April 2009 Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) News

SICP Chapter Spotlight: Illinois Chapter

When was the Illinois Chapter established? The Illinois Chapter was established in October 2006, bringing together SICP members from Chicago, surrounding suburbs and the northwest region of Illinois. How many members does the chapter currently have? There are over 60 members in the Illinois Chapter. Members are associated with the majority of medical centers and hospitals in Chicago and the surrounding area. What is your chapter’s focus? The primary focus of the Illinois chapter is to recruit and retain members, and provide educational opportunities. Our chapter also believes that motivating and encouraging members of our profession to obtain and retain their registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) credential is an important element to our future success as an organization. This is part of our commitment to advocacy. In the future, our focus may shift to a more comprehensive approach, where we look to educate not only individuals, but organizations and legislators. What challenges are you currently facing? Being a volunteer organization, we face the same challenges others do: time, recruitment, organizational structure and finances. We have been blessed with great support from our vendors and wish to thank them all for their support and encouragement. What has your chapter accomplished? We feel we have brought together colleagues from the different surrounding institutions. Ideas have been shared and knowledge has been passed on by the clinical individuals from these institutions. We schedule four educational lectures per year where physicians speak on many different subjects. We maintain a great relationship with our product representatives, who in turn sponsor these events. Our chapter members also support Dr. Parag Patel in his charitable work in Kenya. Supplies and products have been collected and donated to this mission on behalf of the Chapter. What are your chapter strengths? Our strengths are in our members’ abilities. Their passion in teaching and sharing knowledge to peers provides a great clinical environment. What are your future goals? The chapter would like to provide the resources needed for members to sit and pass the RCIS exam. This would in turn provide a well-educated work force, which leads to excellent patient care. We would hope this achievement would also substantiate the RCIS credential. What advocacy issues are you experiencing in Illinois? We are not quite sure where we are at with advocacy in Illinois. We believe that we have to break down barriers between those individuals who believe they belong in the lab, and those individuals others believe do not belong. Individuals who possess the RCIS credential have proven their understanding of cath lab concepts, safety and operations, and certainly deserve professional respect and consideration. Maintaining long-term commitment and development of RCIS review courses and encouraging those who participate to take the exam, is the essential beginning. Many facilities operate differently and this becomes difficult when looking for opportunities for employment. It would stand to reason that from an operational perspective, there should be statewide acceptance of the RCIS credential. In Illinois, we need to begin to market the RCIS credential to our co-workers, our employers, and our legislators, looking for acceptance and someone who can ultimately take a bill to the capital and mandate appropriate credentialing for those professionals who work within these organizations. What would you like the public to know about the RCIS profession? Becoming a credentialed member of the profession offers individuals the opportunity to participate in their occupation with a sense of pride and hopefully a higher level of acceptance. How many of your chapter members hold the RCIS designation? Seven members of the chapter are RCIS credentialed and 3-5 more members are in the process of sitting for the exam. Has your chapter hosted the SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course? In July of 2008, the Illinois Chapter of SICP hosted its first RCIS Review Course at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois. Over forty professionals from the clinical arena and industry attended. The 2-day course was an incredible opportunity to hear presentations from leaders like Todd Ginapp and Sally Elliott. They delivered clear and concise information to those who attended, sharing their expertise and clinical knowledge; we cannot thank them enough. Several vendors made it possible for individuals to attend this program at no cost, and we would like to thank each of them; John Olson from Abbot Vascular, Chet Balder from Medtronic, Grayson McMahon from Sterile Med, Inc., and of course, Sherman Hospital for their gracious offering of space, facilities and funding. Additionally, we would like to thank Wes Todd for providing copies of his program “Todd’s CV Review CD” to offer as door prizes. This was truly an awesome event and one that we would certainly like to replicate on a regular basis. Who is your chapter’s Advocacy Committee representative? Jim Combs RCIS, RCES, EMTP, who works at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford Health Systems of Rockford, Illinois is our advocacy committee representative. ____________________________________

I. The Current SICP Leadership Team

Tracy Simpson, RN, RCIS, FSICP SICP Leadership Tracy Simpson graduated from Ohio State University in 1992 with BA in International Communications. She also graduated from Edison College, Fort Myers, Florida, in 1996 with an AS in Cardiovascular Technology. She received her RN degree in 2007. Tracy joined the SICP as a student in 1994 and has continued membership to the present. She earned fellowship (FSICP) in 1999 and joined the board of directors in 1999 as the chair for scope of practice. In 2000, she accepted the position of President-Elect. “My drive to support and forward the profession of cardiovascular technology, as well as the RCIS credential, is my passion. Legislation has been a very important driving factor starting in Ohio in 1998 and has continued to motivate me.” Tracy has remained a constant with SICP leadership since 2000, serving three years as SICP President. She returned to a leadership position in 2008 to assist in the many activities and projects the Society has at hand. Why do you continue to stay involved with SICP? SICP is the gold standard in professional societies for invasive cardiovascular professionals. The lack of awareness regarding our profession continues to amaze me. It is our job as professionals to educate not only our fellow healthcare professionals, but also the mainstream public and most importantly, our patients, as to the expertise of an invasive cardiovascular specialist. I continue to be encouraged by the progress we have made, but realize that we need to go so much further. I enjoy working with my peers from all across the country in an effort to build the Society and the profession. Jeff Davis, RRT, RCIS, FSICP SICP Leadership Jeff Davis began his career in healthcare as a registered respiratory therapist in 1987 after graduating from the Respiratory Care Program at Edison College in Ft. Myers, FL. Upon graduation, he worked in the neonatal intensive care unit. The number of babies with congenital cardiac disease and cardiac-related complications sparked his desire to work in a cardiology-related environment. In the late 1980’s, Jeff also began teaching part-time at Edison. During this time, the hospitals in southwest Florida were experiencing a shortage of cardiovascular technologists in the cath labs. This led to a partnership between the hospitals and Edison to design and develop a program in cardiovascular technology in 1989. Jeff has been the Cardiovascular Technology Program Director at Edison College since 1991. He also serves as the SICP representative to the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT). The JRC-CVT is involved in the accreditation process for cardiovascular technology programs. What do you want the SICP and the various committees to accomplish in the short and long terms? • It is important to continue heightening the awareness and benefits of the RCIS credential, especially to the cardiologists, hospital administrations, Departments of Health and legislative communities. • Increase educational offerings to the membership for both new and seasoned cath lab professionals. • Grow the membership, and bring in new and energetic people and ideas. Belinda Trollinger, RN, RCIS, FSICP Publications Chair Belinda Trollinger has been a staff nurse in the cath/EP lab since 1998. She began her cardiovascular career at Baptist Hospital, in Pensacola, Florida, where she worked as a staff nurse and was assigned the role of the cardiovascular/interventional radiology staff educator for her team. Belinda worked at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center (Mobile, Alabama) as an RN and as a team member in the EP lab. She is currently employed as a staff nurse in the cath/EP lab at West Florida Hospital, Pensacola, Florida. Her career as an RN began in 1983. Belinda’s previous experience has been with medical/surgical floors, intensive care unit and case management, and since 1998, she has worked in the cath/EP lab. She is a founding member of the Emerald Coast Chapter of the SICP, and was the chapter chairperson for 2005 and 2006. She received SICP Fellowship in 2006, and is a current member of the Emerald Coast Chapter’s executive committee. Belinda continues to support the SICP by serving on the SICP leadership team as the publications chair. She received the SICP President’s Award at the 2008 SICP Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why do you continue to stay involved with SICP? The SICP is the only professional society specifically for the individual who works in the cath lab. The invasive cardiovascular professional is the healthcare worker who supports the physicians and patients in the cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories. I believe the SICP Position Statements and Standards to be relevant to my current practice. I believe in the fellowship and community of the SICP. I want to be a part of that SICP community. What do you want your committee to accomplish this year? I have team members who have given me excellent input throughout the past year: Zorka Musovic, Yvonne Singletary and Paul Kelley. The SICP publications team will continue to grow. We will continue to select outstanding candidates for the Cath Lab Digest “10-Minute Interview.” I want my committee to be a bridge between the SICP leadership, our SICP members and the cardiovascular community. The Publications Committee will accomplish all of this and we invite you to participate. Is there anything you would like to share or offer to the SICP membership? Individuals who have contributed to further the field of invasive cardiology for all invasive cardiovascular professionals and are members of SICP are candidates for the Cath Lab Digest 10-Minute Interview. Send in your name or nominate a cardiovascular professional by sending in a name and contact information. Tell us why you or your nominee should be the next 10-Minute Interview. The SICP Chapters have the opportunity to use the Publication Committee to communicate with our cardiovascular community. SICP Chapters can post their upcoming events on the SICP Calendar of Events at www.sicp.com, and have the opportunity to share their events with the SICP Chapter Update. Individuals are also encouraged to share their original articles with the SICP. Contact the Publications Committee at Publications@sicp.com. Darren Powell, RCIS, FSICP Educations Committee Chair Darren Powell is currently a tenured faculty member of Spokane Community College (SCC) in Washington state, where he is the program director for invasive cardiovascular technology. Powell earned dual AAS degrees in invasive cardiovascular technology and echocardiography at SCC in 1981. He has worked at several medical centers in the Pacific Northwest as a staff technologist as well as manager of cardiology. Darren has published articles in Cath Lab Digest, Cardiac Cath Today and Diagnostic Imaging. He has contributed a chapter on IABP for DelMar publishers and one on diagnostic and bilateral heart cath in Watson and Gorski’s Invasive Cardiology: A manual for cath lab personnel. Powell enjoys public speaking for the SICP at multiple venues. He has had opportunities to visit many cath labs in the U.S. as well as labs in Canada, Japan, Thailand and Brazil, witnessing many differences, but a common denominator being the desire to help patients. Darren lives in Spokane, Washington and with his wife and three children. They enjoy many outdoor activities such as boating, skiing, fishing and hunting. Darren has been involved with the SICP for several years and is currently the Education Committee chair. Why do you continue to stay involved with SICP? It is rewarding to interact with the type of people who do more than is required. The SICP is the only organization where the common denominator is that we all work in the cath lab. We come together each day for the patient at work. The SICP allows us to carry that out to our professional lives. What do you want your committee to accomplish this year? We have recruited a team of educators to fine-tune our signature RCIS review course presentations. What is your overall long-term goal for your committee? To help our members stay current in the field as technology and treatment modalities evolve. We bring the review course to many venues each year to support the RCIS credential. Is there anything you would like to share or offer to the SICP membership? Do not think of your career as a job. Get involved with the SICP at the local or national level to promote quality patient care. Your participation will advance your interests to secure the long-term satisfaction you deserve in your career. Kenneth A. Gorski, RN, RCIS, FSICP Standards Committee Co-Chair Ken Gorski has years of cardiac cath lab experience, graduating with an associates degree in cardiovascular technology in 1986. He began his cardiac catheterization laboratory career at the University of Michigan, where he became chief cardiovascular technician in 1990. In 1991, he accepted a position at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, becoming the technical supervisor and the first CVT to work there. He completed a nursing degree in 1994 and became the cath lab clinical instructor at the Cleveland Clinic in 1999; currently, he is the assistant manager. The Cleveland Clinic has eight catheterization rooms, and performs 10,000 angiographic and another 3,000 right heart and biopsy procedures annually. In 1992, Ken was part of the original steering committee for the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP). He has served as the Professional Standards Committee Chairman and on the Executive Board as Secretary. Ken is a consulting editor for Cath Lab Digest. He has published a number of articles, and is the co-editor and author of seven chapters for the second edition of Invasive Cardiology: A manual for cath lab personnel, which was published in 2005 by Physician’s Press. Ken has spoken at local and national meetings on subjects such as anticoagulation, drug-eluting stents, acute coronary syndromes, IVUS, and legislation affecting the cardiac cath lab. In March of 2000, Ken testified in front of the Ohio House Subcommittee on Health, Aging, and Retirement in support of proposed licensure legislation for Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialists (RCIS). Ken has presented at TCT in 2004 and 2005, and at EuroPCR 2005 Nurse/Tech Symposium in Paris, France. He is a steering committee member for EuroPCR 2006. Why do you continue to stay involved with SICP? I was one of the founding members of the SICP, and was part of the original Steering Committee. Professional societies are the voices of the medical, nursing, and allied health communities; the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals is the voice of our practice. What do you want your committee to accomplish this year? Our primary goal for 2009 is to update the RCIS Scope of Practice. A number of new position statements will most likely be published as well. What is your overall long term goal for your committee? To work more closely with groups such as the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) to establish and publish standards and gain recognition, both for the society and the RCIS/RCES credentials. Is there anything you would like to share or offer to the SICP membership? Get involved. Without a voice, politicians and accreditation agencies will completely dictate our practice. ____________________________________

II. New Faces in SICP Leadership

Jim Lincoln, RCIS Advocacy Committee Chair Jim has worked in the cardiac cath lab in several hospitals as an on-the-job-trained CVT since 1997. In 2003, he passed the science exam and in 2005, passed the RCIS invasive registry exam offered through CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International). Lincoln joined the SICP in 2005 and continues to be an active member and leader. In November 2008, he became more involved in the SICP leadership, chairing the Advocacy Committee. Lincoln is married with two children and two (twin) grandchildren. He resides in Cranston, RI, and enjoys snow skiing, camping and any other outdoor activity. Why are you involved with SICP? Total commitment to the professionals SICP represents and the patients we care for. Our work is technically advanced, constantly changing, stressful, tiring, but most of all, rewarding. We need to educate our physicians, co-workers, administrators, legislators and our patients with regard to the contribution we provide every day when caring for such a diverse and complex population of patients. The SICP is the perfect platform from which to promote the RCIS credential and its inclusiveness as a group of non-physician healthcare providers in the cardiovascular/electrophysiology lab. What is your overall long-term goal for the Advocacy Committee? National recognition of the RCIS credential, eventually leading to state licensure. Is there anything you would like to share or offer to the SICP membership? When you are told, “You can’t do that” be frustrated, it’s OK. Then internalize those feelings for a day or so and redirect that frustration into motivation for change. Always be tactful, professional, and honest, but be direct as well. It is my opinion that it is better to be respected than liked. When you present yourself in this manner, you can have success with both. Jennifer Titzer, RN, RT(R), BS, RCIS Standards Committee Co-Chair Jennifer has been RCIS-credentialed since 2002. She currently works for the University of Southern Indiana, instructing students in the radiologic technology program. She is also a Wellness Coach, where she works with individuals and groups on making healthy lifestyle modifications. On a PRN basis, Jennifer assists physicians with invasive cardiac and peripheral vascular procedures, hemodynamic monitoring, and computerized documentation at an outpatient lab. Jennifer is currently working towards a masters of science in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana. She is pursuing the nurse educator and family nurse practitioner track. What do you want the Standards Committee to accomplish this year? To review and update standards to reflect current scope of practice and standards for cardiovascular procedures. Dennis Chadwick, BS, RCIS, RCES, FSICP Industry Relations Committee Chair Why are you involved with SICP? I believe that we must put more into our careers than just show up for work. You must give back to the field that has given you a career and a sense of purpose. What do you want the Industry Relations Committee to accomplish this year? To form network connections within industry that will be beneficial to our members. I would like to see bridges built to industry that will allow us to offer greater educational opportunities to our members. Everet Taylor, BS, MA, RCIS, FSICP Membership Committee Chair Everet B. Taylor was born in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica, W.I. He attended Knox Community College at Spauldings, Clarendon (Jamaica) and studied for a degree in building construction and engineering. His studies at Knox Community College were brief, as sadly his father and only living parent passed away. Due to this, he changed course and his life took on a new shape. He immediately sought employment and worked (civil service) for the Ministry of Works, learning to build roads. During this time, he met and married his wife Deneese. He resigned from the Ministry of Works after five years; by this time he had advanced to a senior project manager position. Shortly after his resignation, he immigrated to the United States. He arrived in the United States in August of 1984, and he lived in Queens, NY. Soon after his arrival, he enlisted in the United States Army. He started out as a combat engineer and was stationed at Fort Ord (now closed), CA. Everet retired from the Army after 22 years as a career soldier. While in the Army, he was trained as a cardiac specialist and later a cardiovascular technologist. He served in numerous assignments, various leadership positions, and locations within U.S. Army Health Services. His work primarily involved cardiology services worldwide. He has a wide range of experience in the noninvasive cardiology arena, echocardiography, and invasive cardiovascular procedures and technology. Everet has been in charge of several cardiovascular labs and cardiology service departments in the Army. In the invasive cardiovascular field, he has served as an instructor for the U.S. Army’s accredited cardiovascular technologist school. Everet earned a Bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University and a Masters degree in Health Services Management from Webster University. Currently he works for Kaiser Permanente at its Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Oregon. He serves as the manager for five cardiovascular labs, an ambulatory care unit, and a medical procedures unit. He and Deneese live in Oregon and have four children. He enjoys reading, writing, playing soccer, and exercises such as jogging, swimming, and condition training. Everet was invested as a Fellow of the SICP in July of 2008, and he will serve as the SICP Membership Committee Chair. Why are you involved with SICP? I am involved with the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) because I feel that we are an organization that truly represents the interests and welfare of dedicated professionals across disciplines within the cardiovascular laboratory environment. I truly believe that the SICP supports excellence in performance for cardiovascular professionals through education, safe practices, and credentialing. I am passionate about invasive cardiovascular technology and the people that work within the invasive cardiovascular field. Through my involvement, I would like to facilitate bringing wider recognition to our highly-committed, well-trained, and extremely qualified and cardiovascular professionals working to support physicians, in anonymity, within cardiovascular labs everywhere. I believe the SICP is the organization for invasive cardiovascular professionals. Since earning the Registered Invasive Cardiovascular Credential (RCIS) in 1995, I have continually sought out continuing medical education opportunities to maintain the credential and renew my knowledge of my professional environment. This quest for more education and thirst for knowledge has allowed me numerous opportunities to attend seminars and conferences, as well as to participate in education activities with the SICP. I subsequently joined the SICP and later applied for Fellowship and was invested with the Society July 2008 in Las Vegas. I am the Membership Committee chair. What do you want your committee to accomplish this year? • This year I expect to expand the Membership Committee so we can better respond to the Society’s needs. • I would like the committee to focus its effort on energizing more Society members to become actively involved. • Our Membership Committee plans to work with the Education Committee to develop tools to provide continuing education opportunities and training opportunities for our members’ success. • Our Committee will work with other committees to update and expand the Society and its resources to better support invasive cardiovascular professionals in the field. • We would like to expand our membership to where there is at least one SICP member connected to each cardiovascular lab across the country. ____________________________________

The Cardiovascular Technologist: The misunderstood medical professional

Everet B. Taylor, MA, RCIS, Clackamas, Oregon The SICP is committed to supporting efforts that fully afford recognition for members of the invasive cardiovascular professional team. The Society supports the registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) credential as the minimum standard for credentialing and as a testament to knowledge proving competency within the cardiovascular laboratory environment. Cardiovascular technologists are probably the most misunderstood and sometimes mistreated professional on the cardiovascular team, despite being very skilled and having endured many sleepless nights studying the concepts of a highly specialized field. Cardiovascular technologists have studied and worked diligently to attain highly technical and specialized cardiovascular knowledge. Cardiovascular technologists continue to STAND READY AND ALERT TO RESPOND TO ANY AND ALL CARDIOVACULAR emergencies within the cardiovascular labs. Credentialed cardiovascular technologists are vital to high-functioning teams of invasive cardiovascular professionals. While cardiovascular technologists may have been in labs caring for sick hearts and patients for more than twenty-five years, today, cardiovascular technologists in many large hospitals in the United States remain an unknown professional entity compared to other, less-trained, medical professionals. Cardiovascular technologists with the registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) credential working in cardiovascular labs around the country remain in the shadow of those licensed professionals who have received recognition. In reality, cardiovascular professionals, mainly cardiovascular technologists, are among some of the most highly trained and qualified, yet misunderstood and marginalized (until needed), group of specialists in the medical profession. The registered cardiovascular invasive specialist credential is the best kept secret/code of acronyms in the general medical community. While RCIS might be recognized and accepted in some emergency department, intensive care units and cath lab environments, it remains a mystery to many other health professionals Now is the time to educate our medical community and our public. It is time to start taking the RCIS credential to the mainstream and raise its profile in the medical community. Everet Taylor can be reached at Everet.B.Taylor@kp.org

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