What Do You Think?

Re: Question Gauging Interest in Cardiology Physician Extender Program Dear Sir or Ma'am, I would definitely have an interest in the development of a cardiology physician extender program. I supervise a cath lab in an Army Medical Center, and I know that my staff, as well as other US Army Cath Techs, would be very much interested in any higher education they may receive pertinent this field. The Army is typically supportive of our efforts to further our education with tuition assistance for accredited programs, so please do forward what information you have, and note my personal interest, and the interest of many active duty Army cath techs in such educational opportunities. Respectfully, SGT Natalie R. Magee NCOIC, Cardiac Cath Lab Womack Army Medical Center Fort Bragg, North Carolina Program Update: Many discussions have been undertaken regarding the avenues of how this program might be developed. Several educators in the U.S. have expressed a sincere interest in the undertaking. The goal is pre and post management of patients; performing at least diagnostic procedures under the direct supervision of the physician-in-charge, and the intention is to offer a program that is 85% online, with 15% of the program requiring all students to be on campus for formal classes at least twice a semester. In addition, the intention is to offer a program that has a reasonable cost, since most candidates would have full-time positions, take call, and have families. Keep reading Cath Lab Digest over the next year for further details as the facts are presented. Thank you, Anonymous by request Email: cathlabdigest@aol.com Cc cathlabdigest@aol.com to have your response published in the next issue of Cath Lab Digest.

New Questions

Ambulation & Type & Screen 1. Does anyone ambulate patients to the lab (elective outpatients only)? Do they have criteria to assist with the decision to wheel or walk? 2. Do other labs require a type and screen on all patients preprocedure? Is there a specific subset of criteria to meet for T&S requirements? Thanks! Terry Leonard, Unit Educator, Invasive Cardiology, Stony Brook Univer. Medical Ctr. Best email for response: tleonard@notes.cc.sunysb.edu Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Medication Errors I was wondering if anyone knows of any studies on medication errors in the cath lab and statistics involving the errors (i.e., nurses vs. techs, intervention vs. diagnostic). I was wondering who commits the most errors and during what situations the errors are committed. I feel this would help the lab where I work with calling attention to some areas where we may not always look (not that we have many errors at all). We have a lot of relatively young staff and we may be looking at cross-training techs to give medications down the road. If you have heard of any studies or know of where I may be able to find this information, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Mark Baker, MICP, RCIS Email: cathtech99@yahoo.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com ACT Check Prior to Sheath Pull Our cath lab is currently reviewing and writing policies and procedures. We are currently reviewing standards for pulling arterial sheaths when heparin has been given as a bolus prior to a diagnostic procedure or during a peripheral intervention. Currently, there is no practice in place to check an ACT unless the physician orders it. Our Policy and Procedure Committee wants to implement a policy for checking an ACT prior to pulling the sheath. What is your department's policy/practice, and what level of the ACT is deemed safe for patients? Thank you. Mike LeGal, RN, BSN, CCRN Cardiovascular Lab Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital and Medical Center Clackamas, Oregon Email: Michael.R.Legal@kp.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Screening Criteria We are a small rural hospital with one diagnostic cath lab and two cardiologists. We have been unable to locate any up-to-date screening criteria (the most recent American College of Cardiology guidelines are dated 2001). What criteria would you recommend that we follow to screen our patients (inpatients and outpatients)? We do not offer bypass or interventional procedures. The closest facility is 30 minutes away. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Cheryl J. Harrell, RN and Lori A. McMahon, RN Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Email: Cheryl.Harrell@provena.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com RCIS Mandatory? We are thinking of making it mandatory for our staff to be RCIS-certified. Are there labs that have done this? What has been your process to implement this change? Anonymous Email: cathlabdigest@aol.com

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