What is the size of your cath lab facility and number of staff members?
Currently, the Center for Cardiovascular Medicine (CCVM) is operating with five cath labs, one of which is a dedicated electrophysiology (EP) lab. Our cath lab staff mix is 1 registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS), 6 registered radiologic technologists [RT(R)s], and 9 registered nurses (RNs). Two nurses are dedicated EP personnel. Our pre/post holding area has 12 beds and is staffed daily by 4 RNs, 2 CVAs, volunteers and a unit secretary. This is where cardioversions, transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE)

One of the leading causes of renal failure in patients following diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures is contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). As imaging modalities continue to evolve, more patients (especially the elderly) will be treated and diagnosed with contrast-enhanced imagery. The CIN rate varies from 5% to 38%, depending on patient risk factors. For example, this means a lab performing 1000-plus cases a year could have almost 400 patients at risk for CIN.
CIN is defined as a 25% or greater increase in serum creatinine, or a decrease in calculated creatinine clearance in the

Your diagnostic catheterization procedure turns into a PCI. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) is accessed with the 6F JL4 guide catheter. Your circulating nurse is drawing up the heparin. The operator then requests his equipment: “Please get a 0.014 XYZ guidewire, a 2.0x15 ABC balloon and a 2.25x12 OMG (aka, “oh my gosh”) stent. The staff then scramble to collect the needed PCI items. After lesion predilatation, the operator is ready for his OMG stent. “Let’s have it,” he says. The circulating nurse then informs him, “Sorry, we do not have this stent in stock. Dr. Jones j

Todd is the Cardiology Manager for Memorial Hermann Southeast in Houston, Texas. He also teaches an online RCIS Review course for Spokane Community College, in Spokane, Washington, and regularly presents with RCIS Review Courses.

This month, I want to address a question concerning a couple of common “bad” waveforms that we see in the cath lab: ventricularization and damping. A great deal of discussion can occur about the how’s and why’s, and what to do about it. The most important thing is that BOTH ARE BAD! They need immediate identification and remedy to prevent bad things from

After twenty-plus years as an RN and four-plus years as a CRNP, it still amazes me how perceptions of the same situation can differ so greatly. I’ve found that seeing a situation from different sides has multiple benefits and life’s lessons often come at unexpected moments.

We were taught in nursing classes that nursing is part art and part science. We learned the “science” in lectures and in clinical throughout the course of our education. The “art” would come with time and experience, along with our own reflection and learning from experiences. Incorporating new experiences

My career in the field of cardiovascular services began as an opportunity that has been one of the most significant and rewarding decisions I have ever made. As a 16-year veteran in the field of emergency services, I worked as a paramedic and paramedic educator for programs in Las Vegas, Nevada and Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Eventually, I returned home to Rockford, Illinois and after a short time working as a paramedic was asked to interview for a position in the cardiac cath lab at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Twelve years later, I am still here. At the time, as a new cath lab professional, I fel

Inventory Coordinator Duties

At the Medical University of South Carolina, we are trying to gather more information about a specific job title that was represented in the Cath Lab Digest March 2008 Salary Survey results. The job title was Inventory Coordinator. I'm looking for qualifications and job descriptions from any hospital that has this position.

Thank you!

Kelly N. Howard, RT(R),

Billing/Supply Coordinator

Adult Heart Catheterization

MUSC- Ashley River Tower

Charleston, SC

Email: howardk@musc.edu

Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com

I am the Inventory Coordinator

Since 1983, hospitals have been paid for inpatient services based on a DRG (Diagnosis Related Group) assignment that classifies the procedure performed or treatment delivered. Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) update the inpatient DRG payment system to better reflect the economy and patient conditions. Since adoption of the DRG system, multiple modifications to the payment structure have been made, but none as dramatic as the move to the Medical Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs), adopted October 1, 2007. This approach was designed to better capture sever

My mentor, René Djindjian, one of the fathers of interventional neuroradiology, used to say that it was very difficult to write the history of a technique because one can never satisfy everyone. I agree, thus I will only present here the history of the endovascular treatment of carotid bifurcations based upon my personal experience and my view of its future evolution.

After the fundamental work in endovascular therapy by Charles Dotter1 and Andreas Grüntzig,² it was inconceivable at the end of the 1970s to apply their work to arteries supplying the brain. Klaus Mathias chose

New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) is being held September 10–13, 2008, in New Orleans, Louisiana. More information is available at www.newcvhorizons.com

As NCVH enters its 9th year, what do those health care and cath lab professionals who have never attended the conference need to know? And why should they attend in 2008?
As you noted, this year will mark the 9th annual New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) conference. It has grown to be one of the largest international multidisciplinary conferences in existence, with an anticipated 3,500 participants, 150 eminent faculty and 150 industry