Clinical Physiologist

[Tellingfibs]

Please can any of you explain to me what exactly is a Clinical Physiologist ? I usually see my cardiologist once a year, along with a routine echocardiogram and ecg. This year, I saw my GP because I have been getting a lot of palpitations which Kardia diagnose as PVCs and SVEs ) He said he would contact my cardiologist. Since seeing my GP, my palpitations have reduced a lot - and they never were bothersome, I just wanted to know why I was getting them , but reduced Afib episodes ! I am feeling good at the moment. Anyway, I was sent for an Echo last week and have now been told I will have a Zoom consultation with a Clinical Physiologist. This is sooner than my due appointment with my usual cardiologist ( maybe it’s instead of ! ) I know I have mildly leaky Aortic and Mitral valves, and perhaps they have worsened. The person doing the Echo did ask if I was having chest pain or breathlessness, ( which I’m not ), so maybe she saw something 😱. I have had several Echos before, so they will have compared them all. Perhaps this is just a new thing in my area ( Wales ), in order to free up the cardiologists. Anyway, I just wondered if anyone knew what this person’s remit is.

[BobD Volunteer]

Frankly I have given up trying to understand all these new titles people use these days. I had a phone consult with a "clinical " something or other to discuss my annual blood tests and from the conversation I was pretty sure she would have been what we used to call a nurse.

[Tellingfibs in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob 😂 I did Google it, and I came to the same conclusion. Perhaps a nurse who specialises in a specific area, like cardiology - or bloods. I’m not thrilled if they are instead of my cardiologist, but fine if they are in addition to him. Perhaps they have more time to discuss the little things that are important to us, but which are tiresome queries to a senior cardiologist. No disrespect to mine; I like him. Always glad to get your take on things 👍

Annie.

[wilsond]

It's a bought in service. I now have a Clinical Scientist attached to my GP practice. Already had a run in with her trying to adjust my medication ( definitely not happening)It is a ridiculous term! ( both)

[Tellingfibs in reply to wilsond]

Oooh, I’m glad to be forewarned ! Thanks !

[Tellingfibs]

Ah, yes as I thought - it saves the cardiologist for the tough stuff !

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Tellingfibs]

They also write up the reports for the cardiologists so they do quite a crucial job. The cardiologists rely on their ability and experience. Whoever you speak to will probably be able to answer your questions from a position of knowledge and expertise. It’s their day job, after all. I hope it’s all good news.

[Tellingfibs in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thank you Autumn_Leaves. So they are a sort of ‘go-between’ between the patient and specialist. I can see how that would work, and perhaps, if they are good at their job and listen, they can hear our concerns and take onboard our description of our particular symptoms and concerns. I will be sure to set down on paper all I want to find out. Thanks again !

Annie.

[CDreamer]

I love the Physiologists - they are often more knowledgeable and informative usually than the cardiologists.

Physiologists are highly trained scientists with a masters and sometimes a doctorate and sometimes a medical degree. They usually work in hospital department of Clinical Measurements - they are the back room scientists behind the departments such as cardiology. In many hospitals you will go to the Department of Clinical Measurements to see a physiologist. You most commonly come across them if you have echocardiograms, radiography, pacemaker clinics or CPAP clinics. They are the people who will check your pacemaker and be able to tweak it if it isn’t working quite as it should. Physiologists will often specialise and interpret and advise your doctor’s on the technicalities of tests.

Bob - you as an engineer would I am sure agree that your car is only going to be as good as the engineer - no matter how good your driver is.

It is not a new ‘title’ and to downgrade their training and expertise is to misunderstand and not appreciate their speciality.

[Tellingfibs in reply to CDreamer]

Your post is reassuring and informative.

[Deejay62 in reply to CDreamer]

I was sure that’s what they do because the people who usually check my pacemaker are called physiologists. There was a trainee in the clinic with me yesterday, and after the main one left to get my new appointment I began chatting with her, she’s a fully qualified medic, but she’s still deciding what field to go into so shes trying to learn how to run that clinic. She said she’s learning other things around the hospital also so she feels she’s not grasping it, because she’s taking too long away from it and keeps forgetting. But the physiologist who invited her was asking her lots of questions and getting her to operate the computer. The physiologist did ask my permission.

[Ppiman]

I have always believed that anyone called "clinical" is trained as a medical doctor and able to prescribe medications. A "physiologist", however, is not a doctor but refers to medical personnel who perform various investigative procedures such as ultrasound, hearing investigations and so on.

Steve

[fibnum]

This opening description of clinical physiology in Wikipedia sounds impressive. I like the term "functional approach". Those of us who write about our own experiences with Afib understand that!

"Clinical physiology is both an academic discipline within the medical sciences and a clinical medical specialty for physicians in the health care systems of Sweden,[1] Denmark and Finland. Clinical physiology is characterized as a branch of physiology that uses a functional approach to understand the pathophysiology of a disease.[2]"

The question probably should be: Do I have a Good clinical physiologist?

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I Clinical Pychologist would simply go through any anxiety thoughts with you.

It is thought by some that palpations are caused through being anxious.

You can decline if you are OK now. Or go and explain you are OK now.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I am correct.

A Clinical Psychologist deals with your thoughts and hence anxiety.

I am listening to NZ National Radio and a Clinical Psychologist is making appointments for TRAUMA folks who were in the Lodge which burnt and folks were burnt to death.

cheri JOY ex Nurse. retired.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

OOPS! Clinical Physiotherapist not a Psychologist. Have you got it right?

cheri JOY

[Tellingfibs in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Clinical Physiologist. Good to know there are Clinical Psychologists too ! 👍😊

[DawnTX]

An electrophysiologist works on the electrical system of our heart think of him as the electrician. It is highly specialized once they finish and went as far as they think they can such as with me with my pacemaker, they usually turn you back to your Cardiologis for day to day things. My doctor plans on remaining hands-on. Otherwise I would only see him every 3 to 4 months and then eventually just once a year. They are highly specialized usually have quite a bit of IT training as well, because look at the equipment that they work with, and fit in us. Most of the time they are doing procedure after procedure on hearts. Mine is remaining involved because my pacemaker is brand new out there lol I feel like the car crash dummy being tested, but without it, there was no pacemaker for my problem. An EP is not someone you call normally for prescriptions, etc. unless they put you on them.

Clinic seems to be a new popular word in the medical field for some reason. The part of the hospital that monitors pacemakers and contacts the doctors if you need one is now called a clinic. The clinic to me has always been a building where several kinds of doctors work under the same roof. There is actually one opening near my local hospital. St Lukes and I have a funny feeling they will be their own network. Recently, I was trying to change my insurance on Medicare, and I found all of my doctors under that hospital are only on one or two major insurances, which is odd.

if you get the answer, let us know