IMPLEMENTATION OF A RADIAL LOUNGE: A COST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO DECREASE WAIT TIMES, IMPROVE BED UTILIZATION AND PATIENT CARE

Abstract

Managing growing wait-lists and post-procedural care for patients requiring a coronary angiogram is a challenge given our current resources. Through the implementation of a radial lounge recovery area we have the potential to improve patient flow, reduce costs, decrease complications and improve patient satisfaction. Our challenge is finding radial recovery areas towards the end of the day, forcing us to choose a procedural approach based on bed availability rather than physician preference. Femoral access angiograms have the advantage of being faster and technically easier for physicians. The femoral artery has a larger diameter which makes it easily accessible but unfavorable for patients as they require a prolonged bed rest of 2-4 hours with an increased risk of bleeding. Using a femoral-vascular close device (cost∼$400) reduces recovery time to 1-2 hours. Radial access angiograms require additional knowledge and skill from the physician but patients are more comfortable recovering in a recliner. There are fewer site complications with earlier patient recovery time of 2 hours, improved patient satisfaction, and lower cost (Radial band cost∼$20). Study data will be collected retrospectively into the Cardiac Care Network (CCN) database to compare our hospital's radial and femoral angiography statistics for the year before and after utilizing the lounge. In Addition we will monitor the effectiveness from the vascular closure devices, complication rates and wait times. We hope to prove implementation of the radial lounge will be patient focused, improve bed utilization and patient flow, while reducing costs and wait times for coronary angiograms.