title: Evaluating the role of Cardiac Genetics Nurses in inherited cardiac conditions services using a Maturity Matrix.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and genetic risk factors play a role in nearly all such cases. In the UK, health service capacity to meet either current or future estimated needs of people affected by inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) is inadequate. In 2008 the British Heart Foundation funded nine three-year Cardiac Genetics Nurse (CGN) posts across England and Wales to enhance ICC services. The CGNs were experienced cardiac nurses who had additional training in genetics and acted to coordinate cardiac and genetics service activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create and apply a framework against which progress in ICC service improvement could be measured over time following the CGN appointments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A performance grid (Maturity Matrix, MM) articulating standards in five domains against stages of ICC service development was created by stakeholders through a consensus approach. The MM was used to guide staged self-assessments by the CGNs between 2009 and 2011. A six-point scale was used to locate progress from 'emerging' to 'established', represented graphically by spider diagrams.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progress in all domains was significant for new, emerging and established services. It was most notable for effective utilisation of care pathways and efficient running of clinics. Commitment to family-centred care was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ICC-MM provided a comprehensive framework for assessing ICC services and has merit in providing guidance on development. CGNs can help integrate care across specialisms, facilitating the development of effective and sustainable ICC services at new, developing, and more established ICC service locations.
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK maggie.kirk@southwales.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tonkin
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longley
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing*; D064646:Cardiovascular Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Cardiac genetics; ICC services; consensus techniques; inherited cardiac conditions services; maturity matrix; nurses