Invasive Cardiology Rotation
Training in invasive cardiology is central to any training program in adult cardiovascular diseases. Essential components of this training must include an appropriate facility with an adequate procedural volume and a dedicated teaching staff. All procedures are considered potential teaching opportunities.
The Montefiore Einstein cardiology fellow is exposed to training in the catheterization laboratory throughout the three years of fellowship. It is expected that the trainee's level of sophistication and expertise will increase as he/she transits through the program.
Following a series of introductory lectures, three levels of training are offered in accordance with the ACC/AHA guidelines:
- Level 1 (Basic) Training, for all trainees, is expected to be completed by the end of the second year. Level 1 training is directed at trainees who will practice noninvasive cardiology and whose invasive activities will be confined to critical care unit procedures. Level 1 training requires 4 months of total training and total case load of 100 cases.
- Level 2 (Intermediate) Training, for trainees who will practice diagnostic but not interventional cardiac catheterization, is expected to be completed by those who so structure their training experience, by the end of the third year. Level 2 training builds on level 1 and requires additional months of rotation and additional case volume. Level 2 training requires 8 months of total training and total case load of 200 cases.
- Level 3 (Advanced) Training, for trainees who will practice diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization, requires a separate, dedicated fourth year. Level 3 training is provided in the interventional training rotation.
Training in invasive cardiology is structured in a way to help achieve the above goals in the specified time periods. Fellows interested in Level 2 or 3 training should make it known to the training program director and the catheterization laboratory directors on each campus during their first or second year of training.