What Do You Think?

Multiple new and ongoing questions from readers. Your responses are welcome! Answer or pose a question at cathlabdigest@aol.com ______________________ Time-Out Information At LaPorte Hospital cath lab, we perform a “time-out” at the beginning of every case. Patient information includes: patient name, DOB, MR#, procedure being performed, and physician performing the procedure. Is this enough information for time-out or is there additional information that needs to be stated? Should we also be addressing if antibiotics were administered or fluids for irrigation purpose, safety precautions based on patient history, etc.? Roma Thibaut Email: r.thibaut@lph.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Dry Trays and D2B I need evidence-based info regarding the practice of setting up dry trays to reduce door-to-balloon times. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rhonda Kempa, RN, RCIS Email: rkempa@wpahs.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Sterile Field Range I have heard several different answers to the following question. In the cath lab setting, when a sterile field has been opened for a diagnostic cath and/or STEMI, and for some reason it is aborted, how long is the sterile field good for to be used on another diagnostic cath and/or STEMI if covered? I have heard a range from 8 to 24 hours for a wet field that has been covered and 12 to 48 hours for a dry field that has been covered. Is there a standard? Nick Teaver, RN West Georgia Health System Email: teavern@wghs.org Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Cath Lab Guidelines Has anyone set up their cath lab system on the guidelines of the Association of OR Nurses? A hospital in the southeastern U.S. has been set up on these guidelines and has told their RCISs they are not qualified to be monitor assistants or circulators because only nurses can perform such tasks. They have been told the new state guidelines and Joint Commission Guidelines mandate that cath labs have to set up on such guidelines to meet Joint Commission Accreditation. Apparently, the facility has decided to not use the American College of Cardiology guidelines for their policies and procedures. Email: iraa.rpa@gmail.com Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

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