As it is also the most common vascular access for cardiac cath, it is also most common source of morbidity (very rarely mortality) and complications such as hematomas, pseudoaneurysms and retroperitoneal bleeding. Rarely is the site the source of significant vessel occlusion, emboli or limb ischemia. Every lab has experienced at least one patient (and probably more) with common and rare complications related to managing the femoral puncture site. Because a complication of the puncture site can cause patient problems, prolong the hospital stay (with increased costs) with the possibility of need

In addition, Tomball Regional Hospital is an accredited chest pain center. Chest pain patients that come through the Emergency Department are monitored in the Observation Unit.

The cardiovascular cath lab team consists of MDs, who are board-certified, RNs, LVN, RT(R)s, MA and CVT students.

We have staff members in residence from the conception of the cardiac cath lab in 1989 to new staff members who have been here less than a year.

Tomball Regional Hospital (TRH) is an award-winning 326-bed facility with more than 1500 employees. TRH opened in 1976 as a small community hospita

Many individuals who suffer from low back pain often continue performing their normal daily tasks without understanding the direct cause of their pain or realizing which treatment option may work best. These individuals may never truly recover from acute low back pain, and may also develop a chronic low back pain syndrome and subsequent permanent disability. Therefore, understanding information about the incidence, causes, and management of low back pain may aid in the prevention of this condition, and therefore increase work productivity.

Incidence of Low Back Pain

In recent y

Continuing Education Information

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

1) Describe some of the root causes of side branch failure when stenting bifurcation lesions

2) Recognize different bifurcating lesion morphologies

3) Recognize which strategy that should be utilized as most optimal for a successful outcome.

Credits:

Physicians 1 AMA Category 1 credit

Nurses 1 Contact Hours

Technologists 1 AMA Category 1 credit

Method of Participation: Read the journal article, complete the post-activity test and evaluation and mail or fax it to:

North American Center for CME
83 General Warren Blvd. #100
Malvern, PA 19355
Fax: (610) 560-0501

Successful Completion:

Materials and Methods

The V+Pad Non-Invasive Hemostasis Pad (InterV, Gainesville, FL; see Figure 1) was used as an adjunct with manual digital pressure to achieve rapid hemostasis in 100 patients leading to early ambulation post diagnostic angiography. The V+Pad has a durable 4 x 4 three-layer woven gauze design with a hydrophilic coating. The V+Pad works by accelerating platelet aggregation. The D-glucosamine-enriched fibers attract platelets to the pad’s absorbent gauze and exposed collagen at the vascular access site. This rapid platelet response leads to a platelet plug formati

How do registries differ from randomized controlled trials (RCTs)?

Unlike RCTs, registries are not built on randomization and therefore may at times be subject to case selection. Furthermore, it is often difficult to draw a conclusion from registries since they lack a good control group to compare outcomes. In addition, patients in RCTs are usually much more highly scrutinized in terms of angiographic follow-up.

On the other hand, registries usually have much broader inclusion criteria than RCTs, meaning they capture a more realistic picture of the complex, diverse patient pop

Standards Necessary to Improve Performance

Training to improve performance has always existed. As long as there have been skills, there has been training to prepare the new generation to take over for the old. Initially, it was one-on-one, on-the-job training; however, with the increase in technology and the need to constantly retrain practitioners, assigning new practitioners to the seasoned professional solely was no longer effective without coupling it with documentation and support necessary instruments for accreditation and quality improvement processes.

The Alliance of C

NPSG #2 does not specifically say that reports to a receiving hospital unit has to be Nurse-to-Nurse; what it says is that the institution is responsible to implement a standardized approach to hand off communication, with an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.

NPSG #2 only mentions that there be a timeliness of RECEIPT by the responsible licensed caregiver. NPSG #2 does not state the individual giving report has to be a nurse, nor does it say that the have to even be licensed.

NPSG#2, below, can be found on the JCAHO website at:

http://www.jointcommission.org/Patient

Recent Clinical Trials Funded by For-Profit Organizations More Likely to Report Positive Findings Than Trials Funded by Not-For-Profits

SICP’s SoCal Symposium, September 20-23, 2006, will update you on the latest hot topics and contemporary ideas in invasive cardiology. An RICS review course and breakout sessions will be held the last day of the conference. Attendees are encouraged to participate in the breakout meetings, such as the chapter development meeting, the Teach the Teacher session for review course instructor training and the leadership sessions. The RCIS Review Course lectures are designed to provide a complete overview for any seasoned technologist or are a great starting point for anyone interested in pursuing