Does your cath lab perform primary angioplasty in acute MI without surgical backup?
We usually perform primary angioplasty in acute MI with surgical backup. Our average door to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from July to December 2001 was eighty-two (82) minutes. In comparison, mean door to PCI time ranged from 104 to 111 minutes for California and the rest of the nation. How is your cath lab managed, and by whom? Our new manager is Michael D. Cragin, who was the Radiology Administrator at the Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. Mr. Cragin has an M.S. in Hospital and Health Services Administration. Do you have cross-training in the cath lab? ICU nurses are cross-trained for backup. According to the regulations for the state of California, RNs are required to be in the cath lab for patient monitoring and medication. Lab technologists are not permitted to handle those procedures. What are some of the new equipment, devices and products introduced at your lab lately? Our suites are equipped with digital equipment. We are currently using the GE I
