Cath Lab Digest - May 2008 - (Page 28)

28 INTERNATIONAL CATH LAB SPOTL I G H T MAY 2008 period and are assessed annually thereafter as a re-contracting requirement. This may be done through individual or group workstations and simulations, direct observation, written tests or online modules. Does your lab utilize any alternative therapies (such as guided imagery, etc.)? Not at this stage, but we are expecting that with the installation of the new ambient lab, that the preselected lighting effects and music (if desired) will provide the patient with a more relaxing and less stressful environment. How does your lab handle call time for staff members? Our call team consists of four personnel: two SN1s, one CVT and either a second CVT or radiographer. The on-call shift continues for the full week, after normal working hours and on weekends. On average, a staff member will be required to take call for one week per month. To assist with late cases, we also have a full team assigned on a late shift. Within what time period are call team members expected to arrive to the lab after being paged? Our cath lab policy states that a pager shall be answered within 10 minutes, with a 30-minute response time to the facility. There is always an assistant cardiologist on-site. If consultation is required, the on-call consultant cardiologist is paged. Do you have flex time or multiple shifts? We currently operate two shifts. The early shift commences at 7:00am until 16:30pm (4:30pm) and the late is from 7:30 am until 17:00pm (5pm). Both shifts are inclusive of a 30-minute lunch break. Does your cath lab do electives on weekends and or holidays? No. Has your lab undergone an international Joint Commission inspection in the past three years? The KFSH&RC was first accredited with Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) in 2000, and we have now just passed our third inspection in March of this year. Cath labs are a primary focus area for these inspections as they deal with both conscious and deep sedation, pain management, patient restraint, verbal orders and discharge criteria. One tip would be is to work closely with your information technology department and have as much information as possible available online, including hospital policy, quality resources and hospital-wide annual competencies. Are you involved with any updates to the physical layout of your cath lab? We are currently carrying out major renovations to Lab 2 and this is expected to continue through to Lab 1 later this year. Once this is complete, then an assessment of the effectiveness of the layout can be made. Where is your cath lab located in relation to the OR department, ER, and radiology departments? The cath lab is located on the fourth floor and we consider ourselves fortunate at the KFHI to share a common corridor with four cardiac surgery OR suites. Therefore, cath lab to OR is a short stretcher-push across the hallway. Radiology and the ER are below us on the ground floor and the access time to these areas is relatively short, as our patient care assistants (PCAs) carry priority express elevator keys. What trends do you see emerging in the practice of invasive cardiology? As advances are made in technology, we think that we will see a greater use of 3D imaging and device development in the future. “Surgical only” cases are now being undertaken in the cath lab. In March of this year, we commenced percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation and have done 10 to date, led by Drs. Al Jufan and AlOmrani. We have performed 18 percutaneous Fontan completions since 2004 under the direction of Dr. Fadel Al Fadley. We have been doing ASD device implants since January 1999, VSDs since May 2000, using PDA devices since August 2001 and PFO devices from March 2005. Hybrid procedures will definitely be in store for us, as we have already been involved in VSD device closures and bi-ventricular ICD implantation in the OR setting. Please tell the readers what you consider unique or innovative about your cath lab and its staff. Our uniqueness comes from the mix of staff that we have in the cath Dr. Ahmed AlOmrani, deploying a covered stent for coarctation of the aorta. Dr. Mansour Al Jufan, with our first Jufan. pulmonary valve implantation. coworkers as their extended family and this is a cohesive bond, rarely experienced in other workplace settings. The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) has added two questions to our spotlight: 1. Do you require your clinical staff members to take the registry exam for Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS)? Do staff receive an incentive bonus or raise upon passing the exam? As a part of continuing education, we encourage our staff to sit this exam, but it is not compulsory at this stage. Performance bonuses may be granted at the end of each contractual year. 2. Are your clinical and/or managerial team members involved with any professional organizations that support the invasive cardiology service line, such as the SICP, ACVP, or regional organizations? Yes. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties is our professional body and our cardiologists are affiliated with FACC, FACP, FACS, FCCM, FCCP, FICS, FRACP, FRCS or FSCAI. All professional staff in the cath lab are certified through the American Heart Association. Professional staff are required to have their BLS (Basic Life Support) plus or minus ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)/PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) as their dicipline dictates. Current, accredited credentialing is a mandatory for re-contracting. We have a Life Support and Training Center dedicated to this training, examination and recertification. ■ The author can be contacted at kbarron@kfshrc.edu.sa lab. KFHI staff are from a very diverse range of experience and educational backgrounds. This can assist us in a positive sense by bringing to us the expertise and experience of other countries and in some instances, can guide us through changes in our way of thinking or practice. This has also strengthened our educational and teaching programs to ensure that all staff perform to the same standards. Our innovations come from early access to new technologies. We are inspired by our team of cardiologists who have the support of Medical & Clinical Operations under the leadership of Dr. Qasim Al Qasabi, Chief Executive Director, KFSH&RC. Is there a problem or challenge your lab has faced? Global events have had a major impact on the cath lab, KFSH&RC in general and Riyadh as a whole. International recruitment of qualified, accredited staff has become a major challenge. To tackle this, signon bonuses have been offered for overseas applicants and there has been an active development of training programs for Saudi nationals. Every department and division has been behind this process, and Saudization has enabled us to keep functioning with qualified staff. What’s special about your location and how does it affect your “cath lab culture”? In a word: multiculturalism. As of January 2008, we have 66 nationalities working at KFSH&RC. Most are bilingual. Standardization and communication is essential in the delivery of premium patient care and so education and competency assessment has become our “cath lab culture.” Expats in the cath lab rely on their

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

Cath Lab Digest - May 2008 The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Cell Therapy in the Cath Lab for Heart Failure: A Look at MyoCell® Therapy and the SEISMIC Trial Performance Improvement Strategies Speed Up Treatment Times in the Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner Commentary: Performance Improvement Strategies Speed Up Treatment Times in the Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients Ask the STEMI Expert Comparing Drug-Eluting Stents and Bare-Metal Stents SICP: The Ten-Minute Interview with… Christopher Kambak, RT(R) Cardiac Cath Lab Economics in a Public Hospital of a Developing Country Keeping Your Heart & Vascular Employees: Proven Ideas for an Effective Retention Plan Unspoken Words Ask the Clinical Instructor Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Meetings Calendar Education Center What Do You Think? Clinical & Industry News Classifieds Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - May 2008

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