Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals (SICP) Update

SICP Executive Director’s Update

SICP has had an exciting and exceptionally busy Spring 2013. We have conducted 4 SICP Signature RCIS Review Courses and 3 SICP Signature RCES Review Courses. Special thanks to all of our instructors for “rocking it out” this spring and helping to promote SICP and educating folks at the following locations:

• Fairview South Hospital – Edina, MN:

25 RCIS Attendees

• Forsyth Technical College – Winston-Salem, NC:

30 RCIS Attendees, 10 RCES Attendees

• Geisinger Medical Center – Danville, PA:

52 RCIS Attendees, 38 RCES Attendees

• El Centro College – Dallas, TX:

27 RCIS Attendees, 6 RCES Attendees

Two additional courses were held on May 17-18 at HCA Methodist Hospital Main Campus and June 15-16 at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Florida. We look forward to hearing about their success!

Another special thank you goes out to all of the industry support we have received for the Review Course program. Those contributions are very important to the success of SICP.

In addition, SICP is proud to connect and participate with other organizations during 2013. In May, we conducted the SICP Workshops in conjunction with the Society of Intervention & Angiography. We look forward to meeting with SCAI again in May 2014 in Las Vegas.

SICP also presented Cardiovascular Contemporary Topics and Signature Review Courses for the RCES and RCIS June 5-7 at the New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) 14th Annual Conference in New Orleans. Dr. Craig Walker gave an outstanding keynote lecture that highlighted the relationships between the cath lab staff and physicians. The lectures that followed, given by Chris Hebert, reflected on contemporary topics encountered by today’s invasive cardiovascular allied health professionals and nurses. Simbionix was on site so that course participants could take advantage of applying concepts covered in the contemporary topic sessions.

SICP’s RCES review course, taught by Megan Hunsinger and Bill Hinson, was well attended and received glowing recognition. Participants in this course gained the knowledge of what they needed to be successful on CCI’s credentialing exam. This was the second year that SICP was able to offer this course at NCVH.

SICP’s RCIS Review Course was taught by Sally Elliott, Jeff Davis and Patrick Hoier. This event was also well attended and featured a porcine dissection during the coronary anatomy and angulation lecture. This hands-on wet lab allowed the course participants to visualize the anatomy and apply the strategies classically employed in coronary angiography and angulation. Course participants performed a basic heart dissection, enhancing their understanding of gross cardiac anatomy and physiology. SICP will begin offering this option to the SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course in Fall 2013. We are excited to offer this unique learning experience. 

During the NCVH event, a plethora of primary literature was presented and discussed. Live cases showcased best practices and contemporary approaches to remarkable patient management for those suffering with peripheral vascular diseases. These cases demonstrated the continued growth and development within the cardiovascular fields and highlighted the developed relationship between the cath lab allied health professionals and nursing staff.    

Special thanks to Dr. Walker and Dana Rigdon for allowing SICP to participate in this fabulous event. Looking forward to NCVH 2014 on May 28-31 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Save the Date 

SICP will contribute to the Nurse/Tech Track at TCT October 27-November 1, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Registration is handled through TCT; visit TCT's website to learn more.

Educators Committee

Lois Schaffer and Stephanie Rank have continued efforts with the Educators Committee. Please contact SICP at membership@sicp.com to be added to the list!

Host a Course

SICP is requesting involvement from all CVT schools. We would love to hold an RCIS/RCES Review Course at your school in conjunction with your CVT program. We ask that the program commit to providing two separate rooms for instruction, complete Audio Visual needs, and adequate volunteers to help with registration and preliminary planning. We request that you provide contact information for area facilities and that you reach out to all your clinical preceptors. In turn, SICP will commit to providing speakers, handouts, registration support and promotional efforts.

SICP will conduct individual registrations for participants and will offer a significantly discounted rate to the host program’s student participants!

If you are interested in hosting a course at your program, please contact us ASAP to get on our calendar: director@sicp.com. 

Advocacy

Advocacy continues to be an important issue for SICP, and although it is slow moving in some areas, volunteers around the country continue to stay informed on their local issues. It is with utmost importance that everyone be diligent and vigilant in your own areas. Volunteers in all areas of the country are needed when it comes to monitoring and communicating advocacy efforts! We welcome as little or as much as you can offer in the way of your volunteer time. If you are interested in participating in the advocacy efforts, please contact us at membership@sicp.com.

SICP Chapters

We are seeking a Chapter Liaison! If are interested in chapter development and helping coordinate all the chapters, we need you! Chapters continue to succeed in some areas and struggle in others. The exact science of chapter development and maintenance continues to be a challenge for many. The only answer we can offer is – volunteerism. The more volunteers you have working, the better things will be spread out amongst the group and there is less of an opportunity for volunteer burnout! If you have a chapter in your area, get involved. If you wish to offer assistance but are unsure where to turn, please contact us at SICP — we’ll direct you: membership@sicp.com.

We are planning to start a Friday Call every other month for Chapters. If you would like more information on this, please contact membership@sicp.com.

SICP Goodies!

SICP has a few promotional items for sale: scrub caps, ink pens, and bags. Order them online at SICP.