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Answered!

Turnaround Time Definitions

As part of a Process Improvement Initiative, my facility is compiling internal data on procedure turn around times. The idea is to increase efficiency/productivity by safely streamlining efforts to “move patient A out and bring patient B in.” I know many of you have gone through (or are going through) a similar process.

What is the definition of turnaround time? (Please choose the answer closest to your own, and please identify your hospital/location with your response).

1. Last catheter out to needlestick next patient
2. Last catheter out to prep completed next patient 
3. Sheath out/device deployed to needlestick next patient
4. Sheath out/device deployed to prep completed next patient
5. Physician “gloves off” to “gloves on” for next patient 
6. Patient roll out to patient roll in

Thank you!

Note: the author wished to remain anonymous, so please email us at cathlabdigest@aol.com with your response. We will forward it on to the author.

Our lab defined it as the time the patient leaves the room until the time the next patient is on the table.

Annie Ruppert, RN, BSN
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA

Manual Sheath Removal Post Procedure

I am collecting data for a number of quality initiatives, one of which involves manual sheath removal. (Please choose the answer closest to your own, and please identify your hospital/location with your response). 

1. For manual sheath removal post procedure, where do you pull?

1. In the cath lab
2. In Cath Prep/Recovery area
3. In a designated Post Procedure Unit

2. Who pulls post procedure sheaths at your facility?

1. Cath Lab RN/Tech
2. Cath Lab RN/Tech will pull in Prep/Recovery or Post Procedure Unit
3. Cath Prep/Recovery Unity RN/Tech
4. RN in designated Post Procedure Unit
5. Physician or PA pulls all manual sheaths 

Thank you!

Note: the author wished to remain anonymous, so please email us at cathlabdigest@aol.com with your response. We will forward it on to the author.

Our hospital has a CV staging area and usually all sheaths are pulled there. If a patient goes to the ICU with the sheath in place, a staff person from the CV staging area goes up to the unit and pulls the sheath.

Anonymous

All staff (RN, RT, CVT) is trained to pull sheaths and hold pressure. We also have medical assistants that are trained to pull sheaths and hold pressure, and they are the ones who pull sheaths the majority of the time. The sheaths are pulled in our CV staging area.

Annie Ruppert, RN, BSN
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA

Mask Wear?

We are trying to collect data from cath labs about requirements for the circulator and whether cath labs require the circulator to wear a mask during regular angiographic/interventional procedures, including pacemaker implants. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Roger Sadberry, Director Cath Lab/Day Patient/GI Lab, Bakersfield Heart Hospital, Bakersfield, CA
Email: Roger.Sadberry@Bakersfield HeartHospital.com
Cc: Cathlabdigest@aol.com

Our circulator is not required to wear a mask in diagnostic or interventional procedures. Circulators are required to wear mask in AICD, pacemaker implants, and also in biopsy procedures for patients post heart transplant. The scrub person and physicians are required to wear a hat and mask on dx/interventional procedures.

Annie Ruppert, RN, BSN
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA

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