Education & Training Survey Results

EP Lab Digest recently conducted an education & training survey to assess the need for formal EP education for staff across the country. We had a great response! Here are the results from our print survey. Thank you to everyone who participated! Job Title: Manager/Supervisor: 10% Department Director: 0% Physician: 0% Technologist: 32% Nurse: 54% Other: 4% Credential: RN: 51% CVT: 9% RT(R): 10% CCRN: 6% RCIS: 1% RCES: 2% ENT: 0% ST: 1% Other: 20% Other credentials included: PCT 12% CIS 12% CEPS 34% RRT 6% PA 6% BSN 6% CMA 12% RCES-Eligible 6% CNMT 6% Years of Experience in the EP Lab: Less than 1: 11% 1-3 years: 31% 3-6 years: 31% 6-10 years: 22% 10+ years: 5% Your Primary Role: EP lab tech/nurse: 76% Cath lab tech/nurse: 9% EP/Cath lab tech/nurse: 4% EP MD: 0% Other: 11% Other roles included: EP support 25% manager 38% nurse specialist in Ped. EP. 12% PA 12% CMA 13% Your Region: * Midwest (states: IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, MS, OH, WI): 16% * Pacific Coast (states: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA): 16% * NE Atlantic (states: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VE): 5% * South (states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV): 22% * Central/Mountain Region/Southwest (states: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY): 41% Type of Facility: Teaching hospital (cardiology/EP fellows): 32% Non-teaching hospital: 54% Community hospital: 13% VA hospital: 0% Private practice: 1% Is the EP lab separate from the cath lab? Yes: 79% No: 21% If not, are there plans to separate the labs? Yes: 50% No: 50% Number of Dedicated EP Labs: 1: 25% 2: 28% 3: 5% 4: 42% More than 4: 0% What types of EP cases are performed? Diagnostic EP studies: 19% Interventional EP studies: 18% Pacemaker insertions: 18% Defibrillator insertions: 18% Bi-ventricular device insertions: 18% Lead extractions: 9% Number of Total EP Cases (e.g., diagnostic, ablation, implants) Per Month: Less than 100: 42% 101-300: 45% Greater than 300: 13% Previous EP Education: On-the-job-training: 42% SICP educational programs specific to EP: 2% HRS Scientific Sessions: 11% Boston AF Symposium: 2% SASEAP annual meeting: 1% Departmental education (staff educator, physician): 19% Educational programs sponsored by industry: 21% Other: 3% Other programs mentioned: Order and Disorder: 33% Carnegie Institute: 66% Does staff training/education limit the type of cases that can be performed in your EP lab? Yes: 15% No: 85% Does your facility require cath lab staff to have formal education and become credentialed? Yes: 14% No: 86% If a formal, accredited EP education program was available: * I would consider enrolling: 47% * This would be a valuable program for my staff to enroll in: 33% * I do not feel a formal education program would be useful to me: 6% * I do not feel that a formal education program would be useful to my staff: 0% * It would depend on other factors: 14% Other factors included: cost: 40% length of program: 26% location: 20% online option: 7% availability: 7%