Navigating the Clinical Component
Comprehensive and Balanced Pediatric Cardiology Practice
Your practice at Ochsner Health Center for Children will combine comprehensive outpatient care with vital inpatient consultative services, creating a diverse and fulfilling clinical experience that keeps you engaged while maintaining reasonable patient volumes and work-life balance.
Diverse Patient Population
At Ochsner Lafayette General, you will care for patients ranging from prenatal consultations through adolescence, with the opportunity to maintain relationships with patients transitioning to adult congenital heart care. The practice serves a growing eight-parish region with a population of approximately 750,000 residents.
- Predominantly outpatient practice with a consistent referral stream from 30+ community pediatricians and 10+ nurse practitioners
- Weekly inpatient consultations for NICU patients and other pediatric admissions
- Potential to develop specialized clinics including fetal echocardiography
- Typically 12 patients per day in clinic, with appointment times structured to allow for thorough evaluation
Clinical Responsibilities and Procedures
Your daily practice will encompass the full spectrum of non-invasive pediatric cardiology, with a focus on clinical excellence and patient accessibility.
- Outpatient clinic appointments structured Monday through Friday, with approximately 8 half-day sessions weekly
- Echocardiogram reading and interpretation for patients at multiple facilities
- Remote consultation for satellite hospitals through the Ochsner network using telemedicine capabilities
- Inpatient consultations at Ochsner Lafayette General
- Opportunity to develop a fetal echocardiography program, currently an unmet need in the community
Call Coverage and Work Schedule
The call schedule at Ochsner Lafayette General offers a manageable balance that respects your personal time while ensuring patient needs are met.
- Shared call responsibilities with opportunity to participate in the broader Ochsner pediatric cardiology call system
- Most consultations managed remotely, with on-site visits required approximately once every couple of months
- Telephone availability for routine questions, with most after-hours calls involving echo interpretation that can be performed remotely
- After-hours emergencies requiring physical presence at the hospital are rare, typically just a few times per year
- Predictable clinic hours with flexibility for academic and administrative time
Support Services and Technology
You will practice in a modern, well-equipped environment with comprehensive support services.
- Dedicated echo technicians on-site in the clinic
- Epic electronic medical record system integrated across all Ochsner facilities
- Telemedicine capabilities for remote consultation and interpretation
- Access to the full resources of the Ochsner Health System, including the specialized pediatric cardiology services at the main campus
- Regular multidisciplinary conferences including pediatric cardiology cath conferences
- Collaborative relationships with congenital heart adult cardiology specialists who visit regularly, including electrophysiology and heart failure specialists
This blend of outpatient care, inpatient consultation, and procedural work creates a rich professional experience while maintaining a sustainable clinical pace that physicians find deeply satisfying.