Clinical Responsibilities: To ensure continuing professional development in order to maintain adult accreditation in Echocardiography. To acquire the appropriate CPD points to re-accredit every 5 years. To comply with an ongoing clinical competency development framework. To assess the clinical justification of Cardio-Respiratory referrals in line with both national regulations (DOH) and local protocols. To work as a fully qualified independent reporting Echocardiographer. Ensuring detailed analysis is provided upon which the Physician can make accurate diagnostic and treatment decisions. To participate in dobutamine stress echocardiography, exercise echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography. To advise and train other staff groups with regard to both Echo and ECG recording and interpretation. To ensure all patient records are accurate and up to date. To ensure any problems are drawn to the attention of the referring physician in a timely and appropriate manner. To match the clinical indications presented by the referrer to a departmental protocol where appropriate. To manage theoretical and practical knowledge of Cardio-Respiratory investigations to enable protocols to be modified in an appropriate manner when necessary. To be physically able to move moderately heavy items of equipment. To be able to physically position the patient for the full range of examinations, whilst ensuring that patient comfort and patient safety are maintained at all times, whilst considering patient limitations and adapting standard techniques where necessary. To monitor specific communication needs of individual patients. To anticipate where communication difficulties might make completion of the safety checklist impossible and to implement alternative methods to ensure that patient safety is maintained. To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after an examination. In particular, to be sensitive to patient anxiety and to be able to help patients overcome their anxiety so that the examination can be performed. To ensure that reports are presented in a timely and accurate manner. To ensure that urgent findings are communicated and patients are directed accordingly. To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary. Paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linen. To undertake other duties as and when required by the demands of the service. Operational Responsibilities: To undertake all types of Cardio-Respiratory examinations and provide a detailed report as required. To work within protocols for all aspects of the service, keeping up with changing technology and evidenced based research. To keep abreast of current techniques and put forward any new and innovative ideas, for agreement with those involved. To participate in the safe transfer of patients and equipment within the department and Hospital, using manual handling guidelines and risk assessment. To adapt and quickly respond to changes in service, patients or departmental need. To monitor and report deficits in the data integrity of the Information systems and PACs in use in the department. To reflect on systems of work and communicate areas of deficit or potential advancement. To report clinical and non-clinical incidents in line with HSC and Departmental Risk Management policies. To play an active part in the Quality Assurance programme of the service covering both equipment and service issues. Attend departmental and hospital meetings as appropriate. To lead by example in the promotion of clinical excellence in both professional and technical standards. To undertake other duties as and when required by the demands of the service, or by Cardio-Respiratory Department Manager. To be familiar with the range of technical applications available on equipment. To monitor and report equipment faults and to determine the severity of a problem and its probable impact on the workload. To make a balanced judgement on when to call in a service engineer, considering the effect on the normal running of the Cardio-Respiratory service. To liaise with equipment suppliers regarding attendance of an engineer at a suitable time in the event of minor faults or immediately in the event of total equipment failure. To re-arrange the work list in the event of equipment failure, being responsive to the inconvenience caused by patients by short notice cancellation of appointments. Training, Research and Development: To participate in the induction programme within the Cardio-Respiratory Department for new and newly promoted Physiologists, ensuring that acceptable standards are established, documented and maintained. To participate in training within Echocardiography and Electrocardiography for departmental staff and nurses. Also, to participate in training for other staff groups within HSC. To assist in the Echocardiography training for physiologists undertaking the BSE accreditation process. To assist with the Cardio-Respiratory standards, practice and training of staff and students within the Cardio-Respiratory Department. To undertake research in appropriate areas of practice and assess research proposals which could improve the Cardio-Respiratory service. To assist in the supervision and clinical instruction of undergraduate staff. To prepare and present short presentations or lectures for staff and participate in the CPD programme for all staff. To actively participate in the technical and patient focused aspects of the departments Audit programme. To conduct examinations according to protocol for a range of clinical trials. To evaluate technology and its clinical application. To provide training in the use of clinical equipment for other staff. Advising on appropriate record keeping. To keep up to date with new developments in the field of Cardio-Respiratory and to be involved in the implementation of such within the department. To provide safety training for other staff and for staff from other departments. To provide pastoral support for new staff.