The South Atlantic Society of Electrophysiology for Allied Professionals (SASEAP), which recently held their 12th annual workshop this past September, has a new president. Michael Sipes, RN, also serves as Supervisor of Clinical Electrophysiology at Mission Hospitals and Clinics in Asheville, North Carolina.

One of the most challenging aspects of any electrophysiology (EP) lab is increasing efficiency, while at the same time maintaining patient safety and comfort. In order to achieve these goals, a properly run lab staffed with capable and experienced professionals is essential. At Morristown Memorial Hospital, we have instituted several policies that have helped maintain a professional atmosphere and boost efficiency. The result is quicker turn around time in a proficient, caring environment, as evidenced by the 1,700 cases that were completed in a single EP lab here in 2006. This feat could not have been accomplished without the cooperation and dedication of all those involved with the operation of the EP lab.

ProRhythm, Inc.’s focusAF trial studies the safety and effectiveness of the high intensity focused ultrasound ablation system in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This study includes more than 20 participating hospitals in the United States. In this interview, we speak with Dr. David Haines, who participated in the milestone case. David Haines, MD is Director of the Heart Rhythm Center, Electrophysiology Service and Principal Investigator of the focusAF study at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in preventing sudden cardiac death in vulnerable patient populations. As a result, ICD implantation is now accepted therapy for a wide range of patients, for both primary and secondary indications.

Welcome to the new “EP 101” section of EP Lab Digest! In each of our upcoming issues, we will explore a basic topic in electrophysiology. In this month’s issue, Drs. Sandesara and Olshansky discuss a case in which the patient was experiencing multiple episodes of syncope. They describe which methods they used to diagnose and treat the patient, as well as explain common challenges one might encounter along the way.

Many questions this month concern job positions and responsibilities inside the EP lab: for example, becoming an EP nurse specialist, information on performance reviews, assisting device cases, etc. Readers, let us know if you can help provide any information on these topics; if you would like to respond, please email us at eplabdigest@hotmail.com or visit us on the Web at www.eplabdigest.com (click on the email discussion group link). Remember, when posting or responding to the discussion group, please let us know if you would like your name, location, and/or email address listed as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

The book Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: For patients, their families and interested physicians, Second Edition (ISBN: 9781405147101) was written by Barry J. Maron, MD and Lisa Salberg. It is meant to be a guide for those living with and/or caring for those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It was published in December 2006 by Blackwell Futura, and is 128 pages long. The book also includes a foreword by Eugene Braunwald. Dr. Maron is the Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lisa Salberg is Founder and President of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA) in Hibernia, New Jersey.

In this article, author Dennis Holloway, MBA, CVT provides tips on training new lab members. Although his article, which was originally published in Cath Lab Digest, was intended for those in the cath lab, his advice can easily be applied to training electrophysiology lab staff as well.