The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children’s Medical Center

Description of the Program: The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. The program is the only comprehensive children's heart center in Central Texas serving an expansive 46 counties. The Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) is a 24-bed inpatient unit that provides complex monitoring and treatment of pediatric patients during the critical phase of surgical and non-surgical cardiac illness, with a goal of innovation in multiple aspects of cardiac care. The unit supports a state-of-the-art operative program specializing in complex congenital heart defects, as well as an emerging heart transplant and VAD program.

Cardiac Feeding Therapy: The CCU is dedicated to providing care for all ICU needs to achieve the best outcomes compared to national and international standards. We seek to optimally manage feeding difficulties that are a recognized part of cardiac critical care. Feeding therapists are focused on the evaluation and management of pre-operative, post-operative surgical patients, and non-operative patients. They participate in adjustment of the feeding plan in relation to hemodynamics, cardio-respiratory interactions, and medications. They also provide ongoing education for the patient, family, and the multi-disciplinary team, and function in accordance with Rehabilitation Services.

Job Description: We seek to hire a Cardiac Feeding Therapist for a clinical position (PT, OT, or SLP) dedicated to the CCU. This person will report to the manager of Rehabilitation Services, and will be responsible for the planning and implementation of specific feeding programs according to the principles and practices of their discipline, as well as collaborating with an interdisciplinary team. The therapist will provide direct feeding therapy services to patients with congenital heart disease in the Cardiac Care Unit, including independent implementation of valid assessment tools relevant to the diagnosis, implementation of appropriate clinical interventions, and effective collaboration with physicians, patients, family and other members of the healthcare team to communicate patient progress. Involvement in research and quality assurance/outcome tracking projects related to advanced feeding interventions will be encouraged, as will creativity in problem-solving. This position requires comprehensive understanding of congenital cardiac dysfunction, and experience within a major cardiac intensive care program. Strong communication skills, self-motivation, and the ability to adapt quickly to new challenges are also critical to success.

Contact Information: Christine Scott, PT, Cert MDT 

Email: cwscott@ascension.org