Looking to save time or cut costs in the Cath Lab? New technology might be the answer. Five ideas to consider are: automated reporting software, use of radial access, access closure devices, automating inventory control systems and better staff responses.
Automated reporting software
Structured, automated reports can save time by eliminating dictation and transcription. In addition, with a structured reporting system doctors are required to use the same terms and descriptions, allowing for better data sorting and analysis.
Radial access
Jon Kao, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center (UIC) and the Jessie Brown VA Hospital in Chicago believes radial access can help speed percutaneous coronary interventions once doctors are proficient and comfortable with the technique. "Patients can sit up and walk around after a procedure, things that you can't do with femoral access," Kao said.
Access closure devices
In Cath Labs utilizing femoral access as the primary technique, access closure devices can save valuable nursing time. Compression requires a patient to lie on their back four to six hours with a nurse providing compression for 30-40 minutes. "Access closure devices help increase throughput by getting patients out of the lab more quickly. The nice thing about a closure device is you can close the patient on the table, even when they are fully anticoagulated," Kao said.
Automating inventory control systems
The ability to automatically track inventory can save both time and money in the Cath Lab. Integrated systems utilizing bar-coding or passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) can allocate charges to patient bills and subtract items from inventory counts. The systems can also generate detailed clinical and cost reports that can help keep budgets on track.
Better support staff responses
Streamlining staff and patient flow is an important part of creating an efficient Cath Lab. "The problem I have seen that crushes efficiency here is that we are so dependent on other departments and services," Kao said. "If house cleaning hasn't cleaned the lab yet, I can't bring the next patient in... If a room is not ready, I have to have a nurse watch the patient and they can't be available for the Cath Lab." One way to track both patient and staff movement is by using a personal digital assistant (PDA) based system. Orders can be entered into the system and messages are sent to responsible support staff.
To learn more about how technology is streamlining the Cath Lab, continue here.
Photo Credit: Nick Dawson