Highly Specialised Cardiac Physiologist, WRH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To be Accredited with British Heart Rhythm Society (BHRS), EHRA AP or International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE).

To be fully competent and responsible for performing a wide range of complex and highly specialised non-invasive investigations, including analysis, reporting and clinical interpretation of results for their own patient workload and that of junior members of staff including verifications of written reports from junior members of staff.

Opportunity to work towards supporting the invasive electrophysiology service at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, assisting the EP Cardiologists during complex procedures and support junior member of the team in training and development

To support the permanent pacemaker, implantable loop and complex devices services assisting in implants as well as follow-up clinics and support junior member of the team in training and development.

To be fully competent in haemodynamic monitoring in cath lab procedures ideally diagnostic, PCI and CTO.

To provide high technical expertise, supervision, support and training to technical and medical staff.

To produce technically satisfactory results in accordance with national and departmental standards.

To communicate complex instructions and clinical information effectively to all categories of patients, ensuring co-operation and compliance to obtain accurate technical and clinical data.

To analyses clinical information and clinical conditions during procedures, whereby judgement is required to determine the appropriate course of action

To visual and verbal risk-assess every patient prior to carrying out any clinical investigations.

To ensure patients are monitored appropriately during investigations and ensuring swift and appropriate action is taken to minimise life threatening or significant medical events.

To initiate Basic Life Support and Immediate Life Support when required.

To ensure safe use of specialist / expensive equipment used by self and others.

To report all untoward events or uncertainties to the Head of Department.

To work at all times in a safe and responsible manner

To plan and prioritise personal workloads according to daily staffing levels.

To advise junior medical staff on the availability, selection and appropriateness of test procedures

This post has no budgetary responsibility.

Equipment used:

Electrocardiogram machines, Ambulatory Monitors, Event recorders and Analysis equipment, Ultrasound equipment, Exercise Testing system and treadmill, Cardiac Catheter Lab Monitoring systems, IVUS, OFDI and pressure wire systems, Various permanent Pacemaker programmers, computers and Defibrillators.

Consumables: Electrodes, Skin prep; ultrasound jelly & patient medication (consists of GTN).

The post holder will be responsible for minor maintenance, trouble-shooting, quality assurance and infection control in regard to any equipment used within the department.

Key Duties:

Clinical Duties:

Opportunity to work towards assisting the cardiologist during Electrophysiology procedures including ablation also implantation of permanent pacemaker, implantable loop and complex device implants

To assist the Cardiologist on the insertion Permanent Pacemaker, implantable loop and complex devices and be responsible for checks in the pacing follow-up clinic, this will require the post holder to analyse complex data and recognise when to re-programme parameters as per manufacturer and departmental procedure and protocols.

Opportunity to work in the invasive Cardiac Catheter Laboratory service, performing unsupervised monitoring of invasive intra-cardiac pressures, ECG intracoronary imaging on clinically high-risk cardiac patients. Alerting Physician immediately of any changes in parameters.

To act in the lead role during simple and complex device follow up clinics, optimising devices and escalating findings where necessary.

To take responsibility to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation on patients in an emergency situation.

Responsible for ensuring patients are monitored appropriately during investigations and procedures. Awareness of adverse clinical conditions/clinical events occurring during the investigations and ensuring swift and appropriate action is taken to minimise life threatening or significant medical events.

To perform a supervisory / lead role and provide technical support in Technician Led Cardiac Exercise Tolerance tests (ETT). Without supervision, analyse and report the results of the procedure, in accordance with National and Departmental protocols and procedures.

To prepare, hook up to patients, remove, download and analyse the recordings, then report without supervision 24-hour ambulatory ECG recorders, Blood pressure recorders and Cardiac event recorders, according to the departmental procedure and protocol.

To be familiar with current developments in the field of Cardiology.

To liaise with other departments and Companies regarding maintenance and repairs to existing equipment within the department.

To liaise in conjunction with the Head of Department, regarding evaluation of new clinical equipment.

Managerial:

To participate in formulating departmental policies, procedures and protocols in conjunction with the Head of Department. In particular the development of the complex echo service.

Undertake new initiatives to improve the patient clinical service. On the direction of the Head of Department take the lead role for service developments in agreed areas.

To work with the Head of department in setting, maintaining, monitoring and auditing quality and technical standards for within the department.

Training and Staff development:

To provide high technical expertise in teaching, training and supervising all grades of staff within the department and the trust.

To continue Professional Development and be responsible for keeping own skills updated, including BSE re-accreditation and Intermediate Life Support.

To undergo such training as is deemed necessary to maintain efficient discharge of duties.

To undertake all Trust mandatory training on an annual basis.

Administration and Clerical:

To undertake clerical duties and maintain records concerning all aspects of investigations carried out within the department.

To be conversant with computerised databases.

To produce technical reports/comments.

To compile daily statistical records of patient activity.

To assist with the input of clinical activity onto Oasis and the departmental databases

Special Requirements:

There may be a need to travel to other hospitals within the Trust to carry out duties.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience as a Specialised Cardiac Physiologist
• Highly specialised and advanced knowledge of CRM devices, procedures and troubleshooting.

Desirable

• Supervision of staff
• Assist with the day to day running of the department.
• Teaching and development of staff.
• Experience in Electrophysiology procedures

Knowledge and personal qualities

Essential

• Knowledge of all non-invasive and invasive procedures and their interpretation.
• Computer literate.
• Must be prepared to attend training courses appropriate to post.
• Dexterity and coordination required for use of range of diagnostic equipment.
• Able to use own initiative, be confident, conscientious, polite, able to carry out instructions accurately.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Clinical Physiology or equivalent
• British Heart Rhythm Society (BHRS), EHRA AP or International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) accredited.
• ASCST (parts 1 & 2) or equivalent
• ILS certificate

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)