POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reference Number : 400330

Recruitment Type General Recruitment
Position Number : 623820
Position Title : Senior Medical Practitioner – Cardiology– Visiting Medical Officer
Cost Centre Code %
Cost Centre :
RYD Cardiology Dept Prj 00 GEN 262844 100
Organisation unit : Northern Sydney Local Health District
Location : Ryde
Facility : Ryde Hospital
Award Classification : Visiting Medical Officers Sessional Contracts-Visiting Medical Officer
Registration/
Licence Medical Practitioner
Requirements :
Vaccination Category
A
:
Employment Screening Check
National Criminal
Yes
Record Check :
Working With
Children Yes
Background Check :
Working With Aged
No
Care Check :

l) Operational - Director Medical Services

ll) CLinical -lll) - Head of Department, Cardiology, Director Medical Services

Responsible To :

lll) Professional - Director Medical Services, Ryde

lV) Academic - Northern Sydney Clinical School

Junior Medical Officers

Responsible For :
 Provide a clinical management and consultation service to patients with cardiology
Purpose Of Position : conditions and particpate in an appropriate on-call roster for Ryde Hospital.

CLINICAL:

Provide a speciality service consistent within the defined scope of practice for Ryde
Hospital and where applicable in the community.

Provide a specialist consultation service as required by other Senior Medical Staff.

Participate in an on call roster determined by the Head of Department, and Director

Medical Services.

Liaise with other health professionals involved in patient management and care.

Comply with hospital / Local Health District (LHD) / Ministry of Health policies and
procedures regarding the prescription of medications and ordering of tests.

Supervise and commit to accurate documentation in and completion of medical records

to reflect clinical decisions, tests, procedures and discharge diagnoses.

Comply with patient admission and discharge policies: including documentation,

planning of admission/discharge, day of procedure admission, timely discharge.

Supervision of junior staff, formal handover, communication between clinicians with

deteriorating patients, and meet standards of care.

When on call, a VMO must be within accessible distance in order to respond to urgent
and precipitous events.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO PATIENTS:

Provide clinical management and timely treatment of patients under your care both as
an inpatient and where applicable in the community under the LHD ambulatory care
model.

Perform ward rounds as required for inpatient care as far as possible within the normal
working hours of the Unit (8am – 5pm).

Ensure appropriate arrangements are made for patients on discharge from hospital to
maximise continuity of care and good health outcomes.

Liaise with patient family and carers as appropriate.

Liaison with community health services and other government and non-government
agencies in the coordinated provision of care

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:
 Attend departmental, hospital and LHD meetings as required.

Participate in hospital and LHD committees which may include providing expert advice
(in conjunction with colleagues) regarding equipment, clinical service development and
future directions.

Participate in at least 75% of your departmental Morbidity and Mortality meetings.

Participate in clinical quality activities – including peer review, clinical practice audit,
Root Cause Analysis and London Protocols.

Provide a minimum of four weeks’ notification to Director Medical Services of

planned/intended leave arrangements, ensuring any on-call commitments are covered
by an appropriate colleague by agreement through department internal relief.

Notify Director of Medical Services of any event likely to give rise to a medico-legal
claim or complaint, and complete the appropriate Notification of Incident Form for TMF
Claims.

QUALITY AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

Initiate and participate in appropriate departmental and hospital quality assurance and
risk management projects.

Participate in organisational accreditation processes.

Participate in departmental Mortality and Morbidity meetings, Sentinel Event meetings,

or peer review meetings.

Systematically review clinical performance of self and department.

Key Accountabilities :

Participate in patient complaint reviews and response to patient complaints.

Participate in Root Cause Analysis teams as requested.

Initiate research and develop projects relevant to the clinical discipline that assist in the
development of new or revised clinical pathways and protocols.

SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

Involvement in multidisciplinary supervision, training and education – including Nursing,

Allied Health, Junior Medical Staff, other members of the multidisciplinary team and
Emergency Department staff.

Supervise Junior Medical Staff to the standards required by the relevant training
authority (includes prescribing, ordering of tests, general mentoring, documentation of
patient care).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND MAINTENACE

OF STANDARDS:
Meet the recertification and Continuing Professional Development standards of your
College and Medical Board of Australia

Disclose your recertification standing to the Hospital if asked.

Develop and implement for oneself, a professional plan which is reviewed and updated
regularly in the annual performance appraisal.

Show evidence of Continuing Medical Education (CPD).

GENERAL DUTIES:

Comply with relevant Acts of Parliament, professional conduct, Health Service Code of
Conduct, WHS, EEO, and Bullying and Harassment and other LHD policies and
procedures.

Use LHD resources efficiently, minimising cost and wastage, and ensure waste products
are disposed of in line with LHD waste management guidelines.

Report any risk identified (eg: WHS, Clinical, Financial, Technology, Public Image) to
the manager and request a risk assessment. Participate in risk management activities.

Co-operate with other staff members to ensure that duty requirements and standards
are being met and maintained.

Perform all other delegated tasks appropriately and in line with grading and capabilities.

CLINICAL PRIVILEGES AND SCOPE OF CLINICAL PRACTICE: The following

privileges are associated with this position:

ADMITTING (Right to admit patients within designated specialty under the

practitioner’s own name) – YES

CONSULTING (Right to be consulted by another practitioner regarding patients

admitted / being treated by that practitioner) – YES

DIAGNOSTIC (Right to report on diagnostic investigations performed on patients

admitted under the care of another practitioner) –YES

OPERATING THEATRES (Right to open an Operating Theatre and operate on

appropriately referred patients) – NO

DAY SURGERY (Right to open a theatre in the Day Surgery Centre and operate on
appropriately referred patients) – NO

OUTPATIENTS (Right to hold an outpatient clinic in the practitioner’s own name or to

participate in a multidisciplinary clinic, taking final responsibility for the care of patients
attending the clinic) – YES
 ON CALL (Right to participate in on-call roster for the relevant specialty) – YES

TEACHING (Right to participate in undergraduate / postgraduate teaching and interact

with patients in the context of teaching) – YES

RESEARCH (Right to carry out research activities and interact with patients in the
context of research) – YES

All staff are expected to take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect
the health and safety of others, that they comply with any reasonable instruction that is
given them and with any reasonable policies/procedures relating to health or safety in
the workplace, as well as notifying any hazards/risks or incidents to their managers.

Delivery of medical services within the Department to ensure the Department provides
Challenges/Problem agreed service delivery and meets relevant performance benchmarks and expenditure
Solving : and revenue targets.

EXTERNAL:

Verbal and written communication as appropriate using face to face contact, telephone,
mail and email with:

Medical Practitioners;

Nursing and Allied Health Practitioners;

Other LHD Administration Staff, Management and Executive.

INTERNAL:

Verbal and written communication as appropriate using face to face contact, telephone,
Communication :
mail and email with:

Patients and their families;

 Medical Practitioners, also at other sites;

Nursing and Allied Health practitioners, also at other sites;

NSLHD Administration Staff, Management and Executive;

NSW Ministry of Health and other Local Health District staff as may be required.

Clinical Decision Making in accordance with Clinical Privileges as granted to the medical
practitioner on appointment.

Decision Making :

Administrative Decision Making in accordance with duties delegated to the role.

Selection Criteria
MBBS or equivalent, currently registered or eligible for registration with the Medical
Board of Australia.
Recognised specialist qualification, Fellow of Royal Australian College of Physicians and
/ or other specialist recognition as provided for in the Public Hospitals (Visiting Medical
Officers sessional Determination 2014). Appropriate advanced training in Cardiology to
meet College requirements.
Selection Criteria : Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Evidence of and commitment to lead and work within a multidisciplinary team
environment
Appropriate experience to practice as a Senior Medical Practitioner in Cardiology with
current TTE skills.
Evidence of and commitment to medical education including the delivery of teaching
programs
Evidence of and commitment to quality improvement methodologies

Nil
Staffing :

Nil
Budget :

Nil
Financial Delegation:

JOB DEMANDS CHECKLIST

Physical Demands
Frequency
Sitting - remaining in a seated position to perform tasks Occasional
Standing - remaining standing without moving about to perform tasks Frequent
Walking - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Occasional
Running - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Occasional
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist - Forward bending from the waist to perform tasks Occasional
Trunk Twisting - Turning from the waist while sitting or standing to perform tasks Occasional
Kneeling - remaining in a kneeling posture to perform tasks Occasional
Squatting / Crouching - Adopting a squatting or crouching posture to perform tasks Occasional
Leg / Foot Movement - Use of leg and / or foot to operate machinery Occasional
Climbing (stairs/ladders) - Ascend / descend stairs, ladders, steps Not Applicable
Lifting / Carrying - Light lifting & carrying: 0 - 9 kg Occasional
Lifting / Carrying - Moderate lifting & carrying: 10 - 15 kg Occasional
Lifting / Carrying - Heavy lifting & carrying: 16kg & above Occasional
Reaching - Arms fully extended forward or raised above shoulder Occasional
Pushing / Pulling / Restraining - Using force to hold / restrain or move objects toward
Occasional
or away from the body
Head / Neck Postures - Holding head in a position other than neutral (facing forward) Frequent
Hand & Arm Movements - Repetitive movements of hands and arms Frequent
Grasping / Fine Manipulation - Gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands Frequent
Work At Heights - Using ladders, footstools, scaffolding, or other objects to perform work Not Applicable
Driving - Operating any motor powered vehicle Occasional
Sensory Demands
Frequency
Sight - Use of sight is an integral part of work performance e.g. Viewing of X-Rays,
Frequent
computer screens
Hearing - Use of hearing is an integral part of work performance e.g. Telephone enquiries Frequent
Smell - Use of smell is an integral part of work performance e.g. Working with chemicals Occasional
Taste - Use of taste is an integral part of work performance e.g. Food preparation Not Applicable
Touch - Use of touch is an integral part of work performance Frequent
Psychosocial Demands
Frequency
Distressed People - e.g. Emergency or grief situations Frequent
Aggressive & Uncooperative People - e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness Frequent
Unpredictable People - e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries Frequent
Restraining - involvement in physical containment of patients / clients Occasional
Exposure to Distressing Situations - e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies Occasional
Environmental Demands
Frequency
Dust - Exposure to atmospheric dust Not Applicable
Gases - Working with explosive or flammable gases requiring precautionary measures Occasional
Fumes - Exposure to noxious or toxic fumes Not Applicable
Liquids - Working with corrosive, toxic or poisonous liquids or chemicals requiring PPE Occasional
Hazardous substances - e.g. Dry chemicals, glues Not Applicable
Noise - Environmental / background noise necessitates people raise their voice to be heard Infrequent
Inadequate Lighting - Risk of trips, falls or eyestrain Occasional
Sunlight - Risk of sunburn exists from spending more than 10 minutes per day in sunlight Not Applicable
Extreme Temperatures - Environmental temperatures are less than 15C or more than
Not Applicable
35C
Confined Spaces - areas where only one egress (escape route) exists Not Applicable
Slippery or Uneven Surfaces - Greasy or wet floor surfaces, ramps, uneven ground Not Applicable
Inadequate Housekeeping - Obstructions to walkways and work areas cause trips and
Not Applicable
falls
Working At Heights - Ladders / stepladders / scaffolding are required to perform tasks Not Applicable
Biological Hazards - e.g. exposure to body fluids, bacteria, infectious diseases Frequent

As the incumbent of this position, I confirm I have read the Position Description and Job Demands
Checklist, understand its content and agree to work in accordance with the requirements of the position.

Employee Name: _______________________________

Employee Signature _______________________________ Date: ________________

Manager's Name: _______________________________

Manager's Signature _______________________________ Date: ________________