Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification
Background Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating specialised care through multidisciplinary valve clinics. However, there is a lack of a standardised training and certification framework for clinical scientists and specialist phys...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Open Heart |
| Online Access: | https://openheart.bmj.com/content/11/2/e002865.full |
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| _version_ | 1850063348519927808 |
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| author | Sheila Subbiah Sophie Bennett Ronak Rajani Brian Campbell Camelia Demetrescu Anna Hayes Can Zhou Jerusalem Fekadu Nathalie Aure Masha Sivalinganathan Lucy Bowen Curtis Page |
| author_facet | Sheila Subbiah Sophie Bennett Ronak Rajani Brian Campbell Camelia Demetrescu Anna Hayes Can Zhou Jerusalem Fekadu Nathalie Aure Masha Sivalinganathan Lucy Bowen Curtis Page |
| author_sort | Sheila Subbiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating specialised care through multidisciplinary valve clinics. However, there is a lack of a standardised training and certification framework for clinical scientists and specialist physiologists (CSSPs) working within specialist valve clinics (SVCs). This study aimed to design, implement and validate a competency framework dedicated to training and certifying valve CSSPs to enhance patient outcomes and establish standardised care.Methods A comprehensive competency framework was developed and implemented, consisting of two levels: Enhanced Valve Clinic Training (EVCT) and Advanced Valve Clinic Training (AVCT). The programme was trialled at Guy’s Valve Clinic, London, over a 12-month period. Validation was undertaken through trainee and patient feedback, including multiple-choice questions, clinical skills assessments, and patient satisfaction surveys.Results Nine CSSPs completed the EVCT and four the AVCT. All participants passed their certification examinations with scores ranging from 80% to 95%. The time to complete each programme averaged 6 months. After certification, clinical queries raised by EVCT trainees averaged 1.2 per session but dropped by 75% to 0.3 per session in the AVCT group, indicating greater confidence and independence in managing cases. Physician review of trainee-led cases led to additional tests or treatment changes in 23% of cases and referrals to physician clinics in 11%. Patient feedback was positive: 95% felt confident in the clinical scientists' knowledge, and 100% were satisfied with the clarity of their care plans and follow-up.Conclusions The implementation of this training and certification framework demonstrated enhanced clinical outcomes and care delivery in SVCs. By advocating for formal recognition and accreditation of valve clinic training, this framework could serve as a model for national and international standardisation in valve care and clinical training. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ffa3e86cfa9405a84a48ce9aed5cb6f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2053-3624 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Heart |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ffa3e86cfa9405a84a48ce9aed5cb6f2025-08-20T02:49:37ZengBMJ Publishing GroupOpen Heart2053-36242024-11-0111210.1136/openhrt-2024-002865Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certificationSheila Subbiah0Sophie Bennett1Ronak Rajani2Brian Campbell3Camelia Demetrescu4Anna Hayes5Can Zhou6Jerusalem Fekadu7Nathalie Aure8Masha Sivalinganathan9Lucy Bowen10Curtis Page11Cardiology, Guy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKCardiac CT, Guy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKCardiology, Guy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKCardiology, Guy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKGuy`s and St Thomas` Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UKBackground Valvular heart disease (VHD) represents a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating specialised care through multidisciplinary valve clinics. However, there is a lack of a standardised training and certification framework for clinical scientists and specialist physiologists (CSSPs) working within specialist valve clinics (SVCs). This study aimed to design, implement and validate a competency framework dedicated to training and certifying valve CSSPs to enhance patient outcomes and establish standardised care.Methods A comprehensive competency framework was developed and implemented, consisting of two levels: Enhanced Valve Clinic Training (EVCT) and Advanced Valve Clinic Training (AVCT). The programme was trialled at Guy’s Valve Clinic, London, over a 12-month period. Validation was undertaken through trainee and patient feedback, including multiple-choice questions, clinical skills assessments, and patient satisfaction surveys.Results Nine CSSPs completed the EVCT and four the AVCT. All participants passed their certification examinations with scores ranging from 80% to 95%. The time to complete each programme averaged 6 months. After certification, clinical queries raised by EVCT trainees averaged 1.2 per session but dropped by 75% to 0.3 per session in the AVCT group, indicating greater confidence and independence in managing cases. Physician review of trainee-led cases led to additional tests or treatment changes in 23% of cases and referrals to physician clinics in 11%. Patient feedback was positive: 95% felt confident in the clinical scientists' knowledge, and 100% were satisfied with the clarity of their care plans and follow-up.Conclusions The implementation of this training and certification framework demonstrated enhanced clinical outcomes and care delivery in SVCs. By advocating for formal recognition and accreditation of valve clinic training, this framework could serve as a model for national and international standardisation in valve care and clinical training.https://openheart.bmj.com/content/11/2/e002865.full |
| spellingShingle | Sheila Subbiah Sophie Bennett Ronak Rajani Brian Campbell Camelia Demetrescu Anna Hayes Can Zhou Jerusalem Fekadu Nathalie Aure Masha Sivalinganathan Lucy Bowen Curtis Page Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification Open Heart |
| title | Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| title_full | Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| title_fullStr | Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| title_short | Heart valve clinics: an expanding role for the clinical scientists - validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| title_sort | heart valve clinics an expanding role for the clinical scientists validation of a framework for competency and certification |
| url | https://openheart.bmj.com/content/11/2/e002865.full |
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