Clinical Component

Navigating the Clinical Component

Your Daily Practice in Electrophysiology

Full-Spectrum EP in State-of-the-Art Facilities

Your clinical week balances procedural work with outpatient management in a rhythm that you largely control. The typical structure runs two days in clinic and three days in the EP lab, though you have flexibility to adjust based on your preferences and patient panel growth. When you are in the lab, you have access to the latest ablation technologies, including Boston Scientific's pulsed field ablation system, with Abbott Medical's PFA platform arriving soon. You will work in one of three dedicated EP labs, with expansion to four labs already planned. The new two-lab ambulatory surgery center opening this spring adds outpatient procedural capacity for appropriate cases.

The procedural mix covers the full EP spectrum. Atrial fibrillation ablations, flutter ablations, SVT ablations, device implantations, lead extractions, and cardioversions fill your schedule. Complex VT ablations represent the only procedures routinely referred out, typically to University of Florida or Mayo Clinic, though this reflects current physician preferences rather than capability limitations. If you bring VT ablation expertise, the infrastructure and support exist to develop that service line here.

  • Three dedicated EP labs with expansion to four planned
  • Two-lab ASC opening spring 2025 for outpatient procedures
  • Boston Scientific PFA currently in use; Abbott Medical PFA arriving soon
  • Full ablation capabilities: AF, flutter, SVT, VT (complex VT currently referred)
  • Complete device services: implants, generator changes, lead extractions
  • Cardioversions performed in the ASC setting

Research and Technology Access

Southern Medical Group maintains an established research program with dedicated coordinators and an active IRB. The EP section has participated in major industry-sponsored trials, including the Champion Trial and Option Trial. This infrastructure means you can engage in clinical research if that interests you, bringing new technologies and trial opportunities to your patients.

The electronic medical record is Epic, part of a $234 million investment by Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. Documentation burden is reduced through Abridge, an AI-powered scribe that handles note generation. The cost runs approximately $120 monthly and is covered by group overhead, not your individual expense. While no technology is perfect, it meaningfully reduces after-hours charting.

  • Established research program with IRB and dedicated coordinators
  • Champion and Option Trial participation demonstrates research capability
  • Epic EMR throughout hospital and clinic settings
  • Abridge AI scribe provided through group overhead
  • Technology requests supported – “we can get any tool we want”

Call Structure: A True Differentiator

The call arrangement here stands apart from most EP opportunities. You carry dedicated EP call, which functions as backup and phone coverage only. Other physicians rarely contact you because the hospitalist service and pulmonary critical care team manage most overnight issues independently. When calls do come, they are genuinely EP-specific and typically handled by phone without requiring you to come in.

General cardiology call participation is minimal: one weekend every five to six weeks and one weeknight per month. Weekend call is structured with three physicians covering together, splitting rounds, consults, and any procedures that arise. You are not carrying the entire hospital alone. Interventionalists handle STEMI activations without requiring non-invasive or EP participation.

  • Dedicated EP call: phone/backup only, rarely contacted
  • General call: Q5–Q6 weekends (shared with two physicians) plus one night monthly
  • Weekend structure: shared rounds, consults, and procedures
  • No STEMI call participation required
  • Strong hospitalist and pulmonary critical care support reduces overnight disruptions
  • “The call is very, very reasonable” per current EP physicians

Clinic Operations and Patient Flow

Clinic days run at a pace you determine. Patient volumes typically range from 16 to 24 per day, depending on your scheduling preferences and case complexity. New patients dominate early as you build your practice, with follow-ups increasing over time. Device follow-ups are handled by a dedicated team of six device clinic nurses who manage remote monitoring and routine checks, freeing you to focus on clinical decision-making rather than device interrogations.

Inpatient responsibilities rotate weekly among EP physicians. During your hospital week, you round on EP patients, handle new consults, and perform inpatient procedures. Census typically ranges from zero to eight patients depending on admission patterns and same-day discharge practices. When you are not on your hospital week, you have no inpatient obligations unless one of your own patients is admitted.

  • Clinic volume: 16–24 patients daily based on preference
  • Six device clinic nurses handle remote monitoring and routine follow-ups
  • Weekly rotating hospital coverage among EP physicians
  • Inpatient census: typically 0–8 EP patients during your week
  • No inpatient responsibility during clinic weeks unless your own patient is admitted
  • Same-day discharge protocols available for appropriate ablation cases

This clinical environment gives you the procedural volume, technology access, and schedule control that define a sustainable EP career. The work is there. The support is there. The call structure respects your time outside the hospital.

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