BOSTON—While innovations within the healthcare industry remain electric, there is still unexplained variations in care patterns in the U.S., particularly for device implants. Cardiologist density and patient insurance type could be some of the culprits, Paul Heidenreich, MD, of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., said, adding that more work needs to be done to figure out the reasons for these differentiations.
BOSTON—While implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) utilization is improving, some subsets of patients still see underuse, said Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, of the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, N.C., during a presentation May 9 at the 33rd annual scientifc sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society. She added that more research and education could help to close this gap.
It’s no surprise that when a proposed rule on meaningful use is revealed, a litany of organizations want their voices heard. May 7 was the last day to submit comments to the Stage 2 meaningful use proposed rule to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and five organizations have joined the din of democratic speech on the legislation.
Almost one-third of hypertensive patients seen routinely by a cardiologist had suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control, and physician performance varied widely in a study published online May 1 in
Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ruled May 1 that it would cover transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) under its Coverage with Evidence Development, but the agency included a series of conditions that must be met to receive reimbursement.
Physicians and hospitals that treat adults with heart failure (HF) have a new set of performance measures to help improve the quality of care for their patients. In an interview, writing committee co-chair Robert O. Bonow, MD, discussed key changes in the measures, including efforts to minimize the reporting burden and maximize the use of EHRs.
PET/CT is useful in differentiating between cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection and recent post-implant changes, and may guide appropriate therapy, according to a study in the May 1 issue of the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The use of pelvic lead shielding during cardiac catheterization significantly reduces operator radiation dose, according to a study published in the April issue of the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions. Operators who use pelvic lead shielding can perform four times as many femoral cases or twice as many radial cases with the same radiation exposure.
The unrestricted use of drug-eluting stents (DES) is associated with similar long-term safety and efficacy among women and men with coronary artery disease, according to a study in the March issue of the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions. However, the accompanying editorialists wrote that “we are only at our infancy in our understanding of sex differences in cardiovascular disease.”
Bisphosphonates did not have a significant impact on the hemodynamic or clinical progression of aortic stenosis in a retrospective analysis of older female patients, published April 17 in the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology. “The study also illustrates that the rate of progression of aortic stenosis in this population is not linear but tends to lessen over time,” the study authors wrote.
The FDA's advisory panel has proposed a review of Edward Lifesciences' premarket approval (PMA) application for its Edwards Sapien transcatheter heart valve on June 13. Edwards submitted a PMA application in April 2011 based on data from the high-risk cohort (Cohort A) of the PARTNER Trial, for approval of this therapy in the treatment of patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at high risk for surgery.
Jack C. Lewin, MD, is leaving the post of CEO of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) after serving in that role for more than five years “to pursue other opportunities and challenges,” according to a statement by the college to its members.
CHICAGO—A case study on a patient with dyspnea raised questions about evaluation for ischemia in women and protocols for stress testing March 26 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific sessions.
Hugh G. Calkins, MD, offered this advice for physicians and hospital administrators who are too busy to read all 86 pages of the 2012 international consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF): If nothing else, be aware of five important changes.
CHICAGO—Although nearly nine in 10 transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) met appropriate use criteria (AUC) by 2011, fewer than one-third resulted in a change in care, according to a single-center study presented March 26 as a scientific poster at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.
Nine physician specialty societies have identified commonly used tests or procedures in their respective fields that are not always necessary and are releasing the lists as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation’s Choosing Wisely campaign, aimed at helping physicians make better use of finite health resources.
CHICAGO—Changes to the physician fee schedule have overturned practices, leaving some private practice physicians running for cover at nearby hospitals. The future of the physician fee schedule and the changes linked to it remain a mystery, said Cathleen D. Biga, RN, president and CEO of Cardiovascular Management of Illinois, during a presentation March 25 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.
CHICAGO—Reimbursement cuts have been detrimental to healthcare providers, but private practice physicians and hospitals still can get ahead. During a presentation March 25 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session, Gregory S. Thomas, MD, MPH, practicing cardiologist at Mission Internal Medical Group in Mission Viejo, Calif., offered strategies to help both private and public sectors.
CHICAGO—While appropriate use criteria (AUC) documents were created with the intent to help deliver high-quality care, there is much room for improvement, said Fredrick A. Masoudi, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of Colorado in Denver, March 26 during a presentation at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.
CHICAGO—The outcomes reported at 12 months comparing the safety and effectiveness of the Promus Element everolimus-eluting platinum chromium stent to Xience V, or Promus original, everolimus-eluting stent, remained comparable at two years, based on the prospective, multicenter, randomized PLATINUM Workhorse trial, presented March 25 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session. However, an additional landmark analysis of outcomes from year one to year two demonstrated superior efficacy of Promus Element compared with Xience V during this 12-month follow-up period.
