Consider the following space requirements when designing an electrophysiology lab:
Outpatient Admission / Patient Preparation
Patients should be prepared for the procedure in a room where blood work, ECGs, a history and physical examination, and patient teaching can be performed. With plans for setting up this outpatient area, a 24-hour unit should be considered, as many procedures (including simple catheter ablation procedures) may subsequently be classified as “o/p” 24-hour observation procedures by many payers.
- RNs needed (to dispense medication, draw blood, perform assessment)
- Blood draws for additional “PATs”
- IV access
- Pre-EP assessment
- Additional patient teaching
EP Laboratory and Procedure Room
- Space for the lab itself
- Control room (room for observation/teaching)
- X-ray equipment and stereotaxis (additional space needs)
- Monitoring equipment
- Diagnostic equipment
- Tilt table area and procedure room for cardioversions, ICD checks, IV drug administration (e.g., epinephrine challenge, ibutilide)
Recovery / Holding Area
This area can be utilized for patient preparation (e.g., connecting electrodes, defibrillation patches, shaving) prior to transport to the lab, meeting the EP laboratory personnel and immediate post-procedure care (e.g., pulling sheaths, further BP and O2 monitoring following IV conscious sedation).
- RNs needed
- Telemetry
- ECG machine
- Crash cart
- Equipment for sheath pulling
Additional Space Needs
Depending on the situation, additional requirements may include:
- Reception
- Waiting area
- Space for patients to change clothes
- Staff room
- Area for dictation or space to review cases post-procedure (fellows/attendings)
- Conference room for staff education and regularly scheduled meetings
Learn more
- See our Determining an EP Lab Budget page
- Our Setting Up a Solo Practice page offers information about projecting revenues, including links to a sample start-up lab budget. The collections in the sample are based on average 2007 Medicare payments for the most commonly performed EP procedures, and assume a growth rate of 30% in the second year and 20% in the third year.
- Test your planning assumptions using a start up lab template.
