Cath Lab Registration Ambassador

The volunteer serving in the Cath Lab Waiting Room will function as a liaison between the families and/or patients and the staff and physicians of the Department. This may also include any satellite OR as instructed by staff. The volunteer will assist in the distribution of educational materials available in the waiting room.

• Upon arriving at the Cath Lab Waiting Room, the first volunteer of the day will obtain a copy of the cardiac schedule from the staff and set up a visitors’ log. The volunteer will turn on the desk computer and, via his/her login information, open the cardiac schedule. The first volunteer should notify the Cath Lab Registration Specialist that he/she is present for duty at the desk.
• Upon arriving at the Cath Lab, the first volunteer of the day will greet any families or friends of patients currently in the room, issue visitor tags, make appropriate entries in the log, and provide the staff with the following information:
  • The name of the patient
  • The name of the doctor
  • The name and relationship of the visitor(s)

The volunteer will inform the family that the staff will call out to the reception area when the patient is able to have visitors, and that the physician will be out to speak with them after the procedure.

• When patients and their families arrive in the Waiting Room, the volunteer will greet them, confirm that the patient is on the procedure list for the day, and complete the information for the log. The volunteer will issue visitor tags to family and friends.
• After registration, the volunteer will ask the patient to complete a "Questionnaire" and, if appropriate, other forms requested by the staff.
• Staff will call for patients to be brought to the prep area according to current scheduling priorities. The volunteer must be familiar with both the layout of the main prep area and the separate "overflow" room in order to bring the patient to the appropriate location. The volunteer should inform the family that the staff will call when the patient can have visitors prior to being transported to the procedure room. The volunteer should also inform the family that the physician will be out to speak with them after the procedure.
• Volunteers will make coffee and offer it to the waiting families and visitors. Patients will be NPO (nothing by mouth), and therefore, should not be offered coffee.
• The Cardiac schedule may change due to physicians requests, acuity levels of the patient, or emergency cases that are brought into the hospital. It is therefore important for staff to communicate this information as it occurs. The volunteer should not hesitate to contact the Health Unit Coordinator or Charge Nurse when a question arises.
• The volunteer should provide family members a Patient Care Card which lists, among other information, average times for completion of the various cardiac procedures. Stress that these are average times and that the physician will come to the waiting room and brief the families when the procedure is finished.
• If a family member becomes agitated or concerned because the procedure appears to take longer than expected, the volunteer may call the back of the house in order to obtain information.
• It is important to work with the staff in making the family available for the physician when the procedure is completed. This will involve sending the family to Windows Cafeteria, 1700 South Cafe, and other areas when time permits, and discouraging them from leaving the area as the procedural time period grows to a close.
• The Recovery area staff will provide instructions / guidance as to when family and/or friends can visit with the patient after the procedure. Volunteers should be familiar with the layout of the Recovery area.
• The volunteer should share educational material available in the waiting area. Our staff and physicians have compiled this information, and they encourage the family to take and read this information during their wait.
• Volunteers may be asked to assist staff in the Recovery area. Duties may include making beds and/or moving beds to empty bays, assembling TAVR kits, restocking supplies to include the blanket warmer, handing out warm blankets, refill patient drinks and hand out meals as directed, help transport patients and family members to the departure lounge, help wipe down department/bays, and going to the lab or blood bank as directed.

Our specific needs are Monday's, Tuesday's and Friday's from 5:00 AM - 8:00 AM.