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Mineola, NY - May 28, 2008 - As a leader of comprehensive cardiac services, Winthrop-University Hospital was pleased to host the Boston Scientific Mobile Simulation Training Unit (photo above) on May 14 to provide state-of-the-art, hands-on training for the Hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory physicians and staff. The Mobile Simulation Training Unit emulates a Cardiac Catheterization Lab and is equipped with realistic simulation technology to afford practitioners a unique opportunity to explore advanced surgical techniques in a risk-free environment.
"While Winthrop's Interventional Cardiology and Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery Programs are both recognized state-wide for their excellent outcomes, simulated training such as the one conducted in Boston Scientific's Mobile Simulation Training Unit is an important avenue for our physicians and clinical staff to gain further proficiency in the latest techniques and technologies for the treatment of diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke," said Srihari S. Naidu, MD, Director of the Cardiac Catherization Laboratory at Winthrop-University Hospital.
Nearly 40 practitioners visited the 35-foot mobile training unit, including 20 cardiology fellows from Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens. The Simulation Training coincided with the 4th Long Island Cardiology Fellows Forum, a full-day educational symposium, co-hosted by Winthrop-University Hospital.
The Boston Scientific Mobile Simulation Unit includes a pre-procedure patient briefing area, an area for performing interventions on a mock patient named Simantha®, and post-procedure care and evaluation stations to further advance participants' proficiency in interventions such as angioplasty and stent placement. More advanced techniques utilizing FilterWire EZ ™ for carotid and coronary artery stenting procedures, and rotational atherectomy - a small rotating cutting blade used to open a narrowed artery and improve blood flow - were also available. In addition, physicians had the opportunity to carry out mock procedures on a simulated patient with common co-existing conditions such as high blood pressure to assist their management skills of complications which can arise during surgery.
"Simulation training definitely serves as an effective tool to help practitioners refine interventional techniques and to learn new protocols for managing specific situations in a safe environment," added Dr. Naidu.
Winthrop-University Hospital is home to Long Island's highly respected Institute for Heart Care, which offers advanced diagnostics and disease prevention programs, as well as sophisticated medical treatment and rehabilitation. Among Winthrop's state-of-the-science facilities are a Heart Surgery Center and the John D. Miller Interventional Cardiology Pavilion, which includes the technologically advanced Cardiac Catheterization Center and a new state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Center.
For more information about heart care at Winthrop, please call 1-866-WINTHROP.
