Chief Cardiac Physiologist - Echocardiography

Job overview

The Band 7 Chief Cardiac Physiologist will play a leading role in the provision of specialist echocardiography services within the Cardiology Department. The post-holder will be instrumental in the development and day-to-day delivery of both Valve Clinic and the Physiologist-Led Stress echocardiography services.

This highly specialised role involves autonomous practice in advanced echocardiography, including independent acquisition, interpretation, and reporting of complex studies. The post-holder will work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team, contributing to the assessment and management of patients with valvular heart disease and suspected coronary artery disease.

You will be responsible for ensuring service quality, clinical governance, and adherence to BSE standards, as well as supervising junior physiologists and supporting service development initiatives.

Clinical Physiology BSc degree combined with appropriate technical training and Echocardiography accreditation (BSE or EACVI) are mandatory for this position.

We actively encourage continuous professional development with staff attending conferences and courses.

Main duties of the job

To provide, as part of the cardiac physiologist team, cardiac diagnostic services across the trust sites Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital, specialising in the field of Echocardiography.

As a specialist in Echocardiography, you will perform a range of highly specialist cardiac ultrasound investigations, measurements and analysis, interpret findings and issue final clinically diagnostic reports to a competent and highly professional standard.

Provide assistance in the performance of cardiac investigations relevant to your specialist field.

Assist in the supervision and training of other echocardiographers, cardiac physiologists, doctors and students.

Assist the lead Cardiac Physiologist in the provision, organisation and development of the services of the department, including some administrative and housekeeping tasks.

Maintain accreditations with the relevant professional bodies/societies.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Participate in the provision of echocardiographic services across the trust including departmental sites and at point of care and community locations.
• Cooperate in the provision of an evolving and flexible service (with possible altering shift patterns and occasional weekend working). Appropriate consultation prior to any proposed alterations to working patterns will be given.
• Perform all echocardiographic studies to departmental protocols & relevant society standards/guideline, including transthoracic adult, bubble, contrast (LVO), exercise (treadmill and bike) and pharmacological stress tests utilising a range of techniques.
• Perform accurate and reproducible standard and advanced echocardiographic measurements to departmental and relevant society standards/guidelines
• Perform complex analysis techniques to image acquisitions for 3D volumetric quantification and 2D strain.
• Interpret echocardiographic findings and produce timely signed off diagnostic reports to departmental and relevant society standards.
• Provide technical assistance in the performance of transoesophageal echocardiographic tests and cardiac investigations relevant to your specialist field.
• Monitor vital signs and provide airways management during transoesophageal tests.
• Obtain and maintain competency in IV cannulation
• Perform IV cannulation on patients in preparation for contrast (LVO), bubble and pharmacological stress echocardiography.
• Accurately perform 12 lead electrocardiograms, non-invasive BP, O2 sats and height and weight measurements
• Interpret 12 lead electrocardiograms
• Co-operate with the need for occasional but necessary ‘overtime working’ to ensure that any procedure in progress can be completed safely, in the usual fashion. Such extra working time being compensated for by time off in lieu or overtime payment).
• Maintain proficiency in echocardiography and other technical skills adopting best practice and current guidelines.
• Hold and maintain BSE/ESCVI or equivalent accreditations in echocardiography.
• Hold and maintain ILS certification.
• Know the location of resuscitation equipment, be familiar with its operation and participate in its daily check. Ensuring that this equipment is available prior to commencement of an investigation.
• Know how to summon the hospital resuscitation team.
• Prioritise and manage individual caseloads based on clinical urgency and service efficiency.
• Assist in the daily management of the echocardiography service, including the clinical prioritisation of inpatients and urgent outpatients, responding to a clinical and report queries and when required scheduling patient appointments.
• Clean ultrasound systems, probes, accessories and associated items in accordance with manufacturers recommendations and departmental and trust policy.
• Identify stock needs and assist in maintaining stock levels.
• Be responsible for the safe use of medical equipment within your role. Reporting to the line manager and EMBE of any faults or concerns
• Assist in the supervision and training of other cardiac physiologists, students and junior doctors, in their area of individual expertise.
• Understand and participate in clinical audit
• Assist in research and development in the department
• Attend and participate in departmental and team meetings.
• Maintain all trust mandatory training
• Adhere to mandatory training standards for frequent moving and handling of patients and equipment.
• Use PPE when indicated as per trust policy