Procedure/Protocol Page 1 of 3
Cardiac Cath Lab - Unit Practice Manual
John Dempsey Hospital-Department of Nursing
The University of Connecticut Health Center
PROCEDURE/PROTOCOL FOR: Scheduling procedures in Cardiac Cath Lab: Cardiac
Catheterizations and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
PURPOSE: 1. To outline personnel and duties involved in
scheduling procedures in the Cath Lab.
2. To delineate steps in scheduling elective or emergent
procedures in the Cath Lab.
3. To assure that any patient undergoing a cardiac
procedure at JDH will be assessed for pre-procedure
risk and will be directed to the appropriate level of
care.
POLICY: 1. Patients will be scheduled as:
a. Outpatients (discharged on day of procedure)
b. Inpatients (currently in JDH)
c. Transferred from another facility, either as
outpatient or inpatient admission
2. All procedures are scheduled by a physician after
appropriate patient examination and testing is done.
3. All procedures are scheduled through the Cardiac Cath
scheduling number, x 2828 or the Cath Lab charge
person.
4. All patients who are admitted through AACU or are
transferred in stable condition to the Cath Lab or
Cardiac Step-Down Unit will have the interventional
cardiologist as attending physician unless otherwise
ordered.
5. All patients post-Percutaneous Intervention are
admitted or transferred to the Cardiac Step-Down
Unit.
6. Patients who are unstable medically or with an acute
MI will be admitted to ICU post-procedure.
Procedure/Protocol Page 2 of 3
Cardiac Cath Lab - Unit Practice Manual
John Dempsey Hospital-Department of Nursing
The University of Connecticut Health Center
PROCEDURE/PROTOCOL FOR: Scheduling procedures in Cardiac Cath Lab: Cardiac
Catheterizations and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
PROCEDURE: Scheduling of Cardiac Catheterization with Angiography
and/or Percutaneous Intervention (PTCA/stenting)
ACTIONS POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Preadmission testing for procedure,
including blood tests and EKG, must be
done within 30 days prior to procedure
unless clinically indicated. Testing is to
be arranged through scheduling MD’s office
or the Cath Lab scheduling secretary.
a. Outpatient pre-procedure orders,
bloodwork, consents, H&P and other
pertinent test results should be
available to Cath Lab scheduling
secretary on the day before the
procedure so that a chart can be made
and sent to AACU.
b. Old medical records will be obtained
by Cath Lab secretary and will
accompany chart.
c. Transfers and inpatients need the
above information accompanying them to
the Cath Lab.
2. Cath Lab scheduling secretary will obtain
patient name, insurance precertification,
DOB, address, SSN, insurance information,
attending MD, interventional cardiologist,
diagnosis and procedure to be done, and
will repeat this information to admitting
bed control.
3. Cath Lab scheduling will schedule date and
time of procedure in 1 ½ hr intervals,
Monday through Friday, starting at 7:30
a.m. with last case scheduled at 3:00 p.m.
Emergency or urgent add-on cases will be
scheduled through the Cath Lab charge
person on a case by case basis.
Procedure/Protocol Page 3 of 3
Cardiac Cath Lab - Unit Practice Manual
John Dempsey Hospital-Department of Nursing
The University of Connecticut Health Center
PROCEDURE/PROTOCOL FOR: Scheduling procedures in Cardiac Cath Lab: Cardiac
Catheterizations and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
ACTIONS POINTS OF EMPHASIS
4. Patient information, date, time TOO,
procedure and MA will be called to: AACU,
Cardiac Step-Down or ICU, Cath Lab,
Cardiology Attending if needed, OR
scheduling and cardiac surgeon’s office.
5. All scheduling information will be placed
in Cath Lab schedule and Cath lab
scheduling database.
DESIRED OUTCOME: Patient needs will be anticipated to reduce risk and to
improve outcomes with a successful Cath Lab procedure.
Patients scheduled of Cardiac Cath procedures at JDH will
be directed promptly and efficiently through the
scheduling registration process.
APPROVAL: Nursing Standards Committee
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/98
REVISION DATES: 6/06
