August 2011

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Volume 11 Issue 8

Editorial Staff

Clinical Editor
Bradley Knight, MD
Executive Editor
Laurie Gustafson
Managing Editor
Jodie Elrod
Production Manager
Alexa Flinn

Editorial Correspondence

Jodie Elrod, Managing Editor, EP Lab Digest
HMP Communications, 70 E. Swedesford Rd
Suite 100, Malvern PA 19355
Telephone: (800) 371-0791

Fax: (866) 488-8273
Email: jelrod@hmpglobal.com
News
Biosense Webster Enrolls First Patient in Groundbreaking SMART-AF TrialBiosense Webster, Inc. announced the enrollment of the first patient in their latest groundbreaking clinical trial, the SMART-AF Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study, and…
EP Certifications
If you know it, show it...get EP certified! Certification brings personal pride and professional growth. Being certified opens doors and gives you opportunities. Certification also secures your future in EP. Show people you are serious about your EP…
The Temptation of a Single Vendor Cardiac Device Contract
Dear Readers,There is increasing pressure on hospitals to reduce supply costs. Due to their high cost, implantable cardiac devices are frequently targeted by hospital administrators.
Addressing Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Health: Interview with Phyllis E. Greenberger, MSW
In June 2011, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and WomenHeart:The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease released the 2011 10Q Report: Advancing Women’s Heart Health through Improved Research, Diagnosis and Treatment. In this f…
Is Contact Force Sensing in Your Future?
The quest for improvement in safety and efficacy of catheter ablation procedures continues. Catheter tip-to-tissue contact impacts both safety and efficacy. Subjective surrogates for contact have been operator tactile feedback, fluoroscopic evidence,…
Vision, Commitment, and Action: The SADS Foundation Leads the Way to Save Lives
Learn more here about the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation, a leader in education, research and advocacy for families and individuals at risk for cardiac arrhythmias that can cause sudden death in young people. 
Spotlight Interview: The Cleveland Clinic
What is the size of the EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials in the lab?The Cleveland Clinic is composed of 7 EP labs and 1 cardioversion suite. A hybrid operating room is available within the Heart and Vascular…
Atrial Fibrillation: The Patient Perspective to Better Care
We’ve all heard the saying that “communication is a two-way street.” In the doctor-patient relationship, especially when the patient has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, we should be building multi-lane highways of communication. Here, I’d li…
Current Gaps of AF Care in Ontario: Creating a New Model of Care
A White Paper, entitled Reconnecting the Pieces to Optimize Care in Atrial Fibrillation, was recently released by the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care (CICC), of the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto, Canada. This report identified sign…