IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Cardiac Physiologist
Division:
National Heart and Lung Institute
Department:
International Centre for Circulatory Health
Job Family/Level:
Technical Services, Level 3b
Salary:
£32,930 – £40,720 per annum
Contract:
Full-time, fixed-term for 12 months in the first instance
Responsible to:
Dr Darrel Francis, Professor of Cardiology
Accountable to:
Katherine March
Key Working Relationship: Colleagues in the Mechanisms of Disease group, International
(internal)
Centre for Circulatory Health, St Mary’s NHS Trust, Imperial College
Research participants and their relatives
Location:
St Mary’s campus, Paddington
Job Summary
The Mechanisms of Disease Group is part of the International Centre for Circulatory Health, which
spans the departments of epidemiology, clinical pharmacology, cardiology and metabolic
medicine. The Mechanisms of Disease group has a special interest in cardiovascular disease
research and consists of senior academic staff, research, clinical and administrative staff. The
group is currently involved in a number of major national and international clinical and Cardiology
studies
Part of the Mechanisms of Disease Group, the Cardiac Physiologist will undertake a range of
highly specialised physiological tests and procedures across a spectrum of clinical investigations
(e.g. Echocardiography, Tissue Doppler Imaging, bi-ventricular pacemaker optimisation,
cardiopulmonary exercise testing and lung function tests).
Key responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities


Perform a variety of non-invasive cardiac and vascular investigations including routine
echocardiograms, MV02 exercise testing, bi-ventricular optimisations, 3D echocardiograms,
ECG, chemoreflex breathing tests and carotid IMT imaging
Take responsibility for the calibration and continued safe maintenance of ultrasound machines
and other clinical investigation equipment
Cardiac Physiologist JD level 3b_June 2013

Undertake trials of new equipment available and provide researchers with specialist advice as
to the potential for such equipment
Research



Analyse and interpret the findings of the tests
Assess the relevance of these findings based on the research participant’s condition and plan
a course of action
Contribute to the writing of academic papers for peer-reviewed publications
Information


Update regularly the Principal Investigator (PI) and research study teams on the progress of
each research study and promptly report any difficulties encountered
Communicate complex, specialised information both verbally and in writing to a range of
different disciplines including the study Principal Investigator (PI), study collaborators,
research nurses, research support staff and the research participant’s General Practitioner
(GP).
Research Participants




Take responsibility for participant’s care while conducting clinical investigations
Present complex studies to research participants and their relatives
Ensure research participant’s understand all aspects of the clinical investigations and engage
in the informed consent process
Communicate tactfully and diplomatically with research participants taking part in sensitive
clinical investigations
Research Organisation






Participate in developing a programme of research within ICCH
Plan and organise own duties within each research study and, where appropriate, those of
other research team members
Participate in the set-up stage of each research study
Advise on reproducibility studies
Assess the resources required for individual research studies and propose the most
appropriate solution to complex situations
Contribute to the planning and development of research proposals involving clinical
investigations resources, such as staff and equipment
Training


Remain updated and undertake training in new skills as required with new research studies
Organise and undertake training of new staff in clinical investigations
Relationships


Act as a source of experience for a multi-disciplinary team and encourages collaboration
within ICCH, St Mary’s NHS Trust and Imperial College London
Develop and maintain effective relationships between the research and clinical areas
Cardiac Physiologist JD level 3b_June 2013
Responsibility for Policy/Service Development





Become familiar and participate in obtaining regulatory authority approvals prior to
commencing research studies e.g. ethical approval
Produce a manual of operations (MOP) for each clinical investigation performed
Take responsibility for updating all study documentation (including MOP)
Ensure that Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is observed and maintained
Seek and propose areas for service development within the Clinical Investigations Unit (CIU)
at ICCH
Responsibility for Information Resources


Contribute to the design of study case report forms (CRF) and study databases
Perform accurate data entries on to electronic databases and audit this process
Freedom to Act

Develop strategies to address all possible outcomes from clinical investigations in the
research environment
To observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, including the key policies
and procedures on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data Protection, Equal
Opportunities, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety, Imperial Expectations (for new
leaders, managers and supervisors), Information Technology, Private Engagements and
Register of Interests, and Smoking.
To undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set out on the
College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities page
(http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/safety/policies/organisationandarrangements).
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to undertake
other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination.
All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in its Equal Opportunities in
Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and all other relevant
guidance/practice frameworks.
Cardiac Physiologist JD level 3b_June 2013
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education and Qualifications
Essential



Clinical Physiology Degree/Equivalent Qualification
ILS trained
BSE accreditation
Desirable



ALS – (advanced life support)
Pacing Qualification (BPEG, HRUK)
MSc in health related subject
Experience and Knowledge
Essential



Experience of performing echocardiography and exercise tests unsupervised.
Experience of reporting on echocardiogram tests
Experience of ECG interpretation
Desirable





Experience of performing cardiopulmonary exercise tests.
Experience of performing biventricular optimisation
Knowledge of vascular scanning including carotid IMT scans
Experience of performing pacemaker follow-up
Experience of performing ICD follow-up
Skills and Abilities
Essential









To be available for flexible work hours to cover research studies
Good computer skills
Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
Ability to work with others across disciplinary boundaries
Ability to contribute to the writing of papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals
Ability to work independently, self-motivated, with a minimum of supervision
Ability to present information effectively both verbally at meetings and in written project reports
Ability to organise workload and project
Understanding of the research process
Cardiac Physiologist JD level 3b_June 2013
Personal Qualities
Essential





Motivated, approachable and responsible
Tactful and diplomatic in dealing with others
Good timekeeping
Reliable work record
Committed to further education
Cardiac Physiologist JD level 3b_June 2013