Rotorua Hospital’s Clinical Physiology team is investing in the future of heart healthcare by training the next generation of cardiac specialists, which is already making a significant difference for patients.

Health New Zealand Lakes is currently supporting four trainees, two in cardiac sonography, one clinical physiologist, and one physiology technician, through a mix of on-the-job learning and academic study. It’s a collaborative effort aimed at addressing the national shortage of qualified cardiac sonographers and physiologists.

“We’re growing our own because there’s a critical gap in the workforce,” said Stacey Neilson, Clinical Physiology team leader and cardiac sonographer.

The trainees are being supported by a senior team of four cardiac sonographers, two clinical physiologists, and a technician. Regional partnerships with Bay of Plenty and Waikato also enable access to specialist training facilities such as cardiac catheterisation labs.

The structured training pathway covers a range of roles:

  • Physiology technician. An entry-level role, performing basic heart and lung function tests.
  • Clinical physiologist trainee. A graduate-level role requiring postgraduate study.
  • Cardiac sonographer trainees. Training through Auckland’s cardiac sonography course, while gaining practical experience with the Lakes team.

One of the current trainees, Shamara Moulin, is in her second year of training after two decades as a clinical physiologist.

“This was always a goal of mine. Now I have the opportunity to upskill, and I’m enjoying the challenge of learning to get the best images for physicians.”

Stacey said having both the right people and the right infrastructure has been crucial.

“We’re in a fortunate position to be able to train while still delivering services. That’s not something every region can do.”

The initiative is already making a positive difference for patients. Since July 2023, the waitlist for transthoracic echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds) has dropped from 402 to 212 patients. The team is predicted to perform more than 3,000 heart scans this year.

“The training we’re doing now directly supports patient care, not just in Rotorua, but also in Taupō, where we travel regularly so that people in the southern lakes have better access to diagnostics,” Stacey said.

With plans to bring in another trainee next year, the team is committed to building a sustainable cardiac workforce, one scan and one student at a time.