North Oaks Heart Health Center Provides Cardiologists with Unique Simulation Training for Treating Coronary Artery Disease

North Oaks Heart Health Center recently hosted the Boston Scientific Mobile Simulation Training Unit to provide advanced, hands-on education for its Cardiac Catheterization Lab Physicians and Staff. The Mobile Simulation Training Unit replicates a Cardiac Catheterization Lab with realistic simulation technology that enables practitioners to explore new procedural solutions in a risk-free environment.

“Coronary artery disease affects approximately 11 million Americans and is the single leading killer of American men and women,” comments North Oaks Chief Medical Officer James L. Nelson, MD, FACS. “Our interventional cardiologists strive to stay informed about the latest technology to battle this deadly disease. As technologies evolve and allow us to treat more challenging cases, it is important for physicians to maintain the skill and comfort level needed to approach these high-risk scenarios. Continuous training is valuable in this regard and helps us enhance the high standard of care we provide to the community.”

The Boston Scientific Mobile Training Unit is a 35-foot bus, complete with a pre-procedure patient briefing area, an area for performing interventions on a simulated patient named Simantha® and a post-procedure metric evaluation computer station. Participants have the option of performing interventions with lesions, or blockages, in the coronary arteries that are considered “high risk” or a scenario involving the use of the latest embolic protection device to treat a patient with a diseased saphenous vein graft that was placed during coronary bypass surgery.

Boston Scientific Simulation at North Oaks

Lesions that are considered to be high risk include those with blockages in the coronary arteries that are difficult to treat because of their type, location or size. Historically, these cases often required bypass surgery; however, breakthrough technologies increase the likelihood of successfully treating them with less invasive procedures. Because this is becoming more common, an increased emphasis is placed on technique and device choice.

“This kind of simulation not only gives our staff and physicians a unique opportunity to learn new approaches to challenging cases, but it also allows us to hone our skills and technique,” Nelson adds. “Partnering with Boston Scientific enables hands-on training in the latest treatment methods to come right to our door, so it is accessible and convenient.”

An expansion project at North Oaks Medical Center currently underway will bring two new Catheterization Laboratories to the Heart Health Center. The first of the two new labs opened on December 13, 2005. These Cath Labs will enhance the Heart Health Center with 10,000 square feet of restructured space. The entire project represents an investment in the community of $3.6 million. The renovations also will include a facility upgrade for Cardiology Services, an additional Exercise Stress Lab, and new outpatient service areas for the Anticoagulation Management Clinic.

For more information on North Oaks Heart Health Center services, please call (985) 230-LIFE (5433).

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please call Jill Hart at (763) 494-2724 or visit: www.bostonscientific.com. Simantha® is a trademark of Medical Simulation Corporation.

Boston Scientific Simulation at North Oaks

North Oaks Cardiologist Jherie D. Ducombs, MD, is assisted by Amy Trujillo, Clinical Training Specialist with Boston Scientific, during a cardiac catheterization simulation hosted by the North Oaks Heart Health Center and Boston Scientific on the North Oaks Medical Center campus Wednesday, February 8. 

North Oaks Cardiologist Ghiath M. Mikdadi, MD, FACC, performs a simulated cardiac catheterization technique with Boston Scientific Clinical Training Specialist Amy Trujillo on the North Oaks Medical Center campus Wednesday, February 8.  Boston Scientific has partnered with SIM Suite (A Medical Simulation Corporation) to offer various simulated training opportunities to physicians across the U.S.