Senior Lecturer in Simulation Medicine/ Consultant Cardiologist

Post Date : 04-Mar-2024 Close Date : 05-Apr-2024

Job Title: Senior Lecturer in Simulation Medicine/ Consultant Cardiologist

Reporting To: Clinical Director / Head of Department

Location: Connolly Hospital / RCSI Education & Research Centre, Connolly Hospital

Contract type/duration: Permanent: Public Only Consultant Contract 2023

Hours: Connolly Hospital (18.5 hrs per week) and RCSI (18.5 hrs per week) Closing date for applications: Close of business – April 5th 2024

Interview date: April/May 2024

RSCI HOSPITAL GROUP PROFILE

The RCSI Hospital Group serves populations in five counties – North Dublin, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. The area stretches from the north banks of the River Liffey in Dublin City Centre, north to the border with Northern Ireland, and west to the border with County Donegal. It comprises urban, rural and commuter belt areas, and covers approximately 6,817 square kilometres in total. There is considerable variation in population density from a low of 39 persons per square kilometre in Cavan to a high of 4,139 persons per square kilometre in north Dublin city. Residents of neighbouring areas such as South Dublin and Kildare also access hospitals for secondary care and maternity services. Connolly Hospital is a Level 3 teaching hospital and provides secondary and tertiary care. The Cardiology Department at Connolly Hospital has 1.9 WTE full time Consultant Cardiologists and a 1.0 WTE locum cardiologist. The team provides general cardiology services for a regional catchment area from the geographic area north and west Dublin, north Co. Kildare, Co Meath and south Co. Louth, encompassing a population of greater than 331,000 people, distributed across the CHO areas 7,8 and 9. The Department has a 6-bedded Coronary Care Unit, 15 monitored cardiology beds, a chest pain assessment unit and cardiac diagnostics which provide inpatient, outpatient and day patient care.

The RCSI catchment area has experienced rapid population expansion in recent years, growing from approximately 640,000 in 2002 to 817,522 in 2011.

This population growth is projected to continue, reaching almost 875,000 by 2021.

Provisional preliminary data from Census 2016 suggests that the population in the catchment area has now reached approximately 864,000.

The catchment covers a large area, including urban, rural and commuter areas, each presenting different challenges for service delivery.

The area includes a relatively young population, with 10% of the population aged 65 and over, compared with 11.7% nationally.

Some areas within the catchment include higher proportions of older people. In particular, in the area around Beaumont hospital (Dublin North Outer City), 15.4% of the population are aged 65 and over, while Cavan and Monaghan each have approximately 12% of the population aged 65+.

Further information about the RCSI Hospital Group can be found at our website: https:// www. rcsihospitals.ie/

RCSI: UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

RCSI is a degree awarding health sciences university specialising in medical education, surgical training and research. As a global institution with undergraduate medical programmes in Dublin, Bahrain and Malaysia; Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Postgraduate Studies and Nursing; and Leadership Institutes in Ireland and Dubai, RCSI has a broad international reach and the ability to unlock significant advancement for patient safety and clinical outcomes worldwide.

Since RCSI's establishment as the home of surgical training in Ireland in 1784, the institution has stayed true to its noble purpose: ‘to enhance human health through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service.' For over two centuries, across five international campuses, RCSI has welcomed students, surgical trainees, faculty and researchers from every corner of the world and nurtured them to become inspirational healthcare leaders that have gone on to practice in 97 countries across the world.

Ranked in 2022 in the top 250 universities worldwide (2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings), RCSI has acquired an international reputation for excellence and enterprise and is regarded as one of Ireland's leading health sciences research institutions. RCSI has ranked first in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG Impact Rankings 2023. RCSI is the most cited university in Ireland in clinical medicine and amongst the Top 50 in the World for ‘International Outlook.'

RCSI's strong research culture sees it attract high levels of competitive research funding. As an independent institution RCSI is agile, with a long history of innovation. RCSI is also a research-intensive university. Our research agenda drives scientific breakthroughs, innovations, and insights in areas such as Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Cancer, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Population Health and Health Sciences, Surgical Science and Practice, and Vascular Biology.

RCSI is the only medical school internationally to have successfully replicated its curricula across three time zones and the first in Ireland to have built clinical research facilities on a hospital site. RCSI's education programmes are noted for their contemporary curricula and innovative teaching methods. Our faculty are award-winning academics, clinicians and researchers who have been independently recognised by prestigious institutions including the Health Research Board, the Royal Irish Academy and UNESCO.

RCSI students are part of an international community of 4,500 students from Ireland and more than 95 other countries. On graduation, RCSI students join a global alumni network of more than 26,000 healthcare professionals working across 97 countries worldwide, which includes some of the world's most distinguished and award-winning medical professionals in their fields.

In 2017, RCSI opened 26 York Street, an €80 million investment to create the most advanced simulation based medical and surgical training facility in Europe (pictured right below). A new State of the art Education and RCSI Research Centre will open in Connolly mid 2024.

RCSI seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2021-2024” at RCSI. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. Our values of R espect, C ollaboration, S cholarship and I nnovation continue to unite and direct our purpose. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent.

CONNOLLY HOSPITAL PROFILE

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.

Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown is a Level 3 academic teaching hospital located in west Dublin. Connolly has a very busy Emergency Department and delivers acute care to patients in West Dublin and parts of Meath and North Kildare, with a catchment area exceeding 330,000 people. Connolly Hospital Provides a mix of surgical and medical specialties, including a growing non- invasive Cardiology Department.

Tradition

Connolly Hospital officially opened as “James Connolly Memorial Hospital” in 1955 as a TB sanatorium and was redesignated as a general hospital in 1973. Connolly underwent significant expansion in 2005, with an new Emergency Department, new medical and surgical wings and enhanced surgical theatre facilities. Connolly Hospital has a strong tradition of medical education, and the OSCE (Objective Structed Clinical Examination) was developed by Prof Gleeson at the Hospital. Connolly Hospital is the home of year 2 Graduate Entry Medicine RCSI students.

Connolly Hospital is proud of its family friendly policies and is an employer of choice for flexible working options. The Hospital is open to consider flexible working arrangement requests for the filling of these posts.

Cardiology at Connolly Hospital:

The Department of Cardiology at Connolly Hospital has 1.9 WTE Consultant Cardiologists who provide general cardiology services including inpatient, outpatient and day-care. The Department has a 5-bedded Coronary Care Unit and 15 monitored cardiology beds. The team also provides specialised arrhythmia and heart failure services.

The Department performs all standard non-invasive cardiac investigations and some specialised electrophysiology tests. It also provides a comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation programme and a dedicated Heart Failure Disease Management Programme. The Cardiology inpatient service at Connolly is consultant delivered as a consultant team, with daily ward-rounds. Patients are managed by the team and this facilitates early and efficient discharges, providing a true 7/7 service.

Clinical care is delivered according to national guidelines, with active participation in the Primary PCI strategy and on-going audit and data feedback as part of the National Heart Failure Programme. The Department has close ties with St. Francis' Hospice and provides palliative care services to patients with advanced cardiovascular disease. Connolly Hospital also has close links with the newly established Community Cardiology/Integrated Care Programme.

The Department trains Specialist Registrars, Non-SpR Registrars, Basic Specialist Trainees in Medicine, undergraduate medical and nursing students. There is interdisciplinary learning and the Department has supervised medical, nursing and pharmacy projects and theses.

The Department consistently receives positive feedback from the training provided to Specialist Registrars, Basic Specialist Trainees in Medicine and Graduate Entry Medical students. There are three weekly scheduled teaching sessions and a journal club. There is interdisciplinary learning and the Department has supervised medical, nursing and pharmacy projects and theses. The Department trains Physician Associates, in the anticipation of growing the multi-disciplinary team and meeting future healthcare needs more sustainably. One of the sitting consultants has formal academic sessions at the RCSI and is module co-ordinator for Cardiology Graduate Entry Medicine.

The unit has strong academic reputation and a number of clinical research fellows have completed their higher degrees through the department and RCSI over the last 20 years.

Job Description and Responsibilities

The Objective of the role

There are three major components to this role (1) Teaching and Education, (2) Research, and (3) Service to Connolly Hospital. The successful candidate will be expected to divide their time evenly between their clinical work and their academic work. The vision for the academic portion is that the post holder will help further develop Connolly into an academic centre of excellence. The post holder will be expected to be heavily involved in education and teaching – enhancing RCSI's teaching programme on an ongoing basis. They will engage with academic and teaching colleagues. They will drive, develop and support research within the Department/Centre.

The newly appointed consultant will be required to provide innovative teaching in Simulation Medicine, drive innovation and research most notably into medical education. They will provide senior academic leadership and coordination to academic programmes, and develop and deliver educational packages in Cardiology, Cardiac Diagnostics Techniques, Cardiac Therapeutics, and Cardiovascular Physiology.

Standard Duties and Responsibilities for all Consultant posts are as per Section 4 and Section 10 of the POCC23

To participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant's area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and in line with policies as specified by the Employer.

To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.

To ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and to respond to their views.

To work within the framework of the hospital / agency's service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.

To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure (attached at Appendix II).

To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director / Employer periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan shall be reviewed periodically at the request of the Consultant or Clinical Director / Employer. The Consultant may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Service Plan.

To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed.

The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures.

To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant's area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request.

To ensure, in consultation with the Clinical Director, that appropriate medical cover is available at all times having due regard to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to doctors in training.

To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant's care.

To participate as a right and obligation in selection processes for non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as required. The Employer shall ensure that a Consultant representative of the relevant specialty / sub-specialty is involved in the selection process.

To participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.

To participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery.

To promote interdisciplinary working between relevant specialities

Provide High Quality Clinical Care

To develop and maintain the competencies required to carry out the duties required of the post.

To provide comprehensive acute and chronic respiratory care both within primary and secondary care settings.

To contribute to further developing the teaching programme

To contribute to further developing a vibrant research programme

Responsibilities will also include but are not limited to:

Responsibility for the delivery of cardiology and participation in the on- call rota.

Contribute to the running of the general and specialist cardiology services.

Involved in the teaching programme within the unit and participate in the RCSI education programmes.

Contribute to the development of the service of medicine within the hospital.

Perform regular audit, complete annual CPD requirements and undertake research were appropriate.

Attracting peer reviewed funding and MD/ PhD students to the Department of Cardiology.

The above is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Core Role Competencies

Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills including an understanding of the management and importance of value for money, whilst at the same time show awareness and appreciation of the service user.

Demonstrate an ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

Show leadership and team management skills including the ability to work with multi-disciplinary team members.

Evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives, colleagues and students with dignity and respect.

Effective communication skills including: the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner; the ability to facilitate and manage groups through the learning process; the ability to give constructive feedback to encourage learning

Ability to contribute to curriculum planning, development and delivery, including exam and assessment methods

Ability to develop, deliver and facilitate engaging classes including case-based learning sessions

Show evidence of a developing a relevant research portfolio

Note: Applicants must be registered in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the specialty of Cardiology.

The Process:

Interview and presentation

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a formal competence-based interview and presentation. Interviews will be arranged for April/May 2024.

Informal Enquiries:

Informal enquiries on the process are invited in the first instance through Judy Walsh, RCS Human Resources Department (email: [email protected]). Professor Jim O'Neill, [email protected]. consultant cardiologist at Connolly is available to take queries on the clinical and academic aspects of the post. All applications for this post must be made through the career's webpage www. rcsi/careers.