Describe your experience with developing or updating travel health policies and protocols.

SENIOR LEVEL
Describe your experience with developing or updating travel health policies and protocols.
Sample answer to the question:
Oh, I've got plenty of experience with creating and updating travel health protocols. At my previous job, we had a process for updating our own protocols based on changes we noticed with common diseases in specific zones. Generally, we'd perform our updates at the beginning of each month, taking into account any major outbreaks that might've occurred and updating our protocol to suit. Additionally, I've had to create policies for new diagnostic methods and treatments. For example, when a new malaria treatment came out, I had to design a protocol around its handling and administration.
Here is a more solid answer:
I have substantial experience in creating and updating travel health protocols. While working at XYZ Health Center, I was responsible for the end-to-end process. At the beginning of every month, I would scour through WHO health advisory updates and CDC travel health notices. After which, I coordinated with my team to discuss the updates, ensuring we were all informed. If there were any major health outbreaks, we would adjust our policies accordingly. Moreover, when it came to developing new protocols, like when a novel malaria drug emerged, I led the process by firstly understanding the drug thoroughly. I'd research it, understand the implications, side effects, etc., then discuss it with the team, including physicians and pharmacists for their perspective. Only after a thorough discussion and analysis would we develop a new protocol.
Why is this a more solid answer?
This answer is more comprehensive as it includes the candidate's method of staying informed, their decision-making process, and their collaboration with colleagues. It addresses the job requirements of staying up-to-date with health advisories, the ability to work independently and make decisions, and strong communication skills.
An example of a exceptional answer:
As a Senior Travel Health Nurse with over 5 years of experience, I have plenty of experience in creating, implementing, and updating travel health protocols. At ABC International Health, I led the process every month. My routine started with a careful analysis of health advisories from WHO and CDC, and a deep dive into scholarly articles and research publications to grasp the broader context. Then I would synthesize this data into a concise report, presenting my findings and suggested amendments to our protocols in a team meeting with my colleagues including physicians, pharmacists and other nurse practitioners. This could range from major overhauls in response to new virus strains, to subtle tweaks in immunization protocols considering latest research findings. For all changes, I facilitated staff training and education sessions to ensure consistent performance across the team. I also updated the EHR system with latest protocols to maintain uniformity. Post implementation, I monitored the effectiveness of these changes, collected feedback, and was not hesitant in making further adjustments if needed, emphasizing an iterative improvement approach.
Why is this an exceptional answer?
The exceptional answer provides in-depth details about the candidate's process for updating and creating new health protocols and policies. It clearly demonstrates their leadership skills, communication proficiency, and their proactive use of EHR systems to maintain consistency. Additionally the cyclical approach to review and update the implemented changes indicates a methodical and responsible work ethic that aligns with the job description.
How to prepare for this question:
  • Demonstrate your knowledge of the latest practices on travel medicine and illustrate your proactive approach towards staying up-to-date.
  • Be precise about the actions you took in creating or updating travel health policies. The aim is to demonstrate your decision-making and leadership skills.
  • Highlight your communication and collaboration skills by explaining how you engaged with your colleagues during this process.
  • Do not shy away from mentioning any administrative tasks related to protocol development, such as documentation or updating EHR systems.
  • Ensure to bring forward the impact of your actions by talking about the efficiency or improvements resulted from the updated protocols.
What are interviewers evaluating with this question?
  • Experience in developing and updating policies
  • Procedure for protocol updates
  • Creating protocols for new treatments

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