Inside Impella

What’s the difference between a guideline and a consensus statement, and why does it matter when treating cardiogenic shock?

In this episode, Shane Turner sits down with Jesse Burroughs and Jason Weatherly from the J&J Med Tech Heart Recovery Commercial Marketing team to break it down. They explore how recent clinical trials, like DanGer Shock, have reshaped recommendations around Impella, ECMO, and balloon pumps, and why understanding the difference between mandates and expert opinions is crucial for modern care. From the ACCA guidelines to the Double ATS consensus statement, this conversation is packed with practical insights on implementing team-based, evidence-driven care in the field.

Whether you're a bedside clinician or a transport provider, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how to interpret and apply the latest recommendations, and why staying current is key to saving lives.

In this episode:

Jesse Burroughs, Commercial Marketing Manager

Jason Weatherly, Commercial Marketing

Building a cardiogenic shock program isn’t just clinical, it’s a system redesign. In this episode, host Shane Turner sits down with Jenny Sinclair, ECMO Coordinator at Saint Louis University Hospital to break down what it takes to develop and launch a regional cardiogenic shock program.

As a critical care nurse with 12+ years of experience in mechanical circulatory support, Jenny shares practical, evidence-based strategies for implementing protocols, aligning teams across hospitals with varying resources, and overcoming real-world barriers so more patients can be identified sooner, transferred faster, and treated more consistently.

In this episode, host Shane Turner gets insight into the world of specialized transport with Lisa Owen, a clinical nurse specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Lisa oversees a unique team dedicated to transporting patients with acute cardiogenic shock and advanced heart failure, requiring sophisticated mechanical support. Lisa shares the rigorous training, teamwork, and communication strategies that equip her team to handle these high-risk transports effectively.

You’ll learn about the ongoing education and collaboration with surgeons, intensivists, and device representatives that are crucial for maintaining high standards of patient care. Plus, Lisa offers valuable lessons and continuous improvement efforts that set her team apart in the field of critical care transport.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN

Lisa Owen, MS, RN, CCRN, ACCNS-AG, Acute Shock Program Coordinator URMC, Rochester, NY

Integrating POCUS into transport protocols can revolutionize patient care and outcome in critical

care scenarios. Today, host Shane Turner sits down with flight paramedic Isaac Bennett to

explore the critical role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the management of Impellasupported patients during transport. With 14 years of EMS experience, including 7 years flying with the Hospital Wing program based in Memphis, Isaac shares his expert insights on how

POCUS can guide Impella positioning, monitor volume status, and troubleshoot alarms effectively, even in challenging pre-hospital environments.

Plus, they discuss practical techniques for obtaining clear cardiac views and the importance oflandmarks and regular practice. This episode is a must-listen for transport clinicians looking to enhance their diagnostic capabilities and improve patient outcomes with POCUS.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN, Abiomed

Isaac Bennett, Flight Paramedic, Memphis Tennessee

In this second installment of our Data Deep Dive, Shane Turner reconnects with Ken Kasica, who specializes in cardiovascular pharmacology at Abiomed. The two dissect the complex interactions between drug therapies and the Impella heart pumps in critical care. Learn about the impact of vasoconstrictive drugs such as levosimendan and norepinephrine on Impella performance, and studies that highlight the risks associated with high doses of inotropes and vasopressors. This episode provides essential insights for transport clinicians on managing patients with these medications, including strategies from heart teams at destination centers for device escalation, and the latest advancements in the field.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN, Abiomed

Ken Kasica, PharmD, MBA, Director, Scientific Intelligence, Abiomed

Teaching best practices for transporting Impella patients is something Zac Bunzey handles every day. As a clinical education manager at Life Flight Network, Zac joins Shane Turner to share how targeted training campaigns, hands-on experience, and tools like the Impella app, combined with Abiomed’s 24/7 support, have markedly boosted crew confidence and proficiency.

Plus, you’ll learn about the importance of cognitive aids and routine practice with low-frequency events to maintain skills. Whether you're experienced in Impella transports or new to the process, this episode offers crucial strategies to enhance your crew's readiness and effectiveness in managing these critical patients.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN

Zac Bunzey, Clinical Education Manager, Life Flight Network

Are you equipped to handle cardiogenic shock? In this episode, you’ll gain insights from an expert on the frontlines about the complexities of caring for these critical patients and how you can excel in providing world-class critical care transport.

Shane Turner sits down with Dr. Adam Gottula, an emergency physician and critical care intensivist from Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. They discuss the management of cardiogenic shock in transport settings, the crucial role of a multidisciplinary approach, and the latest strategies for improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Gottula shares the importance of cognitive checklists, standardized patient classification, and the life-saving role of the Impella device during transport. Plus, essential practices for optimizing outcomes in patients with Impella support during cardiac arrest, including the critical steps of prompt CPR and correct device positioning.

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN

Adam Gottula, M.D., San Antonio, Texas

Today we’re going ‘back to basics’ with Austin Provence, a cardiothoracic nurse who brings a decade of experience in transporting patients with Impella devices and the importance of seamless teamwork. With over a decade of experience, Austin highlights two critical scenarios: stable patients needing higher care and critically ill patients requiring immediate interventions. He underscores the importance of mastering proper Impella placement and management, noting that a significant portion of these patients may present additional health challenges.

Austin shares practical tips on maintaining the correct angle to prevent bleeding, managing sedation, and ensuring clear communication between hospital and transport teams. This episode is packed with best practices and strategies to enhance the competency and confidence of transport clinicians in handling complex cardiac cases.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN

Austin Provence, Hospital Wing Flight Nurse

Cardiogenic shock is a devastating condition with a persistent 50% mortality rate. However, groundbreaking treatments and technologies are now dramatically improving survival odds. Join Shane Turner as he sits down with Jason Weatherly, Cardiogenic Shock Commercial Marketing Manager at Abiomed, to explore these advancements and the life-saving impact of the Impella device.

Jason highlights the recent DanGer Shock RCT, which confirmed that Impella CP® with SmartAssist® improves survival by 12.7%. Together, they delve into how these medical breakthroughs are crucially linked to critical care transport, emphasizing innovative strategies that are essential for enhancing patient outcomes and shaping the future of cardiogenic shock treatment.

In this episode:

Shane Turner, RN, CFRN, NRP, FP-C, CMTE, Chattanooga, TN

Jason Weatherly, Cardiogenic Shock Commercial Marketing Manager at Abiomed