Cardiac Device Specialist 2 @ Marietta
Wellstar Health Systems

Facility: 55 Whitcher Street

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

A Brief Overview

The Cardiac Device Specialist 2 (CD-2) is an allied healthcare professional who provides direct patient care by optimizing individual therapy delivered by the patient's cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). Works in partnership with the patient by assessing patient symptoms, analyzing heart rhythms, interrogating, and advanced reprogramming of cardiac implantable electronic devices. Provides direct patient care in-person and via remote monitoring. Works with various brands of CIED using the most up to date standards. Composes accurate report of device interrogation and reprogramming for final approval by Cardiac Electrophysiologist. Documents pertinent clinical data in the electronic health record. The CD-2 is a middle level position which requires prior experience and/or specialized training to obtain this position. Requires annual proven competency to maintain this level of patient care. The CD-2 may supervise up to three device technologists (CD-1). The CD-2 works under the supervision of Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CD-3), EP APP, and Cardiac Electrophysiologist.

What you will do

• Patient Liaison
  A. Provides relationship-based patient centered care that is consistent with population specific characteristics (e.g., age, gender, disease, etc.) in a manner that adapts service delivery to reflect an understanding of cultural diversity.
  B. Always works in partnership with the patient and significant others and/or family (as appropriate) using appropriate method for setting and purpose. Keeping the patient at ease in the physician's office and remotely while keeping the patient's goals as the focus of the plan of care.
  C. The Cardiac Device Specialist (CD-2) is an allied healthcare professional who can analyze and reprogram various brands of implantable loop recorders, pacemakers, and defibrillators under the direction of Certified Cardiac Device Supervisor (CD-3), Cardiac Electrophysiology APP, and Cardiac Electrophysiologist to provide safe and effective therapy to patients via cardiac implantable electronic devices.
  D. Must be able to efficiently evaluate underlying heart rhythms, proper device function, and adjust cardiac implantable device settings safely to maintain and improve the proper function of the cardiac device and safely optimize patient health.
  E. Responsible for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) management, device clinic procedures and follow-ups. This includes evaluating CIED electrograms for the purpose of determining and troubleshooting device function, clinical interrogation, clinical programming, review of patient algorithms, and device testing after implant procedures. Provide safe and effective therapy to patients via cardiac implantable electronic devices.
  F. Performs device interrogation and reprogramming of all CIED devices using best practice guidelines and established practice protocols. Must be able to efficiently evaluate underlying heart rhythms, proper device function, and adjust cardiac implantable device settings safely to maintain and improve the proper function of the cardiac device and safely optimize patient health.
  G. Must have an advanced understanding and application of the technical aspects of cardiac device function to specific patient care is expected, which includes identifying arrhythmias, assessing symptoms, reviewing patients' medical history and medications, and effectively reporting findings from the cardiac device to the physician and/or pertinent allied healthcare professionals.
  H. Discuss with and educate patients on the purpose of their device, how to live with their device, and expectations regarding battery life, generator changes, etc.
  I. Contact and/or discuss any symptoms patient is having relevant to detections and/or therapies from CIED.
  J. Discuss and educate patients regarding recommendations for in-person and remote monitoring as well as MD follow up.
  K. Trouble shoot remote monitor with patient. 40%
• Teamwork and Collaboration
  A. Coordinates the delivery and documentation of safe quality patient care that promotes the professional care delivery model. This includes but is not limited to diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary communication methods (huddles, interdisciplinary rounds), completion of timely documentation and promotion of a respectful, inclusive clinical environment.
  B. Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment and retention of all healthcare team members.
  C. Communicate with patients and vendors to assist enrolling, troubleshooting, and ordering equipment to ensure remote connectivity and continuity of care.
  D. Maintains and analyzes algorithms and electrograms and other device interrogation data,
  and compose an accurate report for EP MD final review.
  E. Troubleshoots CIEDs and immediately takes steps to resolve problems, working with physicians and industry representatives as needed. Offers potential solutions as applicable to the patient and CIED programming.
  F. Escalate device problems, patient symptoms, acute/ urgent issues to the attention of the CD-3, APP or physician, and document all within electronic medical record (EMR) and CIED database.
  G. Responsible for following the status of all CIED patients, registering the patient and CIED internally in clinic database and with the manufacturer.
  H. Oversees remote CIED monitoring including scheduling, downloading clinical information, analyzing transmissions, and importing to database for physician review.
  I. Works with physicians, APP's, and device team to ensure alert thresholds and protocols remain current in the device clinic(s).
  J. Manages CIED recall notices from the manufacturers and for establishing and maintaining a remote monitoring program that includes scheduling, downloading, and analyzing CIED transmissions.
  K. Works with manager, supervisor, physicians, APP's, and device team to ensure protocols remain current and are followed in the CIED clinic(s).
  L. May oversee up to 3 Cardiac Device Technicians (CD-1) 20%
• Professional Development and Initiative
  A. Completes all initial and ongoing professional competency assessments, required mandatory education, and population specific education.
  B. May be asked to serve as a preceptor for onboarding Cardiac Device Technicians/Cardiac Device Specialists/students and is an exemplary role model for all staff or students for all disciplines to ensure that there is a current and future qualified workforce, modeling professionalism and creating a healthy work environment.
  C. After an initial preceptorship in clinic, the CDS is expected to progress to independent interrogation and reprogramming CIED for patients in clinic and via remote monitoring.
  D. Advanced understanding and application of the technical aspects of cardiac device function to specific patient care is expected, which includes identifying arrhythmias, assessing symptoms, reviewing patients' cardiac history and applicable medications, and effectively reporting findings from the cardiac device to supervising Certified Cardiac Device Specialist, pertinent allied healthcare professionals, or physician.
  E. Participate in continued medical education regarding updates to cardiac implantable devices.
  F. Participate in annual competency program. 20%
• Evidence Based Practice and Research
  A. Promotes Evidence based practice, regarding safe, quality patient care. Participates in activities such as value analysis as part of the decision-making process in evaluating patient care products.
  B. Upholds all health care system/organizational policies and procedures and clinical competencies put forth by this job description and professional association including legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards ensuring by way of example, such goals as TJC Patient Safety Goals and WellStar Health Systems' safety absolutes. May serve as practice Safety Coach.
  C. Participates in data collection poses relevant clinical questions to advanced evidence-based practice. Consults appropriate experts and uses appropriate resources and evidence to address practice questions.
  D. Review and accurately interpret ILR, pacemaker, and ICD arrhythmia tracings in clinic and remotely.
  E. Review CIED alerts. Recognize arrhythmias, issues related to CIED function, and need for intervention.
  F. Effectively interrogate ILRs, pacemakers, and ICDs in person. Recognize arrhythmias, issues related to CIED function, and need for intervention.
  G. Perform programming changes related to sensing and pacing of device and/or arrhythmia detection zones. 10%
• Resources and Support
  A. Participates in the development of protocols and procedures when called upon or through self-initiation in collaboration with supervisors/managers and other members of the health care team to achieve best practice outcomes (i.e., relevant patient populations).
  B. Supports efficient and effective use of human and material resources.
  C. Maintains process for manufacturer recalls and follows CIED recall requirements under direction of EP cardiologist.
  D. Utilizes industry manufacturer resources, ACC/HRS approved guidelines, practices guidelines, etc. 10%

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year Patient care experience with exposure to cardiac patients and cardiac rhythm interpretation (ECG or telemetry) Required
• Minimum 1 year Patient care experience with exposure to implantable cardiac devices and their programming and complex arrhythmia recognition Preferred
• Minimum 1 year Checking CIED devices in the industry (such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, etc.) or clinic setting Preferred
• Minimum 1 year Managing CIED remote device transmission and remote monitoring download of data and transferring to EMR system Preferred

• Basic Life Support
• BLS - Instructor
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• ACLS - Instructor
• ACLS - Provisional
• WCCC CIED Exam Required Annually

Our people are passionate about what they do, the product they sell, and the customers they serve. If you're looking for an opportunity to be an opportunity to be a part of a work family that values collaboration, innovation and dedication, we're the right company for you.

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