EP Lab Digest - April 2008 - (Page 12)

12 COVER PEDIATRIC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY MEDICAL RELIEF WORK Continued from page 10 STORY APRIL 2008 pads are missing, or any other seemingly small detail is missed, the program can grind to an abrupt halt. Our team learned a lot from the first trip in 2004. First and foremost, doubleand triple-check the packing list, and ship the supplies as soon as possible. Expect the unexpected and prepare for more cases than are scheduled.There are no set roles in the EP lab: everyone contributes to every task including lab setup, patient transport, and lab clean-up. On a side note, for those with a weaker stomach — stick to the bottled water or be prepared for a bowel purification ceremony! Summary For all the work that goes into planning such a trip, the rewards of medical relief work far outweigh the effort, and are too numerous to count. Without a doubt, the generosity of our industry colleagues has been unexpected and overwhelming. Trips like this would be cost prohibitive, if not impossible, if it were not for the loaning of equipment and donation of supplies. Almost equally as important has been the assistance of company representatives to set up the equipment and the working relationships that quickly transformed into lasting friendships. The assistance of the DIF in organizing and transporting the patients and families (some from as far as six hours away) for the procedures, as well as the cath lab staff who worked longer hours than we did to prepare the lab in the morning and care for the patients afterwards, was unbelievable. However, far and away the most gratifying part of the work is the incredible appreciation expressed by the patients and families. We live in a society where health care is often taken for granted; this is clearly not the case on the Yucatan Peninsula. The payment for our work was a smile of a child before and after the procedure, the tears of the parents, a firm handshake with unwavering eye contact, and a long hug. While my Spanish-speaking skills are lacking, I had no problem whatsoever understanding the parents’ thankfulness. Dr. Law (right) assisting Dr. Favela during a pacemaker implant on a post-operative 16-year-old with significant sinus node dysfunction. Acknowledgements I would be remiss if I failed to mention all the people and companies that have See PEDIATRIC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY MEDICAL RELIEF WORK page 14 Drs. Favela, Law and Von Bergen during an electrophysiology procedure.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EP Lab Digest - April 2008

EP Lab Digest - April 2008 Pediatric Electrophysiology Medical Relief Work on the Yucatan Peninsula: A Labor of Love EP 101: Considerations for the Elderly EP Patient Contents Letter from the Editor Spotlight Interview: University of Maryland A Summary of the ACC/AHA/Physician Consortium 2008 Clinical Performance Measures for Adults with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter Can Psychosocial Characteristics Predict Fatal Outcomes in Patients? Interview with Jonathan S. Steinberg, MD, FACC 10-Minute Interview: Diane D. Sheffield, RN, BSN AED Access for All: An Organization for SCA Survivors New Column: 5 Quick Clues to AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia CMS 2008 OPPS Final Rule Review New Online AED and CPR Training Opportunities: Q & A with Keith Weaver Highlights from the 5th Annual International Arrhythmia Winter School Email Discussion Group Events Calendar Second Annual Salary Survey Industry News and Products Classifieds Advertisers Index

EP Lab Digest - April 2008

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