Cardiac Physiologist

Job overview

As a Specialist Cardiac Physiologist you will be required to work autonomously as a competent practitioner within the CIU department.  Duties will include specialised cardiac investigations such as diagnostic and interventional cardiology, permanent pacemaker implants & follow-up & routine non-invasive investigations.

Participation in an out of hours on call service for emergencies is an obligation for this post.

You will be expected to develop your knowledge & skill into a specialist route of either echocardiography or cardiac rhythm management, as part of this role.

Main duties of the job

• Diagnostic angiography – Monitor and recording of cardiac physiological measurements during the procedure.

• be technically proficient as an independent practitioner in basic and specialist invasive and non-invasive cardiology procedures, this includes:

Interventional angiography; i.e. PCI, Stents, intra vascular ultrasound and pressure wire –

• Permanent pacemaker implantation – Recording accurate lead function tests to guide a secure implantation of cardiac pacing leads.

• Routine implantable device follow up – Working independently to record accurate lead function tests, making clinical decisions for basic reprogramming

Analysis of ambulatory ECG recordings producing a factual report, which may impact on the clinical management of the patient.

Exercise Stress Testing & Cardiopulmonary Exercise services – Assist the lead Cardiac Physiologist (CP) during the procedure and aid in the production of a technical report.

• Doctor Supervised Exercise Stress Testing. Production of good quality ECG and blood pressure tracing.

Tilt testing – Assist lead CP/Supervising doctors.

• Participation in the on-call rota for PPCI, Emergency angiography & intervention, pacemaker implantation & implantable device checks,

• Supervision of junior staff in all aspects of invasive and non-invasive cardiac procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Education and Training

• BSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology or equivalent
• Maintain intermediate life support qualifications.
• Achieve & maintain competency in invasive and non invasive cardiac procedures following an in-house training programme.
• Will be expected to develop in the echocardiography or cardiac rhythm management route.
• Attend training courses to up date ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist and routine cardiac procedures and to up date ones knowledge in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment.
• Undertake additional staff development courses agreed with your line manager.
• Obtain registration for clinical cardiology practitioners.

Skills and Knowledge

• Able to communicate effectively at all levels with patients and other health professionals. Many patients may have problems with understanding due to age, language, culture, disability etc. Must be able to empathise with patients and provide re-assurance when required. Ability to deal with children and obtain their co-operation whilst having tests performed. Ability to deal with difficult patients.
• Supervise newly appointed trainees in basic clinical setting.
• Attend regular audit meetings.

Working Conditions

General

§  Be aware of hospital policies and procedures, and ensure these standards are being met.

§  Raise the physiologist profile by promoting good practice initiatives within the cardiology directorate.

§  Keep up to date with current developments in the field of cardiology including innovative work undertaken in research. To have awareness of future implications for development of current cardiology services.

• Contact with body fluids including blood.
• Assisting patients with poor mobility out of wheelchairs, onto beds and trolleys.
• Pushing wheelchairs, trolleys and beds.
• Cardiac Procedures will involve sitting at a VDU for significant lengths of time, requiring intense concentration at times to interpret the results.
• Emotional strain, whilst dealing with critically ill patients within the unit where resuscitation may be performed, sometimes unsuccessfully.
• Wearing radiation protection gowns for prolonged periods of time to protect from x-ray radiation.
• Assist in the clinical management of patients undergoing cardiac investigations            within the cardiac investigations unit