What Do You Think?

Questions from readers for readers: Email your response to cathlabdigest@aol.com Re: Cath lab policies Can you direct me to a good resource for cath lab policies and procedures? I am new to management in the cath lab and need to revise the old ones I’ve inherited. Thank you! Jo Yawn, CCT, Director, Diagnostic Cardiovascular Services St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro, Arkansas Email: jyawn@sbrmc.org, Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Editor’s note: Jo, we do recommend visiting the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professional’s website, where the Society’s positions on various issues regarding the RCIS in the cath lab, employment, and so on, are available. It’s online at https://sicp.com/content/positionsissues Readers should have other good sources, depending on their individual lab. Good luck! Re: IV fluid for STEMI patients The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals state that all IV fluid must be on an IV pump. In order to facilitate the door-to-balloon time, do you routinely use IV fluid on a pump or is the IV fluid flowing by gravity tubing? What is the policy of your facility?Thank you! Brenda Cox, RN, RCIS, Staff Development Instructor, Invasive Cardiology Department, Pinnacle Health @ Harrisburg Hospital, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Email: BCox@pinnaclehealth.org, Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Re: Peer review in the cath lab Would anyone be able to help me with suggestions for the implementation of peer review in the cath lab? Thank you! Jorge Lemus, MD. Hospital San Jose, Monterrey, Mexico Email: dr.jorgelemus@hsj.com.mx, Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com Editor’s note: Dr. Lemus, we recommend Laura Waddington’s “A Look at Peer Review in the Cath Lab,” available at https://www.cathlabdigest. com/articles/A-Look-Peer-Evaluations-Cath-Lab. Readers should also have some excellent suggestions. Re: The RCIS in Florida Does the RCIS have any restrictions in Florida with regards to creating fluoroscopy images? Does an RCIS have the legal right to press the pedal? Email: cathlabdigest@aol.com Re: Preparing for credentialing exams There are several radiologic technologists (RTs) in our cath lab interested in preparing for crentialing exams (ARRT CI and/or registered cardiovascular invasive specialist, RCIS). We have considered pooling our educational materials and scheduling study group meetings. I am seeking input as to setting up the study group, group and individual study strategies, prep timelines, economical study material/articles. Our combined materials include Wes Todd material from various years. Some of us do well with pure reading material, others find “webcast” or lecture/power point material helpful as part of study practices. While some of us may be able to include fee-based RCIS review courses in our study plan, not all can. We have varying degrees of experience in the interventional cath lab and all are basically starting from scratch in exam preparation. Any detailed suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you! T. Trahan RT(R), Florida Email: sparkside@bigstring.com, Cc: cathlabdigest@aol.com