News from the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP)

El Centro College Allied Health and Nursing Center, Dallas, TX: Providing an Exceptional Health Sciences Education Experience

George L. Nelson, Jr. RCIS, RCP, Coordinator ICVT Program
El Centro College, Dallas, Texas

The opening of the El Centro College Allied Health and Nursing Center in May 2008 not only marked the realization of the faculty’s and administration’s dream but stood as testimony to the community’s faith in us. Faith in our ability to provide a high-quality educational experience for our citizens, and, in the process, provide highly trained, allied health and nursing professionals for the community. The $30.5 million project was funded as part of a 2004 Dallas County Community College District bond initiative that was passed by the citizens of Dallas (Texas) County.

Our mandate was clear: produce a facility that would give new meaning to the “state-of-the-art, health care sciences, workforce education” experience. The project would take most of 4 years to complete, from site acquisition through building re-design (multiple iterations), to move-in. While 4 years seems like a long time, it merely constitutes the latest chapter in our history. Make no mistake, there were plenty of rough spots along the journey, with all the frayed nerves and bruised toes usually associated with such endeavors. However, the project was (truly) a labor of love and the result can, very nearly, speak for itself. The El Centro College Allied Health and Nursing (AHN) Center is a physical realization of the concept of “Gestalt.” It is a technological showplace, leavened with the real-world knowledge and experienced faculty, to produce a “whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

Additionally, the AHN Center provides us with the opportunity to do two things we Texans are well known for: braggin’ and showin’off. With the AHNC there is plenty of ammunition for both. Baseball “Hall of Famer” Dizzy Dean said, “It ain’t bragging, if you can do it,” and the truth is, El Centro’s AAS and ADN programs have been among the most successful in the nation for many years. Our graduates consistently perform above the national average on board exams (first pass), and they enjoy (essentially) a 100% hire rate upon graduation. However, we knew that in order to remain competitive into the new age of technology, we would need a new home — a new place from which to launch future waves of allied health and nursing professionals.

Thanks to our community, we have exactly that. The AHN Center is a 7-story facility that houses 55 classrooms with seating/styling ranging from traditional to auditorium. Regardless of type, each has complete multi-media capability with real-time recording of lectures, demonstrations, skills labs, and applications. With the 13 allied health, vocational, and associate degrees, nursing students have, at their educational disposal, the newest, most advanced, health care sciences educational equipment available today.

The ICU/CCU/Recovery area is equipped with electronic patient simulator manikins (male, female, child, and infant versions) that are programmed with essentially every medical problem that might be faced in the hospital environment. Beyond that, the “ward” is completely outfitted with fully functioning “wall gases,” suction, electrical power, and monitoring electronics. We have four functional surgical suites capable of accommodating all levels of modern surgery, including “central service,” with a large, hospital-grade autoclave. The radiology department contains three energized rooms equipped with current tech-level x-ray systems (imagers and processors). Respiratory has a complete laboratory. Echocardiography and diagnostic medical ultra-sonography train on the latest iteration of their respective diagnostic imaging tools, and the invasive cardiovascular technology lab is equipped with the Angio Mentor (Simbionix, Cleveland, Ohio) electronic patient simulator. Each area is equipped with the same multi-media capabilities as the lecture rooms.

Perhaps the most significant feature evidencing the greatness of the Allied Health and Nursing Center is that, in the setting of a catastrophic event, it can literally operate as a 50-bed surgical hospital. Just add physicians, and we have the rest covered.

Watch a facility video at: https://eccdl.dcccd.edu/TMinnett/Paramount.asf

SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course and Advanced Cath Lab Sessions a Success at New Cardiovascular Horizons 2011

Dana H. Rigdon, CMP, Executive Director
South Louisiana Clinical Research Foundation, Lafayette, Louisiana

New Cardiovascular Horizons was proud to host the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) as the educational partner to provide content for over 100 advanced cath lab professionals. A special thanks to the entire faculty that made this year’s session a great success!

Course directors were Jeff Davis, RRT, RCIS, and Tracy Simpson, RN, RCIS.

Faculty included Regina Deible, RN, BSN; Kenneth Gorski, RN, RCIS, RCSA; Michael Guiry, RPA-C, MBA; Chris Hebert RT(R), RCIS; Marsha Holton, CCRN, RCIS; Julie Logan, RN; Christopher Nelson, RN and Darren Powell, RCIS, FSICP.

Physician keynote presenters were Oscar Rosales, MD and Craig Walker, MD.

A comprehensive RCIS Review Course was presented along with educational topics such as:

• What’s new in cardiogenic shock?
• Cath lab complications
• Cardiovascular educational tools from the internet    
• Radial approach: thumbs (or wrists) up for this technique
• Left atrial appendage closure
• Innovative techniques and new modalities of therapy in PAD interventions    
• May we assist you? Assist devices to the rescue
• New STEMI guidelines    
• Prevention or repair
• Current perspectives in cardiac and vascular technology
• Cardiovascular legislative issues
• Common sense and crisis management for communication during patient handoffs    
• TAVI: management essentials of pre and post-operative care 
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair/replacement
• Cooling the cardiac arrest patient
• The contemporary cath lab director: “The jack of all trades”

In addition to the didactic part of the program, participants attended hands-on cath lab team training at the Tulane Medical School Simulation Center, where groups performed procedures, were able to review and critique each other, and discussed and learned new approaches to cath lab interventions.

Society of Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) RCIS Mini Review Course at TCT

Monday November, 7th, from 12:15 - 5:30pm at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California

For those who are considering sitting for the RCIS examination, breakout sessions will be held covering the following topics:

• In-depth cardiovascular structure
• Coronary angiography through the eyes of the interventionalist
• Aortic stenosis in depth: pathology and associated hemodynamics
• Mitral regurgitation in depth: pathology & associated hemodynamics
• Special Session: In coordination with CVPath, Hands on Hearts will allow the participant to take all that was learned in the prior session and touch actual cadaver hearts with the aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and coronary artery disease.

Register today at https://www.tctconference.com/

SICP’s 2011 New England Symposium and Annual Meeting Held in Boston a Success!

Held at the Boston Marriott Quincy from July 28-30, the New England Symposium included a RCIS Review Course, a legislative update on issues facing the invasive cardiovascular professional, an educators’ round table, and a managers’ retreat for cath lab leadership. Also featured were student case studies and abstracts, as well as several hands-on topics: structural heart repair, drug-eluting stents, transradial approach, a wet lab, and a skills lab.

Carl Esperance, RCIS, a symposium participant, remarked, “The conference was an eye-opening experience. I was able to compare the duties of a CVT with a few participants, which gave me a new perspective on how far I have come in this career. Since most of my training has been on-the-job training and I hold an IT degree, achieving the RCIS certification is more than just a raise in pay for me; it is a higher level of respect. The New England Symposium gave me the green light to eagerly pursue the RCIS certification. I hope that SICP can implement a week-long review course. The two-day review course at the symposium was great, although some topics, like hemodynamics/calculations and A&P, needed some further discussion. An actual mock test would be a good preparation as well. Overall, my experience was well worth it, and I plan to participate in another course in the near future. The staff was extremely helpful and informative.”

Skills Lab by Terumo Interventional Systems 

Coordinated by Sandra Schaffer & Daniel Martin, with the support of Terumo Interventional Systems

Through didactic presentations and hands-on demonstrations, attendees had the opportunity to gain exposure/experience in the following areas: radial access, catheter and wire selection for various anatomical situations, tips and tricks, and complex cases review.

Wet Lab

Coordinated by Sally Elliott, RCIS

The objective of this presentation was to facilitate hands-on learning experience of gross cardiac anatomy. Participants learned to associate anatomical structure with cardiac physiologic and hemodynamic findings. In addition, participants were trained to correlate cardiac structural pathophysiology and the associated challenges present in interventional cardiology.

SICP is now scheduling RCIS and RCES Review Courses for 2012. Plan ahead and book today!

After the great participation and success of the wet lab held during the New England Symposium, we are now offering this hands-on experience as an add-on to any review course. Add this to your course today for an additional fee at a discounted rate!

SICP Fellowship Requirements

FSICP may be awarded to any professional member who meets the fellowship status requirements (listed below) and submits the fellowship application form (downloadable PDF) and fee of $25.00 to society headquarters.

[Fellowship application URL: https://www.sicp.comhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/HMP/hmp_ln/imported/Fellowship_App_1.pdf]

Requirements:

• Have sat for and passed the Invasive Registry (RCIS) examination administered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
• Holds active status with CCI and SICP.
• Currently employed as a staff member at a health care facility, based in the cardiac catheterization laboratory or associated with an invasive cardiovascular technology program.
• Made significant contributions to SICP or to the field of invasive/diagnostic cardiology. (This last requirement may be fulfilled by publication in national journals, authoring or co-authoring a book/chapter, serving on committees or special projects for the society, or serving as an officer or committee chairman in a recognized national organization which has an overlapping interest in cardiology. This requirement may also be met if the applicant has been responsible for the organization of, or presentation in, educational programs on the national or regional level with a course curriculum relevant to cardiology.)

The SICP Membership Committee will also consider an applicant who believes that he or she has met all the criteria by other means not specifically listed in the requirements.

Along with the application, an applicant should submit proper documentation to support the four fellowship criteria cited above. This should include a copy of the applicant’s CV, relevant publications, letters of commendations or service, and any other documents thought to be relevant. Applicants should mail to SICP these supporting documents and a letter of request regarding fellowship status.

If you have any questions, please email membership@sicp.com.

SICP Chapter Formed in Nebraska

Michelle Hosselkus, Vascular Solutions

Nebraska is proud to announce they have started the process to establish a Nebraska SICP chapter. The chapter is open to all health professionals that work with or within the cardiac catheterization labs.

A local Nebraska SICP Chapter will allow staff members and labs to discuss current trends in our region, and provide networking opportunities, research activities and the potential to host RCIS continuing education courses, as well as many other opportunities. This is a very exciting time in Nebraska, so get involved! If you are interested in joining or just have questions, please feel free to contact Michelle Hosselkus at michellehosselkus@yahoo.com or Nicole Dunn, BS, RCIS, at nickidunn8@yahoo.com.

Numbers in the News

57/100 people surveyed by Cath Lab Digest in 2011 prefer to get their invasive cardiology information via print articles in a journal versus other media formats (good news!).

52/100 surveyed by CLD in 2011 listed their most-needed subject for education as “hemodynamics” (we’re on it!).

In a recent French study, one-year survival for females undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was 76% vs 65% for males.

(Source: European Society of Cardiology)