title: Standards for device implantation and follow-up: personnel, equipment, and facilities: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association Survey.
abstract: Cardiac device implantation is the most common of all invasive cardiac electrophysiological procedures. Over 250 000 devices are implanted each year in Europe. The purpose of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the facilities, personnel, and protocols of members of the EHRA electrophysiology (EP) research network involved in device implantation. There were 68 responses to the questionnaire. The survey responses were mainly (84%) from medium- to high-volume device implanting centres, performing >200 implants per year, with over 50% performing >400 implants per year. Most consultants are male (85%), half of all centres had no female consultants, and only one in six had more than one female consultant. There is trend towards specialization in device implantation. The combination of device implantation and EP is still common (76% of all centres) but only 34% of centres have consultants performing device implantation and coronary intervention. Moreover, 23% of centres have all device implantation performed by consultants who do not perform any other types of procedure. Cardiac device implantation as a day case is the planned admission for routine elective device implantation in 30% of hospitals, 47% of hospitals have a single night stay, and 23% of hospitals have admission durations of two or more nights. Device implantation is available as a 24 h service, 365 days a year in 38% of hospitals. The commonest other model was as a daytime service on weekdays in 45% of hospitals.
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Thomas Drive, Liverpool L14 3PE, UK derick.todd@lhch.nhs.uk.
authors: Derick
authors: D
authors: Todd
authors: Second Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Bongiorni
authors: Cardiology Department, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Alcalá University, Carretera Colmenar Viejo, Madrid 28034, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Hernandez-Madrid
authors: Second Cardiology Department, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Dagres
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Sciaraffia
authors: Department of Cardiology, Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Carina
authors: C
authors: Blomström-Lundqvist
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000639:trends; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000639:trends*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000639:trends*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000639:trends; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D061847:Hospitals, High-Volume / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000639:trends*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000639:trends*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000639:trends; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload
keywords: EHRA survey; EP wire; Equipment; Facilities; Implantable cardiac defibrillator; Pacemaker; Personnel