SICP’s 2012 Recap

SICP underwent several changes in 2012 and made some great progress. We welcomed new officers during the summer. Sally Elliott took over as SICP President and brings with her a wealth of experience, knowledge and most importantly, enthusiasm. See Sally’s professional bio also in this issue. Patrick Hoier joined the Executive Committee as President Elect and will serve in that capacity for the next two years, working closely with Sally Elliott to promote SICP. He, too, brings a lot of great ideas and enthusiasm to the SICP. You can also read his professional bio in this issue. We welcomed Herman Dawson as the SICP Treasurer. SICP Past President Tracy Simpson will remain on the executive committee for the next two years, offering guidance and support to the new leadership. Ms. Simpson’s dedication and participation with the SICP was unprecedented, and extremely valuable and appreciated. We warmly wish her well in her new endeavors and look forward to the future. Jeff Davis will also remain on the executive committee as the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT) representative. 

SICP partnered with New Cardiovascular Horizons this past June for several Cath Lab Professional Sessions as well as the Signature RCIS/RCES Review Course.  We look forward to working with NCVH again next year: June 5-7, 2013, in New Orleans. Registration information is at www.ncvh.org/sicp.

SICP also contributed to the Nurse/Tech Track at TCT this past October in Miami, Florida. We look forward to doing the same for the 2013 meeting, when TCT will be in San Francisco, California. Special thanks to Thomas Maloney for facilitating this partnership with the TCT meeting, and we look forward to working together. 

Looking Forward to 2013

Save the Dates!

We would like to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). In May 2013, we will partner with the SCAI at their annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, May 8-11, in educational sessions directed to allied health professionals.  

SICP continues to schedule the SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course throughout the country when contacted by facilities to present this valuable course to their staff. Usually the facility allows us to open the registration to outside participants. We are excited to announce that we will be presenting SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. Many more are in the works!

Education & Educators Committee

At the request of educators across the country and with the energy of Lois Schaffer and Stephanie Rank, the Educators Committee is going strong. It is within this committee that educators will be able to communicate with one another to discuss items of interest.  

Advocacy

Advocacy continues to be an important issue for SICP and although slow moving in some areas, volunteers around the country continue to stay informed on their local issues.  It is of the utmost importance that everyone be vigilant in one’s own area. Volunteers in all areas of the country are needed when it comes to monitoring and communicating advocacy efforts! We see lots of frustrations, so the more people we have working in this area, the better. We welcome as little or as much as you can offer in the way of your volunteer time.  If you are interested in participating in the advocacy efforts, please contact us today at membership@sicp.com.  

SICP Chapters

Chapters continue to succeed in some areas and struggle in others. The exact science of chapter development and maintenance continues to be a challenge for many. The only answer we can offer is — volunteerism.  The more volunteers you have working, the better things will be spread out amongst the group, and there is less of an opportunity for volunteer burnout! If you have a chapter in your area, get involved. If you wish to offer assistance but are unsure of where to turn, please contact us at SICP — we’ll direct you: membership@sicp.com

SICP Celebrates American Heart Month and Cardiovascular Professionals Week, February 11-15, 2013

SICP celebrates the importance of the cardiovascular professionals across the country, but we want to say thank you to the invasive cardiovascular professional! Your many valuable skills make many important medical procedures possible. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize and appreciate your contributions. 

To help celebrate American Hearth Month and Cardiovascular Professionals Week, SICP will be promoting a Heart Month/CVP week Kit for invasive cardiovascular labs to purchase. The kit includes a SICP poster promoting American Heart Month and Cardiovascular Professionals week with the 2013 dates, SICP balloons, SICP ink pens, and optional SICP reusable tote bags. SICP will also include membership applications and registration materials regarding RCIS review courses.  The SICP Heart Month/CVP week recognition kit is great way to recognize invasive cardiovascular professionals and promote this special week. Purchase your kit today by emailing membership@sicp.com or visit www.sicp.com. Kits are $30, which includes shipping and handling. 

SICP President Sally Elliott, RCIS, BS, FSICP

Currituck, North Carolina

Sally is Director of the Cardiovascular School of Technology for the Sentara College of Health Sciences. Specialties directed by Sally include non-invasive echocardiography, invasive cardiology, electrophysiology, and peripheral vascular technologies.

Sally began her career as a paramedic for the Baltimore City Fire Department, continuing emergency medicine through employment with Kent County EMS, Dover, Delaware, and Portsmouth Fire and Rescue, Portsmouth, Virginia. Sally next entered the cardiovascular care arena, serving the community of Hampton Roads, Virginia, as a cardiovascular technologist with the Sentara Health Care System, caring for patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and recovery area. 

Sally pursued and earned a bachelor’s degree, majoring in biology and chemistry, from Old Dominion University. While at the university, Sally participated in research furthering the understanding of vector-borne disease. Currently, Sally is a PhD candidate, Walden University Epidemiology Health Promotion, finding directions to promote the health and well being of children suffering from obesity. 

Sally is passionate about education and is dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, the number-one killer in the United States.

SICP President Elect, Patrick Hoier, BS, RCSA, RCIS, FSICP

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Patrick is the Director of the Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Program at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As Director, Patrick assists with oversight and implementation of all cardiovascular core courses for invasive and non-invasive tracts, as well as developing and implanting curriculum for the invasive, electrophysiology, and special procedure courses associated with the invasive program. 

Patrick began his career in cardiovascular technology as a graduate from the Invasive Cardiovascular Program at Southeast Technical Institute. The majority of his professional career in the laboratory environment was spent at BryanLGH Medical center in Lincoln, Nebraska. During his time at BryanLGH, Patrick served as team leader in the cardiovascular catheterization department and was a member of the cardiac electrophysiology team. In 2001, Patrick designed and implemented an accredited invasive cardiovascular educational program through BryanLGH College of Health Science. In 2006, he returned to Southeast Technical Institute to become the director of the program from which he had originally graduated. 

Patrick was awarded a baccalaureate of science degree in allied health from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum development. Patrick’s current focus within education is the utilization of simulation and technology within medical training. He has presented at METI’s International Conference on Medical Simulation (HPSN) and is dedicated to researching and developing medical training programs that will utilize advanced technologies. 

Join SICP or Renew Your Membership!

SICP is your advocate at the state and national levels. The SICP is the premier advocate for the invasive cardiovascular professional.  Join or renew today, and contribute to the promotion and advancement of your profession! 

SICP 2013 Goals

• Maintain a close bond to the local chapters and our members in general
• Increase communication with effective and pertinent information to our members
• Implement online CEU module
• Implement a membership survey
• Increase committee involvement
• Increase advocacy and legislative awareness and activity 

 To renew your SICP membership, please visit www.sicp.com.

CCI Reminder! 

Effective July 1, 2013, Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) will officially remove the RCIS1 Qualification (also referred to as the On-the-Job Training qualification) that allows applicants who ONLY have two (2) years (full-time or full-time equivalent) working in Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, at the time of application, to qualify for CCI’s Invasive Registry examination. Read the full press release at www.sicp.com or www.cci-online.com.

HealtheCareers

HealtheCareers is a generous partner to SICP, contributing a small amount to SICP for each member that registers, again for each member that uploads a resume and again for each member that applies for a job.  It’s an easy way for you to help SICP as well as help yourself!  

Register today!  www.healthecareers.com/sicp

Did You Know? SICP supports the RCIS as the gold standard credential for professionals working in the cath lab. SICP supports and advocates an RCIS operating the fluoroscopic equipment under a physician’s direction.