The Blog

25
Jun

Electrophysiology Catheter Reprocessing

Electrophysiology Catheter Reprocessing The reprocessing industry has evolved substantially since its inception.   Single-use devices (SUDs) now undergo highly technical and complex sorting, cleaning, testing, and validation methods.   In order to gain FDA clearance to reprocess a SUD, like an EP catheter, it requires one to prove these devices are just as safe and [...]

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22
Jun

EP Recycling Makes Sense

EP Recycling Makes Sense Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine recently published a study that outlines the waste that hospitals go through each year.   Many instruments that are used only once are routinely thrown out although they actually can be either reused or they can be collected by recycling collection companies such as [...]

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19
Jun

The Holter Monitor

CARDIAC HOLTER MONITOR Many people have occasional irregular heartbeats which are commonly referred to as arrhythmias.   Whether these arrhythmias are important or not depends on four main criteria: i)             The type of arrhythmia. ii)            The frequency of their occurrence. iii)           How long they last. iv)           Whether they occur at the same time you have [...]

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16
Jun

The Loop Recorder

CARDIAC EVENT LOOP RECORDER Many people have occasional irregular heartbeats which are commonly referred to as arrhythmias.   Whether these arrhythmias are important or not depends on four main criteria: i)             The type of arrhythmia. ii)            The frequency of their occurrence. iii)           How long they last. iv)           Whether they occur at the same time you [...]

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16
Jun

Advantages of Prescribing a Loop Recorder

The definition of arrhythmia is irregular heartbeats.   This term is quite vague and encompasses many different abnormalities that have irregular heartbeats.   Diagnosing a patient with a general term of an “arrhythmia” is akin to diagnosing a patient with a “heart condition”.   This general term provides little useful information for the patient or the [...]

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10
Jun

Heart Healthy Diet: Eight Easy Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Part IV of IV

6. Reduce the amount of sodium in your food   Eating large amounts of sodium contributes to high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.   Therefore it is important to reduce sodium to achieve a heart healthy diet.  It is recommended to: Healthy adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium [...]

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07
Jun

Heart Healthy Diet: Eight Easy Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Part III of IV

4. Reduce unhealthy fats and cholesterol (con’t) The best way to reduce trans fats and saturated fats from your diet is to limit the solid fats like butter, shortening and margarine you add to food.   Also you can limit the amount of saturated fat by trimming fat off your meat or choosing leaner meats [...]

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04
Jun

Heart Healthy Diet: Eight Easy Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Part II of IV

A visit to the Cath lab or Electrophysiology lab is not exactly a good time nor is being strapped to a 24 hour Holter monitor or 2 week loop recorder.   Before a cardiac event occurs why not be proactive and alter eating habits to reduce the chances of needing a cardiac event monitor or [...]

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01
Jun

Heart Healthy Diet: Eight Easy Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Part I of IV

We know how hard it is to change your eating habits.   To make it easier, start with these eight strategies to be on your way towards a heart healthy diet. A visit to the Catherization lab or electrophysiology lab is not exactly a good time nor is being strapped to a 24 hour Holter [...]

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28
May

EP Catheter Recycling Will Help Save Hospitals from Cut-Backs

All across Canada austerity measures designed to reduce the deficit will cause major cuts in public Health care. For instance in Ontario, the government plans to limit spending in healthcare to just a 2.1 per cent annual increase over the next three years.  This barely surpasses inflation and is lower than the 2.5 per cent [...]

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