EP Lab Digest - May 2008 - (Page 16)

16 SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW MAY 2008 SPOTLIGHT Continued from page 14 and/or products have been introduced at your lab lately? We have implemented the Stereotaxis system, although two of our physicians use it more often than others in the lab. Who handles your procedure scheduling? Do you use particular software? Scheduling is provided by Lisa Maddox and Tangela Cochran (clerical staff) and David Kaczmarek, RN, Ruth Scheller, RN, Anna Bollman, RN and Carol Dauma, RN. This group of staff manages the schedule, assesses and educates patients prior to their procedure as well as follow the nurses, and also follow the patients post procedure. They use the EWS (Enterprise Wide Scheduling) system. What type of quality control/quality assurance measures are practiced in your EP lab? We do scheduling of M & M (Morbidity and Mortality) stats, manage turnover, and handle medication labeling and safety. EP staff (from left to right): Peg Samways, RN, EP Charge Nurse, Dan Bochinski, RN, Renee Monacel, EP Tech, Sheryl Wagner, RN, Manager, Jackie Cook, RN, Sally Greenlees, RN, Barb Ibach, RN, Tammy Lemmerand, RCES, EP Technical Education Coordinator, Anthony Jacobs, EP Tech, Jim Bloom, RRT, EP Technical Manager. How is inventory managed at your EP lab? Who handles the purchasing of equipment and supplies? Our supply manager, Maron Bird, and two staff members (Gemina Dean and Roel Beltran) manage inventory using the Q-site inventory management software. Has your EP lab recently expanded in size and patient volume, or will it be in the near future? Yes. We recently went from having 2.5 labs to 5 labs when we moved into our new facility in June 2007, so this has decreased patient wait time for procedures. Have you developed a referral base? Yes. We are known nationally and internationally for atrial fibrillation case referrals. Renee Monacel, EP Tech, Dan Bochinski, RN, Tammy Caron, RN, Dawn Rusek, EP Charge Nurse, Carrie Graft, RN, Kathy Ziegler, RN, Cindy King, RN, and Elizabeth Huether, EP Tech. All our Fellows (except for Dr. Krit Jongnarangsin, who is an Attending): Michael Kuhne, Srikar Veerareddy, Nagib Chalfoun, Dr. Krit Jongnarangsin, Daryl Wells, Warangkna Boonyapisit, and Thomas Crawford. What measures has your EP lab implemented in order to cut or contain costs? We have altered staff schedules to control overtime and negotiated contracts with vendors for better pricing (including bulk buys of devices to reduce costs). formed an alliance with others in the area? Yes, our lab competes for patients. We have formed an alliance with another hospital located about 40 miles away; the attending there has a clinic and consult service that brings us more difficult and equipment-intensive procedures to our lab. on an outpatient basis? Outpatient procedures include ablations and device implants. What types of continuing education opportunities are provided to staff members? Continuing education opportunities include participation in Grand Rounds and attendance at local and some national conferences. How are new employees oriented and trained at your facility? New employees must complete onthe-job orientation with a preceptor. They also need to be eligible for the RCIS or RCES to be hired. Does your EP lab compete for patients? Has your institution How is staff competency evaluated? Staff competency is evaluated by the What procedures do you perform

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

EP Lab Digest - May 2008 Is There an Under-Referral of Women for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation? A Hybrid Approach to the Cure of Atrial Fibrillation Contents Letter from the Editor Spotlight Interview: University of Michigan Health System 10-Minute Interview: Amit J. Shanker, MD Modular EP Units: Are They Possible? One Hospital’s Experience All About My Job: Technician Supervisor (New Column!) Alcohol Septal Ablation in the Cath Lab: What is it All About? About the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society: Interview with Martin J. Gardner, MD, FRCP(C), FACC Email Discussion Group: May 2008 Second Annual Salary Survey My First Year in Electrophysiology: What Have I Got Myself Into? Highlight on Technology: Video-Audio Integration for the EP Lab On the Horizon: A New Remote Catheter Manipulation System Striving for Excellence in the Care of Cardiac Patients Five Reasons to Participate with a Professional Organization Suspected Shunting of Defibrillation Energy in the EP Lab Can Digital Music Players Cause Interference with Implantable Devices? ECG 101: Ambulatory ECG Monitoring Events Calendar Industry News and Products Classifieds Advertisers Index

EP Lab Digest - May 2008

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