Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 - (Page 30)

30 SPOTLIGHT MARCH 2008 Dr. Jack Chen. We are starting to require clinical staff to take the registry exam for RCIS. To help them accomplish this, senior staff is conducting RCIS review on the weekend for all interested staff. There are many forms of continuing education available to the staff. There are vendor-sponsored in-services in the cath lab, and the hospital provides free online CEU opportunities. Staff are encouraged to attend conferences. How do you handle vendor visits to your lab? We are revising our vendor policy at this time. The vendors are allowed in the cath lab only on their assigned days, unless requested by the physician for the use of specific equipment, such as peripheral or carotid interventions. How is staff competency evaluated? All staff are required to take yearly competency tests developed by the clinical educator and must attend a credentialing session in which they are required to demonstrate competency in performing sheath pull, IV insertion, equipment use, codes, and pacemakers and special equipment used in the cath lab (such as Rotablator [Boston Scientific, Natick, MA], AngioJet [Possis Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, MN], IVUS, ComboMap and IABP). Does your lab have a clinical ladder? Our cath lab has a clinical ladder system that mirrors the hospital’s clinical ladder. There are three levels in this system: Level I is the base level where every employee is hired in. They are required to maintain 12 hours of continuing education per year, and assist in data collection for performance improvement and quality analysis processes. Level II is the middle level, in which the staff member is required to maintain 18 hours of continuing education, participate or lead a performance improvement project, and provide an inservice for the staff (includes presentations, equipment review, or instructor in the Credentialing Day). Level III is the highest level, in which the staff member is required to hold a certification (either RCIS or CCRN). They are also required to maintain 24 hours of continuing education, lead a comprehensive performance improvement project, and provide two inservices for the staff. A level III staff is considered a mentor and resource for the staff, is required to be competent and proficient in the performance of all three roles, and must be able to expertly utilize all equipment in the cath lab. How does your lab handle call time for staff members? Is there a particular mix of credentials needed for each call team? We have three staff members on call each day and on the weekend. This must include one RN. The other two staff members may be CVTs or RNs. If there are two CVTs, one must be able to circulate. Our call schedule is nine weeks, and the amount of days each staff has to be on call varies due to staffing. We have self-scheduling for call. The staff gets paid $4/hr for carrying the pager when on call. If they come in to do a case, they are paid time and half, plus one hour drive time and case incentive. Within what time period are call team members expected to arrive to the lab after being paged? Our goal is to have two staff members in the lab 30 minutes from time the STEMI page is initiated. There is no attending cardiologist on call after hours. They are expected to arrive when they are paged. Do you have flex time or multiple shifts? Our shifts consist of 8-hour, 10hour and 12-hour shifts. Dr. Jack Chen performing a catheterization via the radial artery. Greg Messina, RN, BSN, RCIS, assisting. Dr. Aman Kakkar, happy to be working in the cath lab. Marilyn Norman, CVT, up to no good, as usual! I love my job! How are new employees oriented and trained at your facility? What licensure is required for all professionals who work in your lab? Each new employee, RN or CVT, goes through 90 days of orientation. This includes didactic and hands-on training. The didactic portion of the orientation covers coronary anatomy and angulations, hemodynamics, pharmacology, medication calculation, radiation safety, ECG rhythm recognition and 12-lead interpretation, patient assessment and cardiovascular disease states. The new employees are required to complete this didactic portion and take a comprehensive test to assess their grasp of the theory. They will then be paired with a preceptor who will train the employee in scrub, monitor and circulating roles. All staff member must be BLS- and ACLS-certified. CCRN and RCIS certification is strongly recommended. What type of continuing education opportunities are provided to staff members?

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 Are You Being Paid Fair Market Value in 2008? A Cardiac Cath Lab Professionals Survey by Cath Lab Digest and the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Saint Joseph’s Hospital Invasive Imaging Tools for Optimizing Coronary Stent Deployment Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner A Workflow Revolution in Cath Lab Reporting Advantages of a New Digital Lab at Baystate Medical Center Cardiac Computed Tomography: What Does it Mean for the Cath Lab? The Latest in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Cellular Cardiomyoplasty and Cardiac Regeneration Intravascular Ultrasound in the Cath Lab: A Powerful — and Underutilized — Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes The Stentplus™ Patient Success Program Cardiac Cath Lab Clutter — or, Spring into Action! Groin Bleeds and Other Hemorrhagic Complications of Cardiac Catheterization: A List of Relevant Issues Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the Cath Lab What Do You Think? Experience with a New Guidewire: The Terumo Runthrough NS The Ostial Pro™ Stent Positioning System: Perfecting Aorto-Ostial Stent Placement Precious Minutes The Ten-Minute Interview with…Mark Bowles, BSN, CCRN Vascular Care in the Cath Lab: Planning a Smooth Transition Cath Laughs CMS 2008 OPPS Final Rule Review An Extensive Set of Review Courses for the CCI Basic Science, Non-Invasive Echocardiography and Vascular, and ARDMS Ultrasound Exams Meetings Calendar CEU Education Center Clinical & Industry News STEMI Interventions Classifieds Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

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