MEENA KRISHNAN
82 Wynnstay St Clyde
Summary
Experienced Respiratory Scientist adept at assisting with patient assessment, documenting patient care and supporting doctors with any duties as required. Seven years of Australian experience as respiratory and sleep scientist in renowned public and private practices in Victoria. Proficient in complex lung function testing, Laboratory Quality Control Programs, Oxygen Therapy, Sleep scoring, Quantitative Fit-testing, Patient Record Management, clinical procedures and Medical Administration.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Respiratory Scientist- Grade 2, Year 2, Full Time
Eastern Health
01.2022 - Current
- Active member of ANZSRS, presented on Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) at the Box Hill Branch meeting in September 2024.
- Participated in the TSANZSRS conference and various other professional meetings throughout 2024.
- Train and orient new scientists in lung function testing, ensuring compliance with laboratory standards and expectations.
- Organise and conduct oxygen therapy by triaging and booking patients, perform relevant tests including lung function tests, arterial blood gas sampling and prepare paperwork for Registrars and Consultants. Organise oxygen prescription and delivery through State-wide Equipment Program.
- Serve as the acting manager during the Head of Department's absence, overseeing laboratory operations and maintaining seamless business continuity.
- Capable of operating in high pressure environments while recommending best resources and course of action to benefit patient needs and optimal functioning of laboratory.
- Responsible for Quality Control Program of the Laboratory. Ensure Equipment QC and Biological QC are performed regularly and meet quality standards. Prepare and present monthly QC reports during lab meetings.
- Troubleshoot equipment and software issues and liase with external vendors with solving technical issues.
- Perform Lung function test including spirometry, TLCO, Body plethysmography, Maximal Respiratory Pressures, Bronchial Provocation Tests, FeNO, Hypoxic Altitude Simulation Test( HAST), Shunt Studies, Arterial Blood Gas Sampling, Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), Bronchial Provocation Test, Skin prick test as part of allergy testing and skin prick for Hemoglobin assessment.
- Trained to perform 6-minute walk tests for various clinical research studies.
- Manage stocktaking, procurement of consumables, and invoice payments, ensuring adherence to the laboratory's budget and financial guidelines.
- Assist Head scientist with monthly reports and Lab Accreditation Preparations.
Respiratory Scientist - Grade 1,year 3
Austin Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Perform Lung function test including spirometry, TLCO, Body plethysmography, maximal respiratory pressures, bronchial provocation tests, FeNO, skin prick test as part of allergy testing and skin prick for hemoglobin assessment.
- Ensure high quality data was obtained and met ATS/ESR guidelines and interpreted results for reporting physicians.
- Observe and assisted senior scientists with arterial blood gas sampling and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
- Perform daily syringe calibrations and weekly device and biological calibrations as part of quality control system.
- Mostly work with inpatients, patients with post-covid infection, asthma, COPD, interstitial lung diseases, neuromuscular diseases, pre and post organ transplantation and those enrolled in clinical trials.
- FIT-TESTING AT AUSTIN:
- Work in collaborative environment with internal key stakeholders including Infection Prevention and Control; Health and Safety; Procurement and Supply.
- Conduct quantitative Mask Fit Testing - scheduling, planning, and preparing Fit Test sessions, including set up of equipment & reporting results for staff.
- Contributing to respiratory protection education for staff attending Mask Fit Test including mask fit checking/don/doff practices.
Respiratory Scientist - Grade 1
Peninsula Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Perform complex lung function tests for patients with asthma, COPD and ILD.
- Familiar with portable spirometry equipment mainly used in wards for inpatients and patients prior to bronchial thermoplasty.
- Familiar with 6 minute walk tests.
- Ensure high quality data was obtained and met ATS/ESR guidelines and interpreted results for reporting physicians.
- Perform daily syringe calibrations, monthly device and biological calibrations as part of quality control system.
- As Covid marshall, support staff to comply with safety guidelines such as ensuring masks are fitted properly, social distancing practiced at corridors, cafeterias and elevators.
- As Covid Safety Spotter, support staff with ensuring PPE is put on, being worn, and taken off correctly, maintaining physical distancing and hand hygiene.
- As COVID support staff, assist with smooth functioning of covid drive-thru screening clinic with collecting patient’s data, labelling patient’s swab samples accurately.
- FIT-TESTING AT PENINSULA HEALTH:
- Assist department of infection prevention and control of Peninsula health with their respiratory protection program.
- Perform fit-testing for internal and external staff.
- Train new staff and supervised them.
- Monitor department inventory to keep stock levels and databases updated.
Respiratory and Sleep Scientist - Grade 1,year 2
Lung And Sleep Victoria
12.2019 - 01.2021
- Performed complex respiratory function tests which includes spirometry ,diffusion capacity (TLCO), lung volumes, FeNo and mannitol bronchial provocation tests.
- Finger-prick blood test to check haemoglobin levels as part of respiratory function tests.
- Ensure daily and monthly calibrations of devices were performed. Calibrations were done regularly to ensure quality assurance. Daily calibration was performed every morning. Syringe calibration and biological calibrations were performed on monthly basis.
- Interpret results for reporting respiratory physicians.
- Disinfected equipment after every patient and at end of shift with nacospray disinfection system. Weekly disinfection of pneumotach.
- Monthly stock- taking and ordering consumables as required. Liaising with IT support, software provider for troubleshooting technical issues.
- Provided short and simplified instructions for lung function tests while allaying patient's fears.
- Responsible for explaining test procedures, collecting and documenting high quality data, troubleshooting, providing clinical and equipment intervention as required.
- Performed essential duties related and delivery of polysomnographic studies and related patient care services. Analysed and reported raw data of sleep studies for referring sleep physicians.
Medical Technologist
Heartscope Victoria
09.2018 - 12.2019
- Assisted the cardiologists and Cardiac Sonographers by preparing the patients for stress echocardiogram by explaining the procedure, clean the skin, putting on the mortar transmitter.
- Monitored the patient's vital signs and Ecg readings during and post -exercise.
- Able to recognise Ectopics, irregular rhythms, supraventricular tachycardia and myocardial ischaemic changes. Alert the cardiologist if there is any significant ECG changes. Assist patients with supraventricular tachycardia by performing valsalva maneuver and reverting them back to sinus rhythm.
- Perform 24 hour ,7 day holter monitor and 24 hour blood pressure monitors. Explain to patients about the monitor, prepare the skin and hook the monitors for them.Well-versed with spacelabs digital holter monitor and mortara holter monitors.
- Performed pulmonary function, lung capacity and diffusion capacity tests to gather information for use by physician in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders.
- Prepared patients for home based sleep study, by cleaning and prepping the skin, putting on
the electrodes and monitors, teaching the patient on how to put on the pulse oximeter and nasal cannulae before going to bed.
Clinical Assistant
Expert Medical Care
02.2017 - 12.2017
- Triaging phone calls and patients, recognition of emergent medical conditions.
- Managed over 50 calls per day.
- Performance of CPR and first aid as required.
- Assisting doctors and nurses with recording vital signs, performing procedures, administering vaccines, post-vaccination monitoring, placing ECG leads and disposing medical waste appropriately.
- Organizing ambulance and patient transport as required, giving clinical handover to paramedics.
- Maintenance of patient data and medical records, collecting patient results and reports for doctors.
- Liaison with pathology regarding transport and collection of patient specimens.
- Assist practice manager with clinic's accreditation process.
- Effective communication with patients and staff.
- Recall and reminders for patient follow-up, blood tests, screening, etc
- Proficiency with Medicare rebate system, Best Practice software and MS Office Suite.
- Contribution to various medical blogs published on clinic’s website.
Administration Officer and Medical Tutor
Cyberjaya University College Of Medical Sciences
07.2015 - 06.2016
- Conduction of student feedback survey for first to fifth year medical students and recent graduates in order to improve curriculum and teaching methods.
- Integral role in review and renewal of medical school accreditation.
- Review of medical syllabus and ensuring official requirements were met.
- Provision of mentorship and tutoring as part of buddy program for struggling students.
- Facilitation of social discussion groups and activities to engage students in personal and professional development.
- Problem Based Learning tutoring for pre-clinical students.
Education
Member
ANZRS
01.2023
ARIMGSAS
2016
Advance Life Support
Australian Resuscitation Council
2016
Bachelors in Medicine And Surgery
MAHSA University
2015
Skills
- Oxygen clinic coordinator
- Lab- Financial & Operations management
- Advanced Life Support
- Lab- Quality Control & Assurance Program
- Medicare Rebate System, iPM, CPF, EMR
- LFT software-Breeze, Medisoft & Sentry Suites
- 24 hour holter monitors & 24 hour BP monitor
- X-scribe software-Stress Echocardiogram
- Arterial Blood Gas Sampling
- CPET
- Nox and Somte sleep study monitors
- Quantitative respirator fit-testing
Clinical Placements
Hospital Kuala Lumpur – the flagship hospital of the Malaysian public healthcare system 2014 – 2015
Klinik Kesihatan Ampang – primary healthcare centre 2015
Hospital Kajang – District hospital 2014
Hospital Tanjung Karang – District hospital 2013
Hospital Sungai Buloh – national centre for infectious disease control 2013
- Rotations in medicine, surgery, emergency, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, anaesthesiology, critical care, palliative care, ophthalmology, ENT, forensic medicine, orthopaedics, primary care, rural health, and public health
- Shadowing doctors and learning the day-to-day duties of a junior doctor
- Exposure to the clinical management of a range of diseases
- Development of clinical skills in history taking, physical examination, clinical judgement, diagnosis formulation and management planning
- Assisting and performing procedures under supervision
- Participation in case discussions and case presentations
Psychiatry Elective April 2013 – June 2013
Kajang Hospital, Malaysia
- Observation of psychiatric assessments, inpatient consultations and home visits
- Observation of mental health counselling for people with substance abuse issues and prisoners
- Blood and urine drug testing
- Clozapine treatment and monitoring in patients with schizophrenia
- Developed a passion for mental health and strong value of empathy
[MOU1]Were these all your placements or just the main ones? Please adjust the dates if necessary.
Volunteer experience
Member of the local organizing committee for the TSANZSRS conference scheduled in Adelaide, March 2025.
Mahsa Cultural Event Volunteer Nov 2014
- Raised RM 1000 over two days doing mehendi
- Donated the money raised to a charity medical camp in India that provides medical services for families living in slums
Health Equity Initiative NGO Volunteer Aug 2012 – Sept 2012
Health Equity Initiative in a Malaysian non-government organisation committed to advancing the right to health of marginalised populations, primarily refugees and asylum seekers, through community-based health interventions and professional mental health services.
- Assess the mental health of refugees by taking history and performing Mental State Examination and discuss cases with the director of HEI.
- Observed how refugees were rehabilitated and played an active role in the counselling process.
- Shadowed doctors during follow-up home visits in assessing the physical and mental well-being of the refugees in Malaysia.
- Conducted health camps for refugees and their families. The aim of the camp was to meet the basic health needs of refugees.
Education and Professional Development
- Presented at ANZSRS Branch meeting, held at Box Hill, September 2024.
- Currently preparing for CRFS examination.
Timeline
Respiratory Scientist- Grade 2, Year 2, Full Time
Eastern Health
01.2022 - Current
Respiratory Scientist - Grade 1,year 3
Austin Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
Respiratory Scientist - Grade 1
Peninsula Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
Respiratory and Sleep Scientist - Grade 1,year 2
Lung And Sleep Victoria
12.2019 - 01.2021
Medical Technologist
Heartscope Victoria
09.2018 - 12.2019
Clinical Assistant
Expert Medical Care
02.2017 - 12.2017
Administration Officer and Medical Tutor
Cyberjaya University College Of Medical Sciences
07.2015 - 06.2016
ARIMGSAS
Advance Life Support
Australian Resuscitation Council
Bachelors in Medicine And Surgery
MAHSA University
Member
ANZRS
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