Position overview

The cardiology department at Canberra Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient services to the ACT and surrounding region. The coronary care unit manages approximately 2,000 acute admissions and 7,000 occasions of service per year to outpatients, including medical clinics, nursing clinics and cardiac diagnostic investigations and therapeutic interventions (including electrophysiology and cardiac CT). The department provides a 24/7 service for primary PCI for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction for the region.

The department is supported by dedicated heart function and pulmonary hypertension clinics designed to provide ready access to phone advice, education on self-management, avoid recurrent presentations and to assist with reducing length of hospitalisation by early bridging to outpatient care. The state-of-the-art expanded acute cardiac care unit, two cardiac catheterisation laboratories and a dedicated electrophysiology suite opened in mid 2024 as part of the Canberra Hospital expansion Project.

An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic and experienced senior cardiac scientist to become a part of the allied health team. This position requires a high level of subject matter expertise and the ability to work autonomously to provide complex cardiac physiology diagnostic investigations and therapeutic interventions according to procedures and published standards. The role will involve participation in an on-call roster. The role is part of the cardiology allied health’s leadership team and includes supporting the management of the cardiac physiology service and allied health staff, the development and provision of education and training for staff and students and requires participation in and contribution to continual professional development of the allied health group. Within CHS, the cardiac physiology profession is part of the Clinical Measurement Science (CMS) disciplines. The CMS disciplines are cardiac, neurophysiology, respiratory and sleep sciences. Scientific staff employed across CMS work under a collective vision Clinical Measurement Science professionals deliver compassionate service through collaboration and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Demonstrate a high level of experience in cardiac physiology and independently perform high quality routine and advanced cardiac diagnostic testing with a demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development.
2. Provide leadership, supervision and support to trainees and cardiac physiologists performing non-invasive and invasive cardiac diagnostic testing within the Cardiology unit.
3. Develop and coordinate ongoing education program for Cardiac Physiologists, including supervision and support of cardiac physiologists undergoing post-graduate studies and qualifications in EP and CIED, including attending and participating in departmental seminars
4. Contribute to creating a team environment, which promotes positive culture, opportunity for learning and development, safety and welfare of employees and fosters innovation in practice that results in a high level of staff satisfaction, staff recruitment and staff retention.
5. Plan and provide comprehensive education frameworks for training, performance feedback, mentoring and coaching of existing and new staff including student Cardiac Physiologists, Cardiology Advanced Trainees, other visiting health professionals and students
6. Perform research/quality improvement and change management projects that have a positive impact on patient outcomes, including maintaining clinical standards, policies and protocols for cardiac physiology.
7. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

To be successful in this position, it is expected that you will have the following attributes:

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• High level communication and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and ability to mentor staff

Qualifications

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Bachelor of Science qualifications or equivalent.
• International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) accredited (Device management and/or EP exam) or equivalent and/or Graduate Diploma of Cardiac electrophysiology (CEPIA)

Desirable

• Be eligible for memberships with Professionals in Cardiac Science Australia (PiCSA).
• Be eligible for accreditation with the Australian Council for Clinical Physiologists (ACCP).
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working professionally in all areas of invasive and non-invasive cardiology.
• Must be able to practise independently in catheter laboratory including cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMD) implantation.
• The successful applicant will need to be for weekend and after-hours work.

Desirable

• At least 1-year experience with the Bard EP system would be highly regarded.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven experience in theoretical, technical application and clinical analysis with cardiac diagnostic testing, CRMD implantation and testing, cardiac catheterisation laboratory procedures and non-invasive electrocardiography-based testing.
2. Demonstrated high level organisational and leadership skills including capacity to manage competing priorities to efficiently achieve service delivery whilst maintaining high quality care.
3. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide education, training and mentoring in the field of cardiac physiology and commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) and education.
4. Proven ability to maintain high standards of quality, accuracy, and safety for all cardiac physiology investigations and to initiate and contribute to research, quality assurance and quality improvement projects.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays’ behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.