Before joining the private practice of two EP physicians at UTHSC-H, Darla Labasse worked at the UTMB Cath lab and EP lab.  Her responsibilities included checking the patients' ICDs and pacemakers as well as holding a nurse device clinic.  She also became a research coordinator for some device studies.  She was hired at UTHSC recently and moved over to MD Anderson to follow Dr. Dougherty's patients where she will assist in research.

Although Darla had no formal training in research, she found the Research Coordinator’s and Research Nurse Education class of great interest.  While she enjoyed learning about the correct procedures for conducting research, more importantly, it was a great opportunity to meet the individuals and the departments that might be able to assist her when questions about research arise.

When asked about the VEST-PREDICTS study in which Darla will be assisting, Sheryl Murphy, RN, MSN, FNP of UT Medical School’s Cardiology Department, explained that the recruiting will take place at Memorial Hermann Hospital.  The study is trying to help answer the question of who really needs to have an implanted cardiac defibrillator.  Murphy describes the goals of the study, “Using a very broad group of indicators for whom might be at risk for sudden cardiac death, this study is trying to further refine the risk stratification criteria and maybe discover a common denominator that would more specifically identify the patient at risk for sudden cardiac death.  The price for implanting a defibrillator is at $100,000.00.  There are also psychological, environmental and social issues that patients face when they get a defibrillator.”

Murphy explains, “So if we could more narrowly define who really needs them, then it would be better for the standard of care practice.  We are looking for patients at 48 hours post heart attack, thereby making Hermann the prime recruitment place.  Darla plans to talk with the cardiology fellow covering CCU each day and also talk with the CCU nurses to find patients to talk with about the study. They are expecting a 7 year follow-up on this study and she hopes to enroll 2-3 patients per month. This is her first study.  She has completed the Research Nurse and Coordinator course and she is barreling through all the initial start-up work at amazing speed.  She is a natural at research and we are so very fortunate to have her join our staff.”