Chief I Cardiac Physiologist Integrated Care (Echo)

Post Title:

Chief I Cardiac Physiologist Integrated Care (Echo)

Post Status:

Permanent Contract

Department

Beaumont Hospital/ Dublin North Integrated Care

Location:

Omni Park Shopping Centre, Swords Road, Santry, Dublin 9

Reports to:

Chief II Cardiac Physiologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9.

Salary:

Appointment will be made on the Chief I Cardiac Physiologist salary scale (  €58,809 to €74,492      ) at a point in line with Government pay policy. 

Hours of work: 

Full Time 35 hours per week

Closing Date:

12 noon on 18/4/2025

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

Position Summary:

 Beaumont Hospital is a large academic teaching hospital, 5km north of Dublin City centre. We provide emergency and acute care services across 54 medical specialties to a local community of 290,000 people, in addition to many tertiary services.  Beaumont Hospital is the lead level 4 hospital within the Royal College of Surgeons Hospital Group.  Our aim is to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients, excellent training to our students, and a friendly, stimulating, and professional environment for staff.

The Beaumont Hospital Non-Invasive Cardiology (NIC) Department provides key services for in-patients, out-patients and day care patients under the care of Beaumont Hospital. These services include echocardiography (transthoracic, transoesophageal and stress), electrocardiography, holter monitoring, exercise treadmill testing and local and remote device monitoring and optimisation (pacemaker, loop recorder, implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronisation therapy).  In addition, we support the hospitals catheterisation laboratories for coronary and electrophysiological diagnostics and interventions and device implantation.

In line with Slaintecare, the Integrated Model of Care for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease and National Heart Programme 2021, it is planned to extend cardiac diagnostic services, in particular transthoracic echocardiography, into the community.  It is planned to develop ambulatory care hubs in Dublin North City and County Community Health Organisation (CHO9), one of which will be aligned with Beaumont Hospital, situated in Beaumont Hospital/RCSI Hospital Group Satellite Outpatient Service in Omni Park Shopping Centre, to facilitate improved access to optimal chronic disease management and health promotion.  The aim is to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.  Transthoracic echocardiography will be key to the cardiovascular component of this service. It is envisioned that a community based cardiac diagnostic service will be provided by Beaumont Hospital Cardiac Physiologists, with adequate TTE experience.  This position for a Chief I Integrated Care with an interest in echocardiography has arisen to help facilitate this future development. 

The Chief I Cardiac Physiologist Integrated Care with an Interest in Echocardiography will work as a key team member supporting and providing non-invasive cardiac diagnostics, with a particular interest in echocardiography, as described above.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be accredited in TTE (either BSE or EACVI) or aiming to work towards accreditation. 

There are many opportunities for technical and also leadership/managerial skill development in Beaumont Hospital, with a weekly departmental case-based discussion and educational meeting and working towards echo laboratory departmental accreditation.  Opportunities to attend out of house educational courses and meetings are also encouraged and supported.   There are a number of quality improvement projects ongoing in the NIC department and new ideas and initiatives are welcomed.

The main duties of the Chief I Cardiac Physiologist Integrated Care are as follows:

•                  To carry out his/her duties under the supervision and control of the Chief II Physiologist/Consultant in charge or other such person designated for that purpose by the Board.

•                  To carry out the duties of a Chief I Cardiac Physiologist in the hospital or at any other location as maybe required by the Chief Executive or designated officer.

•                  Calibration and maintenance of all equipment which includes sterilisation where necessary.

•                  History taking and interpretation of request forms.

•                  Collation of monthly activity metrics

•                  Performing Echos, reporting and highlighting abnormal recordings.

•                  Commitment to in-service training of students and other Cardiac Physiologists.

•                  Participation in patient care. i.e. Preparation and reassurance of the patients.

•                  To initiate and participate in dealing with Medical Emergencies including Cardiac Resuscitation  

Operations

·        Manage the Department in the absence of the Chief II taking responsibility for the safe delivery and co-ordination of services for patients, ensuring effective, efficient and quality care service in the Department.

·        Plan, develop and monitor human resource plans to ensure an effective and efficient service.

·        Plan specialist services, innovations and developments.

·        Ensure that services are based on the latest research findings and constitute best practice.

·        Develop close links with other healthcare facilities relevant to the delivery and enhancement of services.

·        Carry out Chief 1 Cardiac Physiologist clinical duties as part of the overall cardiology team, but in relative terms to the Chief 1 management duties.

·          Ensure that all records are properly and accurately maintained.

·        Collation of monthly activity metrics for the DNIC (Dublin North Integrated Care) service

·        Facilitate effective communication with patients, relatives, visitors and multi-disciplinary team as necessary ensuring patient confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times.

·        Communicate and develop effective relationships with Medical Consultants, Clinical Nurse Managers and other relevant hospital staff to ensure safe, efficient management of the Echo Service.

·        Identify opportunities for the development of services that will improve the care of patients.

·        Liaise with the Chief Cardiac Physiologist II / Cardiology Lead Consultant on a regular basis, as appropriate, providing feedback on service activity and issues.

·        Ensure that systems for the provision of clinical and non-clinical services are satisfactory and that they are timely and economically utilised.

·        Undertake an annual review of services including the preparation of an annual report.

·        Ensure that all staff within the Department are familiar with the plan for management of critical incidents and that the Department is ready to meet such a demand.

·       Work with the Cardiology Systems Manager, IT Department and clinicians in the development of computerised systems for patient management and ensure that these are maintained and upgraded.

·       Provide advice to the Chief Cardiac Physiologist II / Cardiology Consultant Lead on matters relating to the care of patients in the Department

·       Promote a patient centred culture of openness and responsiveness to positive and constructive patient feedback and ensuring patient dignity, respect and choice is maintained in their care.

People Management

• Provide clinical and management leadership for staff and ensure an effective learning environment for the multidisciplinary team and taking an active part in the delivery of care as appropriate.
  
  

·       Promote an environment that is conducive to the development of best practice, enhances staff retention and promotes good industrial relations.

·       Maintain a high level of staff morale, promoting good communication, team spirit and job satisfaction among members of the multidisciplinary team. Strive to ensure that staff are accountable, responsible and have authority to practice and manage within their roles.

·       Play a role in the recruitment and selection of staff for the service.

·       Ensure that all new staff in the Echo service receive an adequate orientation and induction programme, have a clear understanding of their duties, responsibilities and standards of performance at all times.

·       Ensure that staff are effectively supported with annual reviews and the development of personal development plans within their echo career.

·       Help provide a duty roster that ensures resources are deployed effectively and efficiently to cope with fluctuations in workload, case complexity, adequate skills mix, planned Department activity or staff absence difficulties.,

·       Comply with all HR system and policy requirements including recording of relevant data

·       Establish a formal mechanism for communication among the team including schedules for staff meetings and training sessions.

Communication

•                  Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

•                  Demonstrate excellent communication skills especially the ability to communicate clear and concise instructions to patients in an understandable fashion.

•                  Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills

General Duties

•                  Encourage good working relationships within the multidisciplinary staff of the Directorate and with other Hospital Departments.

•                  Identify opportunities for improvement and initiate steps to accomplish same.

•                  Assist in identification of cost improvements, service developments and income generation opportunities within the Directorate.

•                  Act with digression and integrity at all times in relation to sensitive data linked to the directorate or the hospital.

•                  Utilises effective time management skills

•                  Maintains professional appearance and dress code

•                  Complies with guidelines for absence or tardiness

•                  Attends staff meetings, reads email and other postings.

•                  Attends all required in-services

•                  Wears identification badge when working

•                  All employees are expected to remain flexible to meet the needs of the department and hospital

•                  Deputise for the Chief II Cardiac Physiologist as appropriate

•                  This is not an exhaustive listing and the Chief I Cardiac Physiologist will perform such other duties  appropriate to the office as may be assigned to him/her from time to time

Selection Criteria: 

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. 

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition

(i)Posses BSc in Clinical Measurement from the Dublin Institute of Technology.

OR

(ii)Posses BSc in Clinical Measurement from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)

Or

(iii) Possess an equivalent  relevant scientific qualification  (Level 8)as confirmed by the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Science(IIMCP)

Or

(iv)(a)Possess the Certificate in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement (MPPM) form the Dublin Institute of Technology

Or 

(iv)(b) An equivalent scientific qualification as confirmed by the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Physiology awarded in or before 2005.(See Note 1*)

IICMP verification of qualification should be included with application

And

(v) All candidates must have a minimum of 5 years fulltime (or an aggregate of 5 years fulltime) relevant post qualification experience. 

and 

(b) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be accredited in TTE (either BSE or EACVI)

Note 1 * In exceptional cases, where the IICMP are not in position to validate pre 2005 qualifications, the Clinical Measurement Physiologists expert on the eligibility / selection board may, at their discretion, deem as eligible:

HSE applications who are currently employed as Clinical Measurement Physiologists, and who were employed in or before 2005, on the presentation of proof of their qualification/s that was acceptable on the commencement of their employment. 

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name:

Thelma Morgan

Title:

Chief II Cardiac Physiologist

Phone:

01 7977971