EP Lab Digest - December 2007 - (Page 13)

DECEMBER 2007 SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW 13 Spotlight Interview Northeast Georgia Medical Center Rick Smith, RT (R), EP Lab Coordinator, and Karthik Ramaswamy, MD, Director, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, Georgia What is the size of your EP lab facility and number of staff members? What is the mix of credentials at your lab? We currently have one EP Stereotaxis lab and one implant room. We presently have six dedicated staff members (one radiology tech, one respiratory therapist, three RNs, and one RCIS), as well as two full-time cardiac electrophysiologists. What types of procedures are performed at your facility? We perform procedures such as catheter ablation including ablation for AF and VT, device implantation including implantable cardioverterdefibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and laser lead extraction. We are the first EP program in Georgia to offer cryoablation for adults, and are the first and only lab performing ablation with the Stereotaxis Magnetic Navigation System. Approximately how many procedures are performed each week? We perform approximately 10-15 procedures per week. Complications are evaluated through a pre-specified Quality Review process. In addition, cath lab staff often assist with procedures in our implant lab. Do you have cross training inside the EP lab? What are the regulations in your state? All techs and nurses are trained to scrub for EP studies and implants. Most of our techs and nurses are trained to use CARTO, Stereotaxis, the Bloom Stimulator, and the CardioLab recording system. Our goal is to have one person become a designated “super-user” of each piece of equipment. This will enable them to train other staff members and be responsible for troubleshooting and implementing upgrades. Cross training is the goal. Who manages your EP lab? Rick Smith, RT (R) is our EP lab coordinator, and Daniel Tarte, RN is the manager of the cardiac labs, which includes EP and cath. When was the EP lab started at your institution? Our EP program was started in April 2004. EP procedures were initially performed in one of the cardiac cath labs using mobile equipment, until our EP Stereotaxis lab was completed in January 2005. What is the primary goal of your program? The goal of our program is to provide comprehensive electrophysiology services to our region. We have a particular interest in catheter ablation and magnetic navigation. Is the EP lab separate from the cath lab? How long has this been? Are employees cross-trained? Currently, the EP staff is a dedicated group within the cardiac cath labs. Cross training is not a requirement, although most EP staff have cath lab experience. What new equipment, devices and/or products have been introduced at your lab lately? How has this changed the way you perform those procedures? We are currently in the process of installing the Odyssey system with Stereotaxis. Odyssey consolidates the variety of monitors used in a magnetic navigation lab into a large central monitor, and further integrates 3D mapping, catheter navigation, and fluoroscopy in the control room. In addition, real-time collaboration with other EP labs will be enabled for research, teaching, and potentially direct patient care. What type of quality control/quality assurance measures are practiced in your EP lab? A specific Quality Review policy is followed. All complications and variances trigger a process leading to a detailed case review by the EP/cath lab manager and physician medical directors. Outcomes are trended and specific cases are discussed at a quarterly meeting. Northeast Georgia Medical Center. How is inventory managed at your EP lab? Who handles the purchasing of equipment and supplies? See SPOTLIGHT page 14

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EP Lab Digest - December 2007

EP Lab Digest - December 2007 Improved Anatomical Orientation During AF Catheter Ablation: Experience from Leipzig Heart Center One EP Lab’s Solution to the Administration of Deep Sedation Contents Letter from the Editor Spotlight Interview: Northeast Georgia Medical Center Emerging Technologies for the Electrophysiology Lab The Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium About the PRECEDE-HF Trial: Interview with William T. Abraham, MD, FACP, FACC, FAHA Overview on Shire and the Discontinuation of Ethmozine®: After the Heart Rhythm Society Intervenes, the Company Changes its Decision Minimizing the Risk of Infection at Children’s Sibley Heart Center: Interview with Nicole Jarrell, RNC, MSN, and J. Renee Watson, RN, CIC Is There a Link Between Gasoline Vapors and Brugada Syndrome? Interview with Darko Kranjcec, MD and Hugues Abriel, MD, PhD New Feature! Pacemaker/ICD Puzzle Email Discussion Group Events Calendar Industry News and Products

EP Lab Digest - December 2007

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