Medical Simulation and Testing Developments

To all of our cardiovascular peers, The New Cardiovascular Horizons conference has partnered with The International Society of Advanced Level Medical Imaging Specialist Assistants, Inc., to provide a set of continuing education courses at the 10th Annual New Cardiovascular Horizons conference at the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana on July 9-11, 2009. As part of this program, the Society will be presenting the introduction of training on medical simulators designed for cardiovascular studies. This introduction will provide an example of skill sets of allied healthcare professionals, who function at advanced levels in cardiac catheterization laboratories, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery suites nationally and abroad. In addition, the Society will work with the South Louisiana Clinical Research Foundation in a partnership to develop a “Handbook for Training of Cardiovascular Specialists and Cardiovascular Specialist Assistants on Medical Simulators Designed for Cardiovascular Studies.” These two organizations have incorporated The International Board for Certification of Cardiovascular Specialists and Cardiovascular Specialist Assistants, which will formally certify physicians who perform invasive/interventional cardiovascular procedures with a technical credential, which many states now require. In addition to physicians, the certification program will be available for cardiovascular technologists, EMT-Ps with state licenses/national certifications, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, radiologic technologists with ARRT cardiovascular-interventional studies (CV) and cardiac-interventional studies (CI) credentials, certified radiology practitioner assistants (RPAs) and registered radiologist assistants (RRAs) who function in a full-time status in cardiac catheterization and/or cardiovascular surgical suites. The requirements are: 1. Associate degree and/or equivalent with 5 years of continuous clinical experience and hold the registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) credential. 2. Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent with 3 years of continuous clinical experience and the RCIS credential. 3. Master’s degree and/or equivalent with 3 years of continuous clinical experience and the RCIS credential. 4. Doctorate degrees with three years of continuous clinical experience in cardiovascular procedures: a. PhD with RCIS or registered electrophysiology invasive specialist (RCES) b. MD or DO with foreign post graduate degree and functioning as: 1. RRA with RCIS credential 2. RPA with the RCIS credential 3. RCIS 4. RCES 5. RPAs with the following requirements: a. Minimum of 5 years experience in cardiovascular procedures b. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent c. Current ARRT credentials: CV, CI and/or vascular-interventional studies (VI) d. Current RCIS and/or RCES credential 6. Current certified and licensed physician assistant with RCIS credential with at least a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of “hands-on” experience in cardiovascular studies. 7. Current certified and licensed nurse practitioner (advanced practice registered nurse) or registered nurse specialist with at least a master’s degree and 2 years of “hands-on” experience in cardiovascular studies. 8. Current registered nurse with at least an associate degree in nursing and five years of “hands-on” procedural experience with the RCIS or RCES. 9. Current RCIS or RCES with a minimum of an associate degree in science 10. RRAs with the following requirements: a. Minimum of 7 years experience in cardiovascular procedures b. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree c. Current ARRT credentials of CV, CI or VI d. Current RCIS or RCES credential 11. Registered radiologic technologists with at least seven years of experience and an associate degree in science, with at least one of the ARRT credentials of CV, CI and/or VI, and current RCIS and/or RCES credential (required). 12. Persons who hold the RCIS or RCES credential who have at least ten (10) continuous years of experience and have at least the equivalency of an associate science degree. 13. Records to substantiate all qualifications upon request. All simulation testing will be initially provided at a selected training center in Chicago, Illinois. The certification process for medical simulation training is slated to begin on August 1, 2010. The cost for the “hands-on” oral style examination will be announced in autumn 2010. Please refer to the Society’s website, www.ismipsi.org for updates; also see the news section in this and upcoming issues of Cath Lab Digest for meeting updates. Training workshops will be provided and will begin in New Orleans in January 2010 and Chicago in February 2010 on a quarterly basis. As mentioned, all national medical simulation examinations will held in Chicago. In addition, Dr. Manuel Viamonte, Jr., Associate Dean, Medical School, Florida International University, Miami, Florida will be spearheading the development of the international certification for medical simulation program the new campus of the new medical school that opens in August 2009. If further information is needed, please contact: Phyllis C. Williams: ceo@ismipsi.org Neil E. Holtz: coo@ismipsi.org Chuck Williams: cfo@ismipsi.org Dana Rigdon: dana.rigdon@slcrf.com If anyone is interested in a membership, please visit www.ismipsi.org. Membership is a very small cost. The Society does not use membership cards. Members are sent an attached letter from our Chairperson, Membership Committee, Ms. Tressie Brooks. For questions, please contact Ms. Brooks at tressieaxo@yahoo.com or feel free to contact any of the other listed persons. Sincerely, Charles O.Williams, BS, RPA/RA, RCIS, RT(R) (CV) (CI), CPFT, CCT, FSICP cfo@iamipsi.org or tel. (678) 205-7224

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