What is the size of your EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials at your lab?
Hartford Hospital has one dedicated state-of-the-art invasive EP laboratory. We also have a dedicated diagnostic EP laboratory in a separate location where we perform diagnostic EP studies, ICD testing, cardioversions, and tilt table studies. Additionally, we share a cardiovascular OR suite for laser lead extractions and device implants when our primary lab is too busy to accommodate these cases. Our staff currently consists of three board-certified invasive electrophysiologists, three full-time registered nurses (RNs), and one part-time registered nurse (RN), as well as one electrophysiology technologist (RCES). We will be obtaining extra space in a lab next to ours that we will be sharing with the interventional neuroradiologists when their new laboratory is completed in March 2010. With the addition of the new laboratory space, we will have three open positions for two RNs and a CV/EP technologist.

When was the EP lab started at your institution?
Dr. Jeffrey Kluger established the invasive EP program at Hartford Hospital in 1999 with the recruitment of Dr. Christopher Clyne, who in 2000 became (and remains) our invasive EP laboratory director. In July 2008, Dr. Steven Zweibel joined the faculty of Hartford Hospital as the director of cardiac EP.

What types of procedures are performed at your facility? Approximately how many are performed each week?
We perform all interventional electrophysiology procedures, which includes radiofrequency ablation of complex arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation [AF] and ventricular tachycardia [VT]), laser lead extractions and all basic as well as complex device implantations. On a monthly basis, we provide services for approximately 50-60 patients. Our yearly volume includes about 200-250 ablation procedures and 400-450 device implantations.

What is the primary goal of your program?
Our primary goal is to provide comprehensive electrophysiology services utilizing state-of-the-art technology in a patient-focused environment with particular attention to cost containment. We do not nor do we plan to focus solely on only one type of electrophysiology service. We are privileged to have a group of electrophysiologists, Dr. Steven Zweibel, Dr. Christopher Clyne and Dr. Eric Crespo, who direct us to excellence by providing quality patient-focused care.

Who manages your EP lab?
Sharon Thum-Gebrian, RN holds joint positions as manager of the EP lab, manager of the arrhythmia services and physician office practice manager. Her background as a cardiac intensive care nurse for 20 years as well as an EP nurse and a pacemaker clinician gives us a unique advantage, as she understands the overall inter-departmental complex dimensions of the EP program here at Hartford Hospital.

Is the EP lab separate from the cath lab? How long has this been? Are employees cross-trained?
Our EP lab has a primarily dedicated EP staff. We are separate and distinct from the cath lab. Minimal cross training of the arrhythmia nurse from the diagnostic EP lab and the device clinician nurse have assisted the lab when staffing issues arise.