Keeping the beat: Focus on Cardiology Diagnostics
May 30, 2019
Change brings improvement is a saying that is definitely true for the Cardiac Physiology department which has over the last few years undergone significant change transforming the service it offers patients and improving quality.
The department which has 52 members of staff has faced challenges in recruiting staff over the years due to a national shortage of cardiac physiologists but undeterred has engaged in a number of different approaches to attract skilled clinicians including offering flexible working arrangements alongside the opportunity to work in a BSE accredited department. Alongside attracting new talent, the department has also worked hard to open up opportunities to enticing staff in to Cardiac Physiology from neighbouring trusts with the offer of band 7 training positions.
We are a department that is investing in training for our staff and as part of this there are plenty of opportunities for our staff to get involved with regular echo, device, ambulatory, cardiographer and clerical meetings, where problems and improvements to the service are discussed.
Reducing waits
As you can imagine, in a diverse and deprived community where cardio vascular diseases are commonplace we are never short of a full workload, and recently a change in NICE guidelines has increased the demand for our services from stroke services. We have however managed to reduce the analysis waiting times from 12 weeks a few years ago to approx. 3 -4 weeks now.
Transforming services
We are the 4th largest centre in the UK with regards to remote monitoring of devices and the largest for monitoring bradycardia devices. Because of this we were selected by Medtronic to do research using iPhones as remote monitors instead of the larger bedside monitors. This is now being rolled out nationwide.
Leading the way
Two years ago we embedded a brand new Mediconnect database system in to our working, allowing us to centrally manage all pacemakers device followups and implant information, moving us away from multiple standalone systems. We are one of the few departments in the country to have this ability and it was our first step in to a paper light future.
Quality improvement and quality assurance
Quality improvement isn’t just a one-time deal, as a department we regularly carry out Quality Assurance for all of our tests, including peer reviews. We also regularly review assess staff competencies as well as producing standard operating procedures for all systems and tests, something we did not have at all 2 years ago.
Recognition in the right direction
Improving Quality In Physiological diagnostic Services accreditation is our gold standard and following a recent review, we have been awarded a recommendation. Not quite an award yet, but something we envisage becoming an award by May this year making us one of four hospitals in the country to have this accolade. A massive achievement demonstrating the level of team work and commitment that has transformed our services in the last few years.