Email Discussion Group: January 2009!

Happy New Year! We’re starting off this first Email Discussion of 2009 with some general topics. In addition, there are still a couple of questions that went unanswered last year. Please take a look at the questions below and let us know if you can help answer any of them! You can respond by emailing us at eplabdigest@hotmail.com or visiting us online at www.eplabdigest.com. Remember, when responding to the discussion group, don’t forget to let us know if you would like your name and/or location listed.

New Topics:

1) Does your hospital utilize therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest? How long has your hospital been doing this? Do you think it helps benefit patients? (To reply to this question, please type “Hypothermia” in your subject line.) 2) What methods has your hospital used to improve medication adherence in patients? (To reply to this question, please type “Medications” in your subject line.)

Under Discussion:

From April 2008: Hands-On Training Are there any symposiums or classes available in the United States that provide hands-on EP training? — Heather Vardon, Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Green Bay, WI (To reply to this question, please type Hands-On Training in your subject line.) From May 2008: Diastolic Time Indices I am a cardiology fellow at the University of Utah. My question is why aren’t abnormal phonocardiographic indices such as pre-atrial diastolic time and accelerated atrial diastolic time in heart failure used? Is the shortened diastolic time due solely to the abnormal systolic time intervals (prolonged EMD)? — Osman Ahmed, MD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (To reply to this question, please type “Diastolic Time Indices” in your subject line.) From June 2008: Mobile EP Labs I was wondering if anyone is aware of any functioning mobile EP labs? I have found little information on mobile electrophysiology laboratories. I am specifically wondering how one is set up, the cost to run a mobile lab, funding for the lab, and how staffing works for this type of facility. — name withheld by request (To reply to this question, please type “Mobile EP Labs” in your subject line.) From August 2008: Electrocautery Cut/Coag Settings We are interested in collecting information on electrocautery cut/coag settings used by other facilities during pocket formation for devices. What settings are you using in your lab? Do you find that patients tolerate procedures better with fewer complaints of discomfort using lower settings? Can you keep sedation lighter by decreasing the discomfort from electrocautery? — anonymous (To reply to this question, please type “Electrocautery” in your subject line.) From August 2008: Device Clinic Orientation Plans I would like to develop a comprehensive training program for technicians and midlevels in a busy ambulatory device clinic setting. Does anyone know of any online training manuals or competency-based orientation programs that I could reference? — D. Lavin, RN, MSN (To reply to this question, please type “Device Clinic Plans ” in your subject line.) From October 2008: EP Fellowship I would like to know what types of paid fellowships are available. I have done my post doctoral in cardiology and followed it up with an interventional cardiology fellowship. Therefore, my total duration of cardiology training is five years’ certification and licensure from India. — Dr. Joy Sanyal (To reply to this question, please type “EP Fellowship” in your subject line.)