Paediatric Cardiologist

This role requires capable and autonomous management of surgical patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND AND ORGANISATION OF WORK

The Paediatric Cardiologist will work as part of a team of international specialists – experts or in training – organising and directing the training of the local medical and health care staff, in collaboration with the Medical Coordinator who is in charge of the management and organisation of the project.
Other international specialists , experts in the area of Cardiovascular Diseases, are involved in treating patients and conducting research activities.

The main areas of work are:

• TRIAGE: first evaluation of entering cases and evaluation of hospital patients coming back for some clinical reason;
• CARDIOLOGICAL OPD: 3 equipped rooms for diagnosis of triaged and operated follow-up patients or patients waiting for the operation;
• INR: clinic dedicated to the control of patients under chronic anticoagulant therapy;
• HEMODYNAMICS: 1 completely equipped room for diagnostic or interventional procedures. Activities of diagnostic hemodynamic angiography and coronary catheterization and endovascular treatments for ischemic cardio pathology; diagnosis and treatment of congenital pathologies.
• WARD: 32 ward beds and 16 sub-ICU beds. Diagnosis activities and care in pre and post-operative phase.

In addition, clinical consultancy and diagnostic procedures (electrocardiography, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography) in:

• OPERATING THEATRES: 3 operating theatres equipped to carry out Cardiac Surgery;
• INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: 15 fully equipped beds (2 isolation beds).

The Centre has the capacity to carry out up to 5-6 operations per day, as well as managing possible hospital emergencies. The number of specialists working alongside the Resident Physicians and local staff is variable; the workload is distributed in such a way as to guarantee patient care 24/7, with shifts and/or on-call duty including nights and holidays.

DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

All EMERGENCY international personnel are expected to know and follow the hospital admissions criteria, guide lines, protocols, and the diagnosis and treatment standards in use in the Centre, and to ensure the correct compilation of clinical records and statistics in both computer and paper formats.

The main duties and responsibilities of the international specialist Peadiatric Cardiologist are:

• diagnosis and prescription of the most appropriate care pathway;
• presentation of clinical cases to cardiac surgeon and cardiac anaesthetist colleagues for discussion and evaluation of indications for surgery;
• treatment and management of patients during the pre and post-operative phases, sometimes starting from day 1 (post-op);
• diagnostic procedures (electrocardiography, echocardiography, Cath Lab) during the stay;
• responsibility of operated patients follow-up;
• management and monitoring of anticoagulant therapy, if prescribed;
• (eventual) tutoring of resident doctors;
• clinical research and collection of cases in accordance with the scientific programs of the specialized sector of EMERGENCY Medical Division.

MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OF LOCAL PERSONNEL

Clinical activities and patient care are always carried out alongside and in collaboration with local personnel, who thus benefit from training in the field. There is also provision for more specific teaching activities, managed by the international specialists, in accordance with the Medical Coordinator of the hospital.

CASELOAD AND EQUIPMENT

“SALAM” CENTRE FOR CARDIAC SURGERY – Khartoum, Sudan

Patients with every type of congenital and acquired heart disease present at the centre. The caseload is extremely varied and may at times be pre-selected according to the experience of the specialists present in a given period. Most patients presenting at the hospital are seriously compromised: the main cause of this is that the health care system and therefore treatment, both in the country and in the region as a whole, is fee-paying.

Since 2007 the Salam Centre has been the only completely free cardiac surgery centre in the region. The Centre forms the scientific and operational nucleus of a web of paediatric clinics situated in neighbouring countries which also carry out screening and follow-up for both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery patients.
The most common pathologies treated are valvar cardiopathy of rheumatic origin (RHD – Rheumatic Heart Disease), congenital heart disease suitable for surgical treatment, and ischemic heart disease in the non-acute phase; over the past 5 years of activity (2008 – 2012) around 55% of patients admitted have been under 25 years of age.

The more frequent congenital cardiac diseases are:

• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Ventricular Septal Defect
• Atrial Septal Defect
• Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return
• Persistence of the ductus arteriosus
• Complete or partial AV block
• Sub aortic membranes

Due to the advanced level of work carried out, the equipment available and technical, architectural and managerial innovations, the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery is considered a centre of excellence at an international level.

GUIDELINES, PROTOCOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Further information on the guidelines, protocols and clinical services relevant to the post along with details of the instruments and equipment available will be provided at interview and during the period of preparation for the mission.

The general requirements and conditions are the same as for other international personnel roles.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Medical degree, and current professional registration on the medical register of your country of residence;
• specialisation in Cardiology or Diseases of the Cardiovascular System;
• relevant hospital experience in Cardiovascular departments (e.g. Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology, Cardiac ICU, Cardiac HDU, Coronary Care Unit, Cath Lab);
• echocardiographic and hemodynamic skills are also required.

For this role EMERGENCY is also seeking resident physicians: see here for further details.

REQUIRED AVAILABILITY

6 months overseas stay including a period of leave to be taken at the end of the mission in agreement with the coordinator. Shorter missions may only be considered for specific needs as defined by the organisation.

HOW TO APPLY

For further information and inquiries (not for applications): fo.recruiting@emergency.it. To apply, please complete the on-line application form: applications sent to this e-mail account will not be considered.

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