Ryan Stevens - trainee cardiac scientist

What does your job involve?

Education and work-based learning

As a first year cardiac scientist trainee a core part of my role is to gain experience and learn skills in interrelated departments whilst gathering evidence of competence. Rotations in cardiology, respiratory and vascular science highlight the multifaceted nature of disease and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in disease management. The role involves practical learning in other areas such as radiology and biochemistry and understanding how this relates to alternative diagnoses / treatments.

What role did you and your team play in the COVID-19 response?

Our cardiac scientists have been integral in supporting overrun and short staffed areas through redeployment. I have been doing a supportive role for the oncology / haematology wards and day units collecting blood for transfusions, chemotherapy, patient medicines and taking urgent blood samples to the biochemistry labs. Last year one of our trainees created a Covid-19 diagnostic and clinical decision pathway which was published in the BMJ’s Postgraduate Medical Journal (opens in a new tab).

Following a Covid-19 department risk assessment we adapted our workplace by allocating a maximum number of people to be allowed in each room, installing safety screens, displaying signs encouraging social distancing and detailing PPE procedures and installing additional hand sanitisers.

We continued to provide essential services for high priority patients via the rapid access chest pain and heart failure pathways and cardio-oncology patients. The department have adapted working practices by performing focused inpatient echo scans for Covid-19 patients following triage. Designated machines for Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 scans avoid cross contamination in addition to stringent cleaning protocols and switching our monthly meetings online.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Constantly learning new things and interacting with patients. It is incredibly rewarding to know that the testing, analysis and report writing that we do are an important part of the patient’s treatment.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Healthcare scientists have shown great versatility in response to Covid-19 including delivery of drive through spirometry and phlebotomy services. Healthcare scientists can play a leading role in producing more innovative solutions like this in the coming months.