Hybrid Treatment of Advanced Atrial Fibrillation: A Best Practice Guide for the Subxiphoid Approach-The Comprehensive AF Program Progression

Video Transcription

Video Summary

At a conference hosted by Atricure, Mike Riley and Karen Martinelli from WellSTAR in Atlanta shared insights into their comprehensive AFib program. Mike, an electrophysiologist, discussed their adoption of the convergent approach for treating atrial fibrillation, highlighting its growth since their first procedure in 2013. Their program, driven by improved outcomes and collaboration between EPs and cardiac surgeons, now performs over 500 ablations annually. Karen, the nurse coordinator, emphasized the importance of organized communication via EMR and the role of a dedicated nurse navigator to manage the process and patient throughput effectively. Their structured system, including coordinated scheduling and shared responsibilities between EPs and surgical teams, has improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. The WellSTAR team underscored the necessity of a collaborative heart team approach to successfully manage complex AFib cases and outlined their journey and strategies for building a robust AFib program. Additionally, a short video showcased Atricure's new training and simulation lab in Minnesota, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and education for improving patient treatment.

Keywords

AFib program

convergent approach

electrophysiologist

nurse navigator

patient outcomes

collaborative heart team

Atricure training lab