Did you watch the show The Apprentice? I was a fan, but I didn™t see every episode. However, I think it has brought to life some interesting ideas about how to conduct your work life as well as implement ideas in the workplace. (By the way, you know something™s a cultural phenomenon when it shows up even in Cath Lab Digest!)

I especially liked Donald Trump™s ability to evaluate people™s performances with a critical and sharp eye. Imagine The Apprentice taking place in a cardiac catheterization lab. When patients™ lives are on the line, how do you balance speaking out for what you feel is right with being flexible and working as a team? How do you best implement change in your lab? When someone disagrees with you (what, in this field?!), how do you respond in a way that has positive results? When you hold responsibility in your hands, what is the best strategy to carry it out successfully?

Behind all the action and drama of the show was an important emphasis on thoughtful, individual action, and when things go wrong, taking responsibility for those actions. If you follow that path, I believe it™s the path to success no matter what you end up doing.

In this month™s issue of Cath Lab Digest, we offer opportunity and strategy for those of you who are implementing percutaneous coronary invasive procedures into your diagnostic lab. Authors Rose Czarnecki and Cynthia Havrilak share a good foundational plan that will help you make the journey. CLD editorial board member Gerard Lagasse shares his own experience and thoughts in a commentary following the article.

Frequent Cath Lab Digest interview subject Dr. Gregg Stone (we enjoy picking his brain) updates us on Taxus and the state of drug-eluting stent research in general. With some of the old questions answered, there™s still new ones on the horizon.

The Email Discussion Group digs into cross-training and radial hemostasis. I encourage you to join our group, not only to share your thoughts, but to gain a fast and easy resource for any questions you may have. Email cathlabdigest@hotmail.com to join.
Enjoy!