policy regarding adjustable work schedules and extra time off differs from country-to-country and is developed by each Country Director to meet the specific program needs of each post. The PCMC will adopt or modify an adjustable work schedule, or take extra time off in addition to the annual leave specified in this contract, only after agreement is reached in advance with the

Country Director.

E.3.

Advise the CD of foreseeable PCMC absences sufficiently in advance to permit arrangement for coverage. In the event the PCMC is sick, on vacation or unavailable due to (a) accompanying a medical evacuation;

(b) attendance at a Peace Corps conference; or (c) an authorized field trip away from the office, the Country Director shall be responsible for arranging adequate coverage. The PCMC will assist the Country Director in arranging such coverage.

E.4.

Participate in staff meetings and assist with the formation of all in-country policies that have potential impact on Volunteer health/safety. Maintain administrative records and planning systems; participate in the IPBS (budgetary) planning process.

E.5.

Administer the in-country Volunteer Health Support Program in compliance with

Peace Corps policies and procedures as outlined in the Technical Guidelines and

Manual Sections.

E.6.

Maintain clinical records - referred to as the "Volunteer Health Record" in accordance with specifications set forth in Technical Guideline #210, "Health

Records." Ensure medical confidentiality and compliance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, the Peace Corps Manual Section on Medical Confidentiality and Technical Guideline #150, "Medical Confidentiality." Health records will be stored by the contractor under combination lock, limiting access.

E.7.

Establish in-country, regional, and long distance medical evacuation plans in collaboration with the Country Director and other in-country Peace Corps staff.

Inform and coordinate with the Country Director in medevac procedures.

E.8.

Provide the CD with status reports on health and safety concerns, including objectives of the health care program and identified in-country health risks.

E.9.

Keep the CD informed of major health and safety problems which have programmatic impact, including assaults, illnesses that interfere with Volunteers' activities or that require medical evacuation, and status reports on medevaced

Volunteers.

E.10.

Advise the CD of needed support, including clerical assistance, equipment, and additional clinical staff, when applicable.

E.11.

Review all proposed medical expenditures and provide professional advice to the Country Director relative to payment.

E.12.

Provide OMS with regular status reports, (i.e., ongoing consultations, hospitalizations, assaults, etc.)

E.13.

Submit monthly epidemiological surveillance data to OMS and yearly reports to

OMS and the CD.

E.14.

Maintain effective, timely and appropriate liaison and cooperation regarding health programming and clinical services called for under this contract with the

CD and other members of the in-country staff.

E.15.

Ensure, to the best of the PCMC's ability, that all physicians, dentists, laboratories, hospitals or clinics providing services in conjunction with this contract are professionally qualified.

E.16 Attend CME courses and Medical Overseas Staff Training in Washington when invited by OMS.

F.

Mentoring and on-the-job training of other PCMCs F.1.

Provide mentoring and on-the-job training, as indicated and appropriate, to other PCMCs assigned to the Peace Corps health unit in-country. Such training should be undertaken with the approval of the CD, and in consultation with OMS. "Other PCMCs" may include back-up/coverage and temporary duty (TDY) personnel, as well as colleagues who are under Peace Corps contract to provide health care to Volunteers, and share responsibility for the management of the in-country Volunteer health care system.

F.2.

If country and program circumstances indicate the need, provide long-term on-the-job training for a PCMC-colleague, with the goal of guiding his/her preparation to eventually assume the full roles and responsibilities of the PCMC.

This should be undertaken only with the approval of, and in consultation with both the CD and OMS.

G. Travel

All travel will be coordinated with and approved by the Country Director. If indicated by country/program needs, travel will be planned and undertaken in collaboration with other Peace Corps staff.

G.1.

Travel to and be prepared to stay at training sites on a regular basis as program needs dictate, in order to provide Volunteers with health training, preventive care (e.g. immunizations), and clinical intervention as needed.

G.2.

Undertake routine visits to Volunteer living sites on a schedule developed in collaboration with the CD and other Peace Corps staff.

G.3.

Be prepared to travel in-country, and in some cases to other Peace Corps countries, 25% - 50% of the time, as Volunteer and country and in some cases, Regional program needs require.

Revised 1/8/2007