News from the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP)

South Dakota’s Southeast Technical Institute ICT Program to Require iPads

Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP
Invasive Cardiovascular Technology
Program Director
Southeast Technical Institute
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Starting next year, Southeast Technical Institute’s Invasive Cardiovascular Technology program will be shifting to a “iPad Required” program.  All students will be purchasing an iPad, Bluetooth keyboard, and specific applications for use in the program. These items will be incorporated into their program fees, and financial aid will be available to cover the expenses.

We chose to switch to this format rather than a laptop-based program for various reasons, but, primarily for ease of use in a clinical setting, and for the terrific productivity and educational applications that are currently available for medical programs and invasive specific programs.
If other educators are interested, I would be more than happy to discuss this transition in more detail.  Also, if you are currently using such a format, could you please contact me so that I can ask you a few questions with regard to your experiences as well?

Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP
Office phone: (605) 367-4633
Email:  patrick.hoier@southeasttech.edu

Society of Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) RCIS Mini Review Course at TCT

Monday November, 7th, from 12:15 - 5:30pm at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California

For those who are considering sitting for the RCIS    examination, breakout sessions will be held covering the following topics:

• In-depth cardiovascular structure
• Coronary angiography through the eyes of the interventionalist
• Aortic stenosis in depth: pathology and associated hemodynamics
• Mitral regurgitation in depth: pathology and associated hemodynamics
• Special Session: In coordination with CVPath, Hands on Hearts will allow the participant to take all that was learned in the prior session and touch actual cadaver hearts with the aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and coronary artery disease.

Register today at https://www.tctconference.com/

Frequently Asked Questions Addressed at the SICP Educators’ Conference

Based on minutes submitted by Lois Schaffer, MEd, RT(R), RCIS

SICP hosted its first educators’ conference in a round-table discussion format on Saturday, July 30, 2011, as part of the New England Symposium and Annual Meeting held in Quincy, Massachusetts, with 20 educators attending. The purpose of the educators’ meeting was to ascertain what the needs of the community are and how to best address them.

Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP, opened the session with an overview of the schedule and the proposed SICP Guide for Invasive Program Professionals. Since not all programs had responded, Hoier asked which programs were still interested in being included and requested that they submit their information to him.

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

(www.cci-online.org)

Moderated by Stephanie Ranck, RCIS, FSICP, with Douglas Passey, RCES, RCIS, FSICP, and Christine Johnson, representing CCI.

Q: Why were educators not notified that the RCIS exam changed?

A: Doug Passey agreed that there was a lack of communication about the exam changes, but CCI is committed to keeping educators in the discussion process in the future and to partner with them. CCI performs a job task analysis every couple of years. If the analysis comes back requiring changes, then the exam must be altered.

Q: If there are significant changes to the exam in the future, will CCI notify the program directors?

A: When possible, CCI will make every effort to share the results of the job task analysis with the program directors and notify them of changes in advance.

CCI has hired Christine Johnson as its new Director of Communications. She will assist with more effective and direct communication between CCI and educators. There is now an online portal for educators on the website: https://www.cci-online.org/content/for-educators that includes an e-newsletter, upcoming events, and sample letters.

The new exam matrix format was developed as a result of a recently completed job task analysis as well as in response to registrants that the old exam matrix was overwhelming and too detailed. Program directors needing more in-depth knowledge of the exam content may contact the exam chair to ask questions or may take the exam free of charge by contacting Christine Johnson (communications@cci-online.org or 800-326-0268). A separate outline that is password-protected and mounted on the educators’ page of the CCI web site should be helpful.

Q: How can we, as program directors, increase our communication with CCI?

A: Christine Johnson has all the program directors’ email addresses. There is a new online application, a registrant tool kit, and a monthly e-newsletter on the website:  https://www.cci-online.org/content/for-educators. By sharing questions from students, preceptors, and staff with CCI, we can all benefit. The Pulse will be sent to all program directors as well as credentialed individuals. In addition, CCI will be hosting a day-long, Cardiovascular Educators’ forum (tentatively scheduled for March 30-31, 2012, in Las Vegas) to allow for roundtable discussions and other exchange of information. A formal invitation will be sent to each program.

Q: How will the On-the-Job-Training/RCIS1 sunset process work?

A: The rationale for the 2-year sunset, replacing OJT with the RCIS examination for the pathway to credentialing, allows for a period to ensure that information is clearly disseminated and those affected will have sufficient opportunity to take the RCIS examination. Everyone agreed that retiring OJT was a good decision for the profession. Program directors were asked to spread the word and assist SICP with organizing registry reviews. More information is available at https://www.cci-online.org/content/sunset-on-the-job-training-as-qualification-pathway-for-rcis.

Q: Can the percentages be removed from the exam?

A: Without percentages and scores, CCI cannot determine what areas are well covered and which need reinforcement.

Q: How should we address issues about criminal matters and applications?

A: Criminal matters are reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis. Some are handled with little difficulty while others require further review from the ethics and executive committees. If a student has a criminal matter, the program director should tell the student about the process as soon as possible. If there is a specific timeline for acceptance into a program, the program director should note that.

The program director has the authority to determine whether applications can be submitted to CCI prior to graduation. Some students have completed all their clinical hours and are, therefore, eligible to take the examination. Students must fax their diplomas to receive the credential.

Lecture Information Bank and Sharing

Moderated by Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP

Darren Powell, RCIS, FSICP, had suggested that CVT educators form an information bank to share best practices, case studies, syllabi, curriculum, outcome tools, assessment formats, and behavioral tools and notes. The parameters would require that educators using the information bank must agree to give credit for the intellectual property not only to the creator, but also to their respective academic institution. All educators would be required to share information. SICP could create an educator section on its website for this. All educators would need to check with their Intellectual Property compliance office to be sure this would be permitted under their administrative procedures.

Student Participation

Moderated by Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP

Q: How can we get students more involved?

A: Students may send articles and updates to SICP to appear in Cath Lab Digest. Student pictures, volunteer service, and a student section were suggested. Other ideas included: submission of case studies, abstracts, or an article on what it is like to be a student in the Invasive Cardiovascular profession. Some programs have students prepare a lecture for the class, while others have teams of students with questions and answers for registry reviews. Rewarding participation generated suggestions of discounted or free access to conferences, scholarships, and the ability to use contributions on a student’s resume. Content ideas for SICP’s section in Cath Lab Digest may be submitted to Penney De Pas, pdepas@sicp.com.

Technology Simulation in the Classroom

Moderated by Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP, and Megan Hunsinger, MS, RCIS

Half of the represented programs use some form of simulation for their students. The Mentice^® and the Simbionix^® were the two most common types. Some programs have created a course specifically using the simulator. The consensus was that while there are currently no qualitative studies on simulator use, students appear to demonstrate increased confidence in their ability to perform in the clinical setting.

Patient care simulators such as Meti^® and Laerdal^® were also reviewed. Since costs can exceed $250,000, either having more than one program support this type of endeavor or obtaining an educational grant was recommended. Other options include creating a Sim center or using a van that drives between campuses for shared use. Sometimes turf or ownership issues have occurred. Another method of paying down the cost is to offer it out to hospitals for their competency training, but this requires checking with both entities’ legal groups regarding liability.

The Trajecsys^® online system (https://www.trajecsys.com/aboutus.htm) was discussed by those who were currently utilizing this technology for their clinical tracking component. It also enables tracking of CEUs. Hoier and Hunsinger will send out a webinar request for the program directors who are interested. Educators can see what the students are doing in real time to keep up with their competencies, and the site also allows an accurate time record, weekly evaluation, and case studies.

Legislative Issues

Moderated by Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP

SICP is collaborating with many healthcare professional and physician organizations to track and discuss the CARE bill and other issues of importance to our profession. As educators, we are the experts in curricular issues, and more specifically, in the area of trends. Educators were urged to work with Tracy Simpson and Jim Lincoln, RCIS (the SICP legislative team) to respond to any specific educational questions related to legislative initiatives.

Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP)

https://www.sicp.com
Moderated by Nicole Shore, SICP Executive Director

American Heart Month kits will be available for order in November. SICP President Tracy Simpson will be using Skype to provide a webinar on the SICP for schools. Educators may also hold an RCIS or RCES review course. SICP is always looking for locations to hold Review Courses, as well as instructors for the courses (for more information on becoming an instructor, please contact Sally Elliott, BS, RCIS, or Megan Hunsinger, MS, RCIS). Interested parties need to complete volunteer forms and return them to Nicole at SICP headquarters at nshore@sicp.com.