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The Cath Lab Crew: Your second family
Author(s) -
Dehmer Gregory J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.20967
Subject(s) - medicine , cath lab , crew , medical emergency , aeronautics , myocardial infarction , conventional pci , engineering
So far, my President’s Pages have focused on several of the important issues facing the Society related to quality in the practice of invasive cardiology [1,2]. This month, I will deviate slightly from the quality focus, but will share some thoughts on a topic about which I am equally passionate – The Cath Lab Crew. It is my purpose to pay tribute to their frequently overlooked, but always crucial, role in the practice of invasive and interventional cardiology. At various points during the past three decades, the amount of time I have spent with ‘‘the crew’’ in the cath lab has likely exceeded that spent with my wife and children, whom I love dearly. Many of you who are real ‘‘Cath-o-holics’’ can probably relate to this and likely understand why I have come to think of the nurses, technicians, aides, and others who comprise the cath lab crew as a second family. These dedicated, skilled, and talented individuals make an invaluable contribution to our delivery of high-quality patient care. I don’t want to get trapped in a corny metaphor, but every large ship has a captain and a crew. Sure, the captain is in charge and may issue the order to cast off, but the ship would never leave port if the crew didn’t do their jobs. Over the years, I have had the The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions