Description
To ensure optimal care and outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation, hospitals and electrophysiologists will need to take a systems-based approach to EP lab efficiency, focused on standardizing processes while reducing waste and errors. Fortunately, the same processes used to achieve improvement in patient safety and outcomes, and even facilitate research, can simultaneously result in improved capacity.
On May 27-28, 2021, a group of Heart Rhythm Society members and staff visited Dr. Jose Osorio and his EP team at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the improvement processes put in place to enhance both quality and efficiency. HRS members in attendance included electrophysiologists at different stages of their own quality improvement journeys. This video series captures the group's observations and the many lessons learned during the visit. The group describes how the transformational approach to quality improvement that Dr. Osorio and his team have implemented successfully at their program in Birmingham can be accomplished in EP labs everywhere.
Learners will be able to view the full series of 7 videos or select only the topics and sections of interest. Transcripts for each video are also provided.
The 7 videos cover the following areas of focus:
(1) why EP labs should focus on efficiency;
(2) an explanation of the Grandview model;
(3) how to implement principles of quality improvement in an EP lab;
(4) the importance of team member involvement;
(5) the relationship between electrophysiology and anesthesiology departments;
(6) engagement with the patient and caregiver; and
(7) reproducing the model in your own institution.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participant should be able to:
1. Describe how to standardize processes to achieve better outcomes.
2. Create a cohesive team environment, improve staff morale, and reduce turnover by involving staff in setting expectations and by creating predictable work schedules.
3. Develop a standard protocol for the patient experience.
4. Construct processes, identify benchmarks, set expectations, and measure improvements.
5. Describe how to reduce turnover time.
6. Explain how to work with the anesthesiology department to schedule patients and implement protocols that improve patient care.
7. Determine a plan for implementing efficiency in the EP lab.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for all who study and treat heart rhythm disorders.
Faculty List
Jose Osorio, MD, FHRS
Arrhythmia Institute at Grandview; Birmingham, AL
Paul D. Varosy, MD, FHRS
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System/University of Colorado; Denver, CO
Christopher Cooper, RN
Arrhythmia Institute at Grandview; Birmingham, AL
Rena Jack, RN, BSN, CEPS
Mount Carmel East; Columbus, OH
Andrea M. Russo, MD, FHRS
Cooper Univeristy Hospital; Camden, NJ
Joshua R. Silverstein, MD, FHRS
Mount Carmel Columbus Cardiology; Columbus, OH
Jennifer M. Wright, MA, MD, FHRS
University of Wisconsin; Madison, WI
Guests
Julie Cunningham, CRNA
Grandview Medical Center; Birmingham, AL
Robert L. Henry, MD
Grandview Medical Center; Birmingham, AL
Carlos Mims
Arrhythmia Institute at Grandview; Birmingham, AL
Clayton Rayburn
Arrhythmia Institute at Grandview; Birmingham, AL
CME Statements
Accreditation Statement
The Heart Rhythm Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians AMA Designation Statement
The Heart Rhythm Society designates this internet enduring activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada MOC Recognition Statement
Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.
Other Credit Available
A Credit Certificate (for physicians) or Certificate of Participation (for non-physicians) will be provided to individuals seeking credit from the following organizations which accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Note that participants are advised to contact their certifying body for specific information regarding credit submissions:
· American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for elective credit
· American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
· American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
· American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
· American Osteopathic Association (AOA) for Category 2 credit
· Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (Canada)
· European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC)
· European CME Credits (ECMEC)
· German Chambers of Physicians
· National Society of Genetic Counselors
· Oman Medical Specialty Board
· Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners
· Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
Grant Acknowledgement
The Heart Rhythm Society gratefully acknowledges Biosense Webster, Inc. for their support of this program.
Disclosure Policy
CME Disclosure Policy
The Heart Rhythm Society is committed to the provision of Accredited Continuing Education (formerly known as Continuing Medical Education (CME)) that is balanced, objective, and evidence based. HRS adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) which require that those individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity (including, but not limited to, planners, faculty, authors, committee members, content reviewers, editors, and staff) disclose all financial relationships with an ACCME-defined ineligible company* within the 24 months prior to the disclosure.
Any individual who refuses to disclose financial relationships is disqualified from participating in HRS ACE-certified activities. Owners and employees of ACCME-defined ineligible companies may have no role in the planning or implementation of ACE activities without a special written exemption from the HRS Chief Learning Officer that will be granted only in specific circumstances that meet ACCME requirements.
ACCME Definition:
*An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Examples of such organizations include:
- Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
- Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
- Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
- Device manufacturers or distributors
- Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
- Growers, distributors, manufacturers or sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
- Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
- Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
- Pharmacy benefit managers
- Reagent manufacturers or sellers
The content of this program is non-clinical in nature and therefore the financial relationships of the planners and faculty have not been identified, mitigated, or disclosed per ACCME Standard 3.
Content Reviewers:
- Marcie G. Berger, MD: no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
- Thomas McGarry, MD, PhD: no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
Content Validation Policy
The Heart Rhythm Society is committed to the provision of Accredited Continuing Education (formerly known as Continuing Medical Education (CME)) that is balanced, objective, and evidence based. HRS adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) which require that those individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity (including, but not limited to, planners, faculty, authors, committee members, content reviewers, editors, and staff) disclose all financial relationships with an ACCME-defined ineligible company within the 24 months prior to the disclosure.
The Heart Rhythm Society takes steps to assure its learners and the public that the content of certified activities is accurate and reliable. The following principles are applied to the process of validating CME content. The content is peer-reviewed to ensure the following:
Fair Balance - that content is balanced among various options available for treatment and not biased toward a particular product or manufacturer.
Patient Treatment Recommendations - that patient treatment recommendations contained in the content are evidence-based, are appropriate for the target audience, and that the patient treatment recommendations contribute to overall improvement in patient care.
Scientific Validity - those scientific studies cited in the activity conform to standards accepted by the scientific community.
Learning Objectives - that the educational content supports the learning objectives of the activity, and that the objectives stated for performance-in-practice are actionable and measurable.
Omissions - that no seminal studies, data, or best evidence are missing
Contact Information
CME Certificates will be awarded and available to download and print following the completion of the course and the course evaluation. Should you have any questions regarding your CME certificate, please contact CME@HRSonline.org.