Workforce Views on Training Pathways, Registration, Accreditation and Ongoing CPD Requirements for Each of the 5 Cardiac Physiology Professions

Abstract

Professionals in Cardiac Sciences Australia (PiCSA) is the national representative body for people working in clinical cardiac science professions. In 2015 PiCSA conducted a census of individual workers who perform cardiac science procedures across Australia, including ECG, cath lab, echo, cardiac devices and electrophysiology (EP). This was the first attempt to collect Australia-wide data about cardiac science professionals. One of the topics surveyed was workforce views on training pathways. A background degree was considered desirable prior to commencing training in ECG 56%, cath lab 90%, echo 93%, cardiac devices 88%, and EP 89%. Whilst there was support for TAFE/VET based training for ECG, there was strong disapproval for advancement from ECG to the other cardiac science professions without a degree. ECG experience was considered a prerequisite for training in cath lab 89%, echo 87%, cardiac devices 91%, and EP 94%. Similarly, cath lab experience was considered a prerequisite to training in Echo 41%, cardiac devices 62% and EP 80%. There are well recognised nationally accredited courses in echo and electrophysiology. There was strong support for making similar courses available in the other cardiac science vocations (cardiac devices 89%, cath lab 81% and ECG 67%). There was also strong support for a national registry, formal accreditation and ongoing CPD requirements across all 5 cardiac physiology professions. The above workforce views are not reflected in current policy. Currently only echo is regulated, and does not require a vocational foundation in cardiac physiology (i.e. ECG/cath lab) as per the UK or New Zealand.