1 Oct 10
Helping Nurses Develop Techniques for Managing Stress: Interview with Kate Kravits, RN, MA
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:00am
- 0 Comments
- 2438 reads
In this interview, Kate Kravits, RN, MA discusses her development of a successful psycho-educational self-care program at the City of Hope, located in Duarte, California. Kate Kravits, RN, MA is a Senior Research Specialist in the Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center.
What led you to develop the psycho-educational self-care program for nurses at City of Hope?
Reaping the Benefits of a Digital Office: From EMR to Practice Management
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:09am
- 0 Comments
- 3049 reads
Cardiac Specialists is a high-performance, high-volume practice specializing in cardiovascular health. In 2003, Cardiac Specialists was a two-location, ten-physician group practice searching for an electronic medical record (EMR) system that would allow its doctors to continue conducting exams as they were accustomed to doing, and one that would increase rather than decrease their productivity. Since that time, the practice has achieved tremendous growth, expanding to five locations and 15 physicians — growth that was supported by the implementation of the SRS Hybrid EMR (SRSsoft, Montvale, NJ) and CareTracker PM system.
Email Discussion Group: October 2010
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:17am
- 1 Comments
- 1094 reads
Do you have a new question you would like to submit? Follow our EP discussions on our website and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/EPLabDigest), Facebook (http://facebook.com/EPLabDigest), and LinkedIn (http://linkedin.com/in/eplabdigest).
New Question:
Standard Practice
I would like to know if it is standard practice to send a type and screen/crossmatch prior to ablations? (Peds and adults)
— Barb Lennon, RN
Under Discussion:
Admitting AF Patients
If your facility performs atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations, are patients admitted following the procedure? What are your reasons for admitting/not admitting these patients? Also, do your AF ablation patients usually receive moderate sedation or general anesthesia for the procedure?
Comprehensive Triple Scar Characterization With MDCT to Guide VT Ablations in ICD Patients
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:44am
- 0 Comments
- 2647 reads
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablations are one of the emerging frontiers in clinical electrophysiology. Multiple clinical trials have extended the indications for life-saving defibrillator therapy to an increasing number of patients. Apart from those with previous life-threatening arrhythmias (secondary prevention), a large number of patients with a structurally abnormal heart benefit from placement of an ICD without previous episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (primary prevention).
Saturday Morning at a Small Community Hospital
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:47am
- 1 Comments
- 2080 reads
Dear Readers,
It is Saturday morning at a small community hospital. An 81-year-old woman with hypertension arrives by ambulance after experiencing recurrent syncope. She has frequent episodes of symptomatic sinus arrest in the Emergency Department. The on call cardiologist admits her to the intensive care unit and, unable to identify a reversible cause, starts her on dopamine. The cardiologist consults an electrophysiologist, who agrees that an urgent pacemaker is indicated.
Is EP’s Success its Own Problem? An Update on EP Physician Recruitment
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 10:53am
- 0 Comments
- 3406 reads
Technological innovations and an increasing demand for EP doctors are leaving hospitals with a shortage. How are hospitals faring with EP recruiting? Pinnacle Health Group, a physician recruiting firm with 15 years of experience, provides their perspective.
What increased the demand for EP physicians? An increasing amount of patients desire specialist care. Electrophysiologists, meanwhile, are already swamped with a prevailing incidence of atrial fibrillation, particularly among the senior population. Along with biventricular defibrillators and lesion reintervention therapy, a majority of cardiology patients are electrophysiology candidates.
The shared thought that cardiologists were in surplus in the mid and late 1990s translated into concerns about a shortage as expansions and innovations in the field, economic trends, reimbursements, as well as aging physicians and population affected the workforce. This rings true for electrophysiologists as well.
Spotlight Interview: Fletcher Allen Health Care
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 11:03am
- 0 Comments
- 2636 reads
What is the size of your EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials at your lab?
The Arrhythmia Service at Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) includes 4 academic physicians, one private practice physician, two nurse practitioners, 1 clinical fellow, several research fellows, 7 lab staff (all RNs), 2 pacemaker clinic RNs, 2 ablation clinic RNs, and one advanced practice RN who works exclusively in the ablation lab.
When was the EP lab started at your institution?
10-Minute Interview: Leslie A. Saxon, MD
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 11:09am
- 0 Comments
- 2488 reads
In this month’s 10-minute interview, EP Lab Digest speaks with Leslie A. Saxon, MD, Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Why did you choose to work in the field of electrophysiology? Tell us about your background in EP.
I had very little exposure to EP until I started my Cardiology Fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s in Chicago. My first rotation was in EP and Dr. Pablo Denes, the EP Director, was a very positive role model. I went on to train in EP under William Stevenson at UCLA. Bill really helped me develop into a clinical researcher and interventionalist. He is a very patient man.
Describe your role as Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine. What is a typical day like for you?
The Student Experience
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 11:27am
- 0 Comments
- 1976 reads
I am an invasive cardiovascular technology student enrolled at Spokane Community College in Spokane, currently finishing my final twelve-week clinical rotation. I am nearing the end of the invasive cardiovascular technology program directed by Darren Powell, RCIS, FSICP, and felt compelled to write this article as I mulled over the experiences I have had as a student.
Initial Experience with the Hansen Medical Sensei Robotic Catheter System
- Mon, 10/4/10 - 11:38am
- 1 Comments
- 3245 reads
Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation has emerged as a vital tool in the management of this frequent and challenging atrial tachyarrhythmia. Success has been achieved across the entire spectrum of cases, from paroxysmal to permanent. More advanced electrophysiology laboratories across the country are engaging in AF ablation on a regular to frequent basis, and more electrophysiologists are finding this to be the most common ablation that they perform.
