Community Vascular Science

Details

Title

Community Vascular Science

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HPS177

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of this module, the Clinical Scientist in HSST, with respect to Community Vascular Science Services, will use their expert knowledge, skills and experience to evaluate and develop structures and systems for the delivery of cardiovascular medical and scientific care to local populations. They will be expected to consistently demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for the role of a Consultant Clinical Scientist within a patient focused service identifying opportunities to improve services to benefit patients.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will analyse, synthesise, evaluate and critically apply their expert knowledge of community vascular science services including: 

• the current policies, strategies and health data underpinning local provision of vascular care including equality of access and clinical commissioning.
• the interactions of local stakeholders in the implementation of policies and strategies including screening programmes.
• the benefits of an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with long-term conditions.
• the role of community healthcare staff including vascular nurses, podiatrists, district nurses.
• providing integrated care for specific community managed vascular disease including the diagnosis, treatment and long term management of leg ulcers.
• how to access community support for patients/carers and the role of support groups, the voluntary sector and other agencies.
• local social and cultural issues and practices that affect health inequalities and outcomes (unemployment, smoking, addictive behaviour, poverty etc.).
• strategies to reduce risk factors in the community including smoking cessation, diet and exercise.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module, the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current research including health and social care policy and strategy. They will be able to apply their expert knowledge to the performance, adaptation and mastery of a range of clinical and communication skills to support and develop appropriate community vascular services and will:

• evaluate the impact of vascular community services including specialist vascular outreach clinics and clinical vascular science services.
• identify opportunities for developing community vascular services and clinical networks and where appropriate work with colleagues to re-configure services.
• identify the location of community vascular screening services and actively contribute to the leadership of these services including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening services.
• contribute to the training, assessment and continual professional development of healthcare staff undertaking vascular diagnostic investigations.
• critically evaluate diagnostic and treatment protocols used in community vascular science services.
• meet with patients who have vascular disease and discuss the patient perspective with respect to where they wish to access care and their priorities for long term care provision and use the feedback to influence local community service provision.
• interact appropriately with other individuals and organisations participating in the care of patients with vascular disorders.
• access and analyse local health data to assess the cardiovascular health needs of the local community and the economic and quality of life impact of vascular disease.
• reflect on the challenges of applying research to practice in relation to these areas of practice and suggest improvements, building on a critique of available evidence.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of this module, the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations. They will also be expected to consistently demonstrate the professional attributes and insights required of a Clinical Scientist in HSST working within the limits of professional competence referring as appropriate to senior staff and will:

• utilise communication and leadership skills to influence and shape the provision of high quality vascular science services in the community.
• be positive and confident about developing ideas and putting them into action.
• actively seek out opportunities for collaborative discussions and seek to lead and develop community services based on the views of patients.
• adopt a forward looking, progressive approach and be receptive to new ideas looking out for emerging technologies.
• recognise the roles and perspectives of patients and colleagues with respect to the diagnosis and long term management of patients with vascular disease.