Junior Cardiac Physiologist

Job overview

We actively support personal development and the successful candidate in this role would be supported through an accreditation process for either BHRS in pacing or BSE accreditation in echocardiography.

The department is accredited to deliver training at all levels; National school accredited to deliver STP and HSST training and apprenticeship training (level 4-6) so the post holder will be actively engaged and enthusiastic about teaching and continuous quality improvement.

The Cardiology department at East Kent Hospitals provides a range of diagnostic tests. William Harvey hospital has 2 dedicated cardiac catheter labs providing a 24/7 primary PCI for Kent, complex coronary interventions including rotablation, IVUS/FFR and shockwave. Within our pacing service the trust implant and follow up a range of devices (brady and complex) including HIS bundle pacing and S-ICD. We are also proud to have a physiologist led ILR implantation service and device pre-assessment clinics

The department has a large echocardiography service supported by 2 imaging cardiologists. Performing standard transthoracic echocardiography, stress echo (exercise and dobutamine) TOE and a large physiologist led valve clinic and dedicated oncology and contrast sessions. The department has strong governance and teaching structure – with weekly echo review meetings and regular audits undertaken.

Main duties of the job

This role provides a secure opportunity to employ and develop a solid understanding of cardiac testing whilst learning the necessary skills required to become a key and valued member of the team. A willingness to learn and progress through our service will prove important to any successful applicant.

Initial focus will be on the development of key Cardiology fundamentals; undertaking both internal and external training / certification in non-invasive skills such as the recording of Electrocardiograms, recognition of normal and abnormal recordings, Holter monitor analysis, the fitting of ambulatory ECG and BP monitors and exercise tolerance testing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will be able to or learn:

• Life Support skills.
• To record a technically accurate Electrocardiogram.
• The ability to recognize dangerous arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarcts and to initiate the correct action.
• To fit and analyse 24-hour Ambulatory Heart and BP monitoring on both in patients and out patients. Generating accurate reports as appropriate.
• To assist senior physiologists during Exercise tolerance tests.
• To assist a senior physiologist in Cardiac Device clinics including loop recorders, pacemakers, ICD and CRT follow ups
• To work within one of our Cardiac Catheter labs to assist the cath lab team in angiograms and straight forward PCI.
• Be able to learn the physiologist role of pressure wire studies, IVUS, Rotablation/Complex PCI and assist in Primary PCI, completing all competencies required.
• Be aware of our 24 Hour on call Primary PCI and Primary pacing service and join the on-call rota once competencies are complete and if the service requires additional staff.
• Assist a senior physiologist and learn cardiac device implants within our pacing lab including loop recorders, pacemakers, and ICD/CRT devices.
• Assist a senior physiologist in performing Transthoracic Echocardiograms and learn to assist a cardiologist during Trans-oesophageal echocardiograms.
• Routine care of equipment, including cleaning, identifying technical faults and to initiate the correct action.
• To know when to seek advice from senior staff.
• Consumable stock checks.
• Assist Technical staff in preparation of patients.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.