Technical Assistance for the Development of Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Units Manual of Procedures and Regional Navigation and Referral System Scorecard
BACKGROUND
The National Patient Navigation and Referral Center is formerly known as the One Hospital Command Center, its inception is part of the government’s response in mitigating the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by virtue of the Republic Act 11494 also known as the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act”. Section 7 of the said Act states the need to establish a COVID-19 National Referral System to provide patients a fast and efficient way to locate and avail services of health facilities, and ambulance systems which shall remain in effect even after the expiration of this Act. In addition, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act states that a patient navigation and coordination system that ensures a continuum of appropriate and coordinated care from primary to tertiary services, and back to primary care, shall be part in the delivery of individual-based healthcare services in coordination with the Health Care Provider Networks (HPCPNs). Moreover, the NPNRC supports the implementation of the UHC act and aims to provide equitable, quality, and efficient patient navigation and referral services to the people especially the underserved and marginalized groups despite the fragmented and devolved health system.As the country transitions from the pandemic to the endemic phase of COVID-19, the NPNRC continues to strengthen its operations and expand the scope of its services to also cater to non-COVID patients with various disease entities.
The NPNRC envisions to provide technical assistance and capacity-building on patient navigation and referral to the Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Units (RPNRUs) to help strengthen primary-care based coordination of the Health Care Provider Networks (HCPNs) The development of the Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Units (RPNRUs) Manual of Procedures (MOP) specifying comprehensive and evidence-based patient navigation and referral protocols that aids in addressing the gap in aligning the referral systems at the regional level. In addition, development of a Regional Patient Navigation and Referral System (RPNRS) scorecard for the assessment and monitoring of the functionality of the referral system, referral units, medical transportation system, and the integrated health and information system are vital to realize the NPNRC strategic commitments. Specifically, development of responsive policies to establish a standardized regional referral system and institutionalization of the National Patient Navigation and Referral System.
This contractual partner will support the NPNRC in the conduct of peer review and development of a Manual of Operations (MOP) as a lead writer.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
To provide technical assistance in the development of the RPNRU Manual of Procedures and RPNRS Scorecard to have a systematic patient navigation and referral services at the regional level and to assess and monitor the operations within the RPNRS and effectively identify the needs to strengthen the operations.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
- Development of an Inception Report
- Conduct a review of relevant literatures in the development of the RPNRU MOP and RPNRS scorecard
- Conduct/ facilitation of two (2) workshops with 40 participants, focus group discussion, and gather inputs from the relevant external stakeholders and key offices
- Facilitate and document all the relevant consultative meetings and focus group discussions;
- Consolidate all the outputs of the consultative meetings and workshop;
- Provide technical support in analyzing outcomes from the workshop, focus group discussions, and consultations
- Develop the outline of the RPNRU Manual of Procedures and RPNRS scorecard based on the following:
- Review of the consolidated NPNRC and RPNRU referral protocols, best practices in the referral and navigation processes, and other pertinent documents
- Review of the related policies and issuances on the development and implementation of scorecards and the UHC Act
- Review of related international and local literatures
- Consultation with the NPNRC technical committee and relevant external stakeholders
- Conduct of workshops on the development of RPNRU manual of procedures and RPNRS scorecard and focus group discussions
- Finalize the draft document of the outline of the RPNRC MOP and RPNRS scorecard
- Maintain close coordination with the NPNRC technical committee, and other relevant external stakeholders, and key offices through the working arrangements set by the Committee to ensure timely accomplishment of project deliverables taking into consideration the current COVID-19 situations in the country/ locality
- Ensure the data privacy and confidentiality of the stakeholders involved in the consultations
- Present to the NPNRC Technical Committee the draft outline of the document for its approval and endorsement to the NPNRC management and the selected RPNRU
- Present to the NPNRC management the final outline of the RPNRU MOP and RPNRS scorecard
Outputs and Deliverable:
RPNRU MOP
- Inception Report which should include the following:
- Background
- Objectives
- Implementation strategy
- Methodology
- Activities
- Resource requirements
- Timelines and work plan;
- Assessment and analysis of relevant literature review (i.e current NPNRC priority-based patient navigation and referral protocols, and existing RPNRU priority-based patient navigation and referral protocols, policies regarding the UHC Act and relevant health programs with the NPNRC technical staff, other DOH offices, and relevant stakeholders);
- Process documentation of workshops, focus group discussions, consultative meeting;
- The first draft of the outline of the RPNRU MOP based on the desk review and discussion, incorporating the suggestions, comments, and recommendations of NPNRC technical staff, other DOH offices, and stakeholders; and
- The final copy of the outline of the RPNRU MOP for presentation to the NPNRC management in three (3) hard copies and in two (2) softcopy format of the approved module;
RPNRS scorecard
- Inception Report which should include the following:
- Background
- Objectives
- Implementation strategy
- Methodology
- Activities
- Resource requirements
- Timelines and work plan;
- Assessment and analysis of relevant literature review on the development of RPNRS scorecard with the NPNRC technical staff, other DOH offices, and relevant stakeholders;
- Process documentation of workshops, focus group discussions, consultative meeting;
- The first draft of the RPNRS scorecard based on the desk review and discussion, incorporating the suggestions, comments, and recommendations of NPNRC technical staff, other DOH offices, and relevant stakeholders; and
- The final copy of the RPNRS scorecard for presentation to the NPNRC management
Implementation Arrangement
1. Reporting and approval process
- The NPNRC- Referral System Development will be the designated Project Management Committee (PMC);
- The lead writer shall be under the NPNRC- Referral System Development;
- The PMC appoints Dir. Bernadett P. Velasco as the NPNRC Project Manager (PM);
- The PM has the authority to represent the Committee on all day-to-day matters relating to the project or arising from the contract. All notices, instructions, orders, certificates, approvals and all other communications under the agreement shall be addressed or forwarded to the Committee through the PM except otherwise stated in the contract;
- The PMC shall endorse the draft MOP submitted by the contractual partner to the Management for approval;
- The Management shall approve the final MOP and adopt the same through a resolution.
2. Contact persons
- NPNRC - Referral System Development (RSD) Secretariat
- Technical Representative, NPNRC-RSD, Response Division of the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB)
3. Roles and responsibilities of the agencies involved in the project
a. Contractual partner
- The contractual partner shall perform the services and carry out their obligations with all diligence; efficiency and economy in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices and shall observe sound management practices and employ appropriate advance technology and safe methods;
- Conduct all activities with due care and diligence, in accordance with the TOR and the contract and with the skill and care expected of a competent provider of the technical services required;
- Shall provide, as needed, trained and qualified personnel to carry out the project within the time specified in this TOR;
- Always act in respect of any matter relating to the contract or services as the faithful advisers and technical provider to the NPNRC. It shall at all times support and safeguard the DOH's and governments legitimate interest in any dealing with the third party.
b. NPNRC RSD
- Shall be responsible for the coordination of individuals that will be participating in the process
- Shall lead in the selection and coordination of the selected RPNRU for the development of the MOP
- Shall be responsible for the timely provision of all the resources, access, information and decision making under its control necessary for the project based on the agreed and finalized project plan, except where the provision of such item is explicitly specified in the contract as being the responsibility of the contractual partner;
- Supply accurate NPNRC information and data to be supplied to the contractual partner, except when otherwise expressly stated in the contract.
- Ensure that the NPNRC-RSD Committee will conduct a prompt review of the work produced and presented by the contractual partner;
- Issue the acceptance report of deliverables and endorse the processing of payments for the contractual partner as approved by NPNRC- RSD and HEMB Director’s Office;
- Identify control points, milestones, or outputs of the contractual partner. These outputs are to be reviewed and will indicate whether the project should proceed or not or to take other options towards project implementation.
c. WHO
- Shall be responsible for the management of the APW contract with contractual partner to produce quality deliverables;
- Facilitate communications between contractual partner, NPNRC secretariat and stakeholders if needed;
- Oversee contractual partner and review the work produced and presented by the contractual partner;
- Process the payments for the contractual partner as approved by NPNRC- Referral System Development Unit
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
The contractual partner must fulfil the following qualifications:
Education and Certifications
- • Bachelor's degree related to health
- • Master’s Degree is recommended but not mandatory
Work Experience
- • At least one (1) year experience in working with the National Patient Navigation and Referral Center or the Health Emergency Management Bureau and other government agencies or similar organization Civil Society Organization and other multi-sector agencies
- • Expertise in writing organizational behavior and development for organizations or committees
- • Three (3) years of training on organizational behavior and development
- • Has had conducted at least two (2) projects of similar nature in the Philippines
Technical skills and knowledge
- • Sound knowledge in public health and patient navigation and referral
- • Skill in technical writing
- • Sound knowledge in organizational behavior and development
- • Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
Language
- • Fluent in written and spoken English and Tagalog.
Competencies
- • Technical competence in the field of organizational behavior and development
- • Ability to engage and communicate with multiple stakeholders
- • Skills to respect and promote individual and cultural difference
- • Capability of working harmoniously with a positive attitude at work
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contract time. The work to be done under this contract is to provide Technical Assistance for the Development of Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Units Manual of Procedures and Regional Navigation and Referral System Scorecard as set out in the Terms of Reference. The contract will be completed in not more than three (3) months from the commencement of the Work, or otherwise as agreed in writing among the Owner and the Contractor. The work shall be done in strict compliance with the Contract, Specifications, Schedules, and all other Contract documents and all Instructions. Failure to do so shall be at the Contractor’s risk and account. Submission of Bid by the Contractor shall constitute acknowledgement by the Contractor that it is aware of and concurs with all of the requirements or conditions incorporated in the Call for Proposal and the other documents.
As time is an essential element for this Contract, for failure to complete all the work stipulated within the Terms of Reference, the Owner shall charge the Contractor liquidated damages. This shall be in the sum of 0.5% of the total contract amount per day (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are included) but not to exceed 10% (ten percent) of the total contract amount. These liquidated damages shall be for the added cost incurred by the Owner for such delay and for the inconvenience caused to the users of the Work. It is understood that this is not a penalty but a fixed sum representing the liquidated damages for each calendar day of the delay. Delay shall be counted from the agreed completion date, considering further time extensions approved by the Owner, to the date of completion of work.
Management of conflict of interest. Any interest by entity (individual/organization/company), expert or member of the project team that may affect or reasonably be perceived to (1) affect the expert’s objectivity and independence in providing advice to WHO related to the conduct of a project, and/or (2) create an unfair competitive advantage for the expert or persons or institutions with whom the expert has financial or interests (such as adult children or siblings, close professional colleagues, administrative unit or department).
WHO’s conflict of interest rules are designed to identify and avoid potentially compromising situations from arising thereby protecting the credibility of the Organization and of its normative work. If not identified and appropriately managed such situations could undermine or discount the value of expert’s contribution, and as consequence, the work in which the expert is involved. Robust management of conflicts of interest not only protects the integrity of WHO and its technical/normative standard setting processes but also protects the concerned expert and the public interest in general.
Confidentiality. The results, products and reports of this APW are to be treated as confidential and must not be handed over to third parties. The DOH and WHO have the exclusive ownership of the reports and reserve the right to further disseminate relevant information.
The contractual partner will also provide disclaimer on the reports: This document has been produced with the assistance of the World Health Organization. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions, recommendations, or advice of the World Health Organization.
Ethical and professional standards. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
Other requirements. The contractor (both the institution and any individuals engaged on this work) shall have no direct or indirect involvement or interest, in any form, in manufacturers or sellers of breastmilk substitutes and milk formula, in arms dealing, drugs, alcohol industry, tobacco industry or human trafficking. The contractor and personnel involved in this work shall have no conflicts of interest in relation to the work being undertaken.
SUBMISSIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > and < luzentalesd@who.int > by 13 February 2023
- • Curriculum Vitae {for individual contractors/team members} or Company Profile {for institutional applications}
- • Cover letter. The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this bid.
- • Proposal indicating solution, methodology, timelines and cost
Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2023-02/PHL/191328 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 8 February 2023