Very nice thread, very talented and diverse group of people here.
Nurse Manager
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
We take care of people who are at risk for/or have cardiac problems due to avoidable and unavoidable risk factors and the potential complications that can follow. Recently, we added permanent pacemaker implants and endovascular procedures to our existing services.
So it's like this: A 65y/o man walks in to Nelly's ED complaining of sternal chest pain radiating to the back and left arm x2hours ago from home, Norm comes in and performs a quick and concise assessment of the patient while an EKG is being done which confirms he is having a heart attack. The patient is rushed to the cath lab, Tubes are inserted(catheters) up to his heart, dye is injected to view the blockage, pass a metal wire through the blockage, insert another tube with a balloon/stent, inflate the balloon (compressing the blockage, while deploying the stent), deflate the balloon and blood flow is resumed. Completion of heart attack averted, person continues to live another day to pay taxes to Uncle Sam. Everything must be done within 60-90 minutes upon entering the hospital.