Senior Cardiac Physiologist - Whole Time Permanent
Job Details Ref 08.011
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) is an exciting and dynamic place to work. The team at the Hospital are in the midst of implementing a new hospital strategy that has already delivered on the opening of a new renal unit, day surgery centre, step down facility in the community and the start of building works on a new ICU extension. It is an exciting time to join the TUH team and one of Ireland’s main teaching hospitals with so many plans to enhance patient care. The Hospital believes in investing in their team and offers excellent education and research opportunities.
TUH is one of the two main academic teaching hospitals of Trinity College Dublin - specialising in the training and professional development of staff in areas such as medicine nursing, health and social care professionals, emergency medicine and surgery, amongst many others. TUH is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which serves a population of over 1.2 million across seven counties.
TUH is one of Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospitals, adult, psychiatric and age-related healthcare on one site. The Hospital has 450 adult beds with over 3,500 people on staff and more than 50 different nationalities represented. The Hospital is a provider of local, regional and national specialties. It is also a national urology centre, the second largest provider of dialysis services in the country, a regional orthopaedic trauma centre and a designated trauma unit.
Another area of development for the hospital is their involvement in the Enhanced Community Care Plan developed by HSE Community Strategy and Planning together with the Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (ICPCD) over the last year. Funding has been allocated to roll out and scale-up community healthcare services to support the provision of integrated end-to-end care. The ICPCD is supporting a model of integrated care that has a particular focus on preventive healthcare, early intervention and supports to live well with chronic disease.
The CHO will work to implement the ‘Integrated Model of Care for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease’ in their area. This model of care supports the provision of health care as close to home as possible. It provides access to community diagnostics, community specialist multidisciplinary team services and timely specialist opinion within the specialist ambulatory care hub in order to support the provision of care to patient with chronic disease.
The cardiology department provides an extensive invasive and non –invasive cardiology service, Cardiac Risk in Young (CRY) specialised unit and due to open a cardiac diagnostic department in chronic disease hub adjacent to the main hospital. The Senior Cardiac Physiologist will be expected to rotate through all the cardiology diagnostic department as required. The department also is expanding into the area of electrophysiology.
TUH Vision and Values
The vision of the Hospital is “People Caring for People to Live Better Lives” through excellent health outcomes supported by evidenced based practice, positive patient and staff experience in an empowering and caring environment. A culture of innovation and quality improvement in everything we do.
Our TUH CARE values – for patients, their families, our community and staff are:
1. C ollaborate – together and with our academic and care partners
2. A chieve – our goals, positive outcomes and wellbeing
3. R espect – for patients, each other and our environment
4. E quity – for patients and staff
At TUH we view our staff as our most valuable asset and every member of the Team is valued equally. We recognise that a skilled, satisfied and motivated workforce is a prerequisite to high quality care
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the general direction of the Consultant Cardiologist or other duly authorised Officers, the Physiologist will undertake the duties appropriate to a Cardiac Physiologist, subject to the supervision of the Chief II Cardiac Physiologist or other such person designated for that purpose by the Chief II.
The Physiologist should be familiar with the techniques and range of equipment used in current medical practice for the diagnosis, treatment and care of cardiac patients. A complete understanding of all such procedures and an ability to make accurate measurements is essential.
1. Clinical Duties
5. Adherence to departmental patient policies at all times.Provide high standard of safe practice for patient care.Conduct and interpret a full range of non-invasive cardiac diagnostic tests including Resting ECG’s, Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, Holter Monitoring, Event Monitoring, Physiologist Managed Exercise Stress Testing, Cardiac Electronic Implantable Devices (C.E.I.D’s) follow-up and programming and Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE).
1.4 Conduct the technical/physiological measurement aspects of a full range of invasive cardiac diagnostic in the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory including pressure measurements and analysis, ECG monitoring, cardiac output, oxygen saturation determination.
1.5 Conduct the technical support required for therapeutic procedures including Electrophysiology, pacemaker implantation, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) fractional flow reserve measurement (FFR) and Intra-aortic balloon pump.
1.6 Provide first line maintenance, electrical safety checking and calibration of equipment.
6. Teach and supervise the basic grade Cardiac Physiologists, student undertaking the BSc in Clinical Measurement in all of the above procedures, medical students to perform ECG and generally information with regard to cardiology diagnostic tests and other staff as designated by the Lead Clinician or Chief II Cardiac Physiologist. Support nursing, medical and technical staff in the implementation of patient care involving technology.Contribute as required to the development of training programs for established staff and external groups.Perform such duties appropriate to the officer as may be assigned from time to time. Act for other staff in their absence as required. Use Cardiovascular Information System (CVIS)/ IntelliSpace Cardiovascular (ISCV).
2. Administrative Responsibilities (in no particular order of importance
7. Adhere to hospital policies and procedures in all aspects of care.Participate in cost awareness and cost control policies in department utilisation systems for audit purposes (I.T. or Paper).Display qualities of leadership and good communication with all users of service and other service providers.Assist when required in the drawing up, up-dating and implementation of department policies.The Physiologist will be responsible for the care and cleanliness of all equipment and accessories used by him/her.Attend meetings of the Department/outreach clinic as required.Use knowledge, judgment and experience to develop ways of coping with crisis situation ie. Patient and staff.Report accidents and incidents. Participate in the investigation and remedial action.Be familiar with Hospital & Departmental Disaster Plans and its implementations.Observe daily and uphold cleaning standards in the department/outreach clinic. Report any inadequacies.
8. Education To attend staff “In-Service” training programs.As medical procedures change and new developments are introduced the Physiologist must update his/her knowledge and training accordingly. Study leave for appropriate in-service training and presentation of research data will be supported where possible.
9. Self-Development
4.1 Maintain a personal record of professional development.
4.2 Act as a role model
4.3 Ensure that development is research based.
4.4 Develop/foster research in cardiology.
4.5 Assist in maintaining a level of excellence in patient care by maintaining standards
4.6 Supporting the overall management of the Department.
QUALIFICATIONS
Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office:
10. Be an Associate of the Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (A.S.C.S.T.) (or equivalent qualification).
and
11. Possess the Certificate (or equivalent qualification) in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement from Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street or from a similar institution.
or
12. be a member of the Society of Cardiological Science and Technology (M.S.C.S.T.) (or equivalent qualification)
or
13. After 2005 BSc in Clinical Measurement (or equivalent).
14. IF YOU HAVE AN EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION IT MUST BE RATIFIED BY THE IRISH INSITUTE of CLINCIAL MEASUREMENT SCIENCE (IICMS). Prove of ratification or process under way must be attached to you application before you may be consider for interview. Please see IICMS website for details.
And
15. Have had not less than 3 years post graduate relevant experience in a Cardiology department.
Essential qualification
16. Experience in echocardiography and/or device follow-up
Desirable Criteria:
17. Experience in Cardiac Catheterisation procedures and device implant
18. Experience in Physiologist Managed Exercise Stress Testing
19. Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certificate (ACLS).
20. British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) or European Society Echocardiography (ESE) of adult accreditation.
21. EHRA/BHRS or equivalent certification.
TUH Core Competencies: Core Area Competency Level Managing the serviceQuality & Safety of Service2Managing the serviceDelivery of Results2Managing ChangeCommunications & Influencing 1Managing ChangeProblem Solving & Decision Making2Managing YourselfTeam player1Managing YourselfPlanning and Organising 1Managing PeopleLeadership and people management1
Please go to for details of the core competencies