Take a lead role in driving quality improvement in cardiothoracic surgery

 

Do you have the strategic vision to lead EACTS’ Quality Improvement Programme (QUIP)?

EACTS is looking for a dedicated member to Chair our QUIP committee and play an important strategic role in representing the Programme’s vision and purpose.  

The Quality Improvement Programme operates two international databases: the Adult Cardiac Database (ACD) and the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS). These registries transcend national boundaries to unite individuals and institutions from around the world to advance clinical research and improve the outcomes and lives of patients.  

This is an exciting opportunity to drive quality improvement in cardiothoracic surgery and promote the importance of integrating quality improvement initiatives into daily clinical practice. 

Application

Applications are now closed.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. 

About you  

• Proficiency in English.
• At least 5 years’ experience in the field.
  
• You will be committed to the charitable objectives of the Association and the Committee, and be dedicated to the pursuit of clinical/research excellence and improving patient outcomes.
  
• You will have an interest not just in cardiothoracic surgery, but also experience in managing clinical registries for hospital(s) on a national or international scale.
  
• You will have a good understanding of epidemiology data and benchmarking, and be able to provide guidance in data collection, validating, and reporting.
  
• You will have experience in monitoring efficacy of registries and applying strategic knowledge to support databases and their output. 
• You must have sufficient time to attend at least four meetings per year and be willing to contribute between meetings as necessary.
  
• The ideal candidate must be able to make the decisions on the nitty gritty of software logistics and data collection, without losing sight of the ‘big picture’.  

 

Job Description 

Job Title: Quality Improvement Programme Committee Chair 

Key Relationships: QUIP Manager and Members, EACTS Task Forces and Committee Chairs, EACTS office, EACTS Councillors.

Purpose of the role: to effectively manage the Committee and outline clear, long-term goals which are both in line with EACTS’ mission and help the Committee fulfil its purpose.  

 

Main duties and responsibilities 

• To provide strategic and operational guidance to the Quality Improvement Programme and to the various current/developing international databases. 
  
• To assess and advise on the QUIP objectives to ensure they are in line with the EACTS’ charitable objectives and 5-year strategy.  
• To lead the Committee, recruiting members according to the skillset and knowledge required, chairing meetings and establishing milestones. 
  
• To liaise with the other relevant EACTS database Task Forces and Committee Chairs to give strategic advice that will correspond to the overall objectives.  
• To review the operational and technological requirements of the databases, assessing software support and platforms are performing at a sufficient standard to satisfy the needs of the users.  
• To assist and advise panel on tender processes for relevant software and platforms to support the databases.  
• To coordinate with the other database task forces/committee to analyse, review, and advise on the data in- and outputs of the databases, monitoring efficacy of the registries and user feedback.
• To advise on the financial policy of the databases and coordinate with potential industry and stakeholders accordingly. 
• To be a non-voting member of the EACTS Council / to provide reports on the progress of the QUIP Committee and the activities to the EACTS Council.  

 

Expected Commitments  

• Regular Zoom and sometimes in-person meetings with the Committee. 
  
• Attend/present at the EACTS Annual Meeting.  
• Strict confidentiality observance. 
• Provide true and complete information on relationships with industry; provide annual declaration of interest.  

Read the latest issue of EACTS News to keep up to date with the latest news and developments at EACTS.

In this issue, you can also find out more about:

•  New initiatives from the EACTS WiCTS Committee
• An update from our Domains
• 2022 Francis Fontan Fund Fellowship recipients

 

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery unreservedly opposes the unlawful invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. We join with the overwhelming international majority in condemning these actions and in demanding an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

 

As an Association, we have considered how best to respond to this crisis in the interests of our Ukrainian members and the patients they support. We have taken the following steps;

• We are immediately designating an emergency fund of €100,000 which we will use to best support the cardiothoracic community of Ukraine. We will be consulting with Vasyl Lazoryshynets, the Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery in Ukraine and other relevant bodies on the best use and timing of this fund whether in the form of emergency support now or to support rebuilding services in the future.

 

• We have invited Vasyl Lazoryshynets to address members of EACTS Council, when convenient, to help us understand how best we can further support our Ukrainian colleagues both through the use of the emergency fund and other tangible means of support.

 

• Today, our President – Friedhelm Beyersdorf – and Secretary General – Rafa Sadaba – have written to each Ukrainian member of EACTS setting out the steps we are taking and offering our unreserved support.

 

• EACTS is an association of individual members; we do not have countries or their societies in membership. As a small gesture, we will be waiving the membership fee for all members from Ukraine, including for any new members who wish to join this year. It is important the services and educational tools we offer and all the benefits of EACTS’ membership, are available as widely as possible to those in greatest need.

 

• We have posted statements on our social media accounts condemning the invasion. We have posted a video message from Vasyl Lazoryshynets and will continue to demonstrate our solidarity with the people in Ukraine.

 

We want to express our unequivocal support for the cardiothoracic surgeons and wider heart teams, their families and friends in Ukraine at this time. This act of aggression is having a devastating effect on the Ukrainian people, leading to multiple casualties and loss of life, separated families and a humanitarian crisis. We are deeply concerned for our Ukrainian members and Ukrainian citizens and express our solidarity and support for the people and health professionals of Ukraine.

On International Women’s Day 2022, EACTS would like to acknowledge and celebrate the tireless work and achievements of women in cardiothoracic surgery across the world.

The Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee, chaired by Dr Jolanda Kluin, provides a forum for community-building, networking and leadership development for women cardiothoracic surgeons.

The committee has a clear mission to promote diversity and inclusion within EACTS and the wider field and help more women establish themselves in cardiothoracic surgery and take up leadership roles.

The Women in Cardiothoracic Surgery Committee recently welcomed two new additional members – Miia Lehtinen and Maroua Eid – to further strengthen the Committee and support its ongoing work.

Look out for more details about the committee’s work in the next issue of EACTS News.

EACTS utterly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. No doubt all of us will want to express our unequivocal support for the cardiothoracic surgeons and wider heart teams, their families and friends in Ukraine at this time. This act of aggression is having a devastating effect on the Ukrainian people, leading to multiple casualties and loss of life, separated families and a humanitarian crisis. We are deeply concerned for our Ukrainian members and Ukrainian citizens.

EACTS has received a video from Vasyl Lazoryshynets, a member of EACTS and the Director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery in Ukraine. Vasyl explains the impact of the war on the Ukrainian people and we encourage all members to watch his video.

As cardiothoracic surgeons, our actions save and improve lives for people every day. As Vasyl highlights in his video, ‘let’s stay united to protect the basic human right to life.’

If anyone would like to contribute to the humanitarian relief efforts, please consider supporting the UNHCR or ICRC.