August 2011

As Medicare and third-party payor reimbursement are likely to continue to declineespecially with value-based purchasing slated to begin in 2013 under healthcare reformhospitals will need to become more financially accountable, as well as take responsibility for patient satisfaction and quality.

Thomas M. Tu, MD, an interventional cardiologist, and John M. Mandrola, MD, an electrophysiologist with Baptist Medical Associates in Louisville, Ky., discuss the complex relationships that medical societies and physician specialists form with the cardiac device and pharmaceutical manufacturers that provide the products to support their specialties.

Properly evaluating the benefit of platelet function testing in the PCI patient population has not proved successful, with the negative results of GRAVITAS and the early cessation of TRIGGER-PCI. Thus, three platelet experts have submitted their ideas for the foundation of a new trial design that could properly assess the potential benefits of platelet function testing.

The guideline-recommended treatment is fairly well established in patients with symptomatic mitral regurgitation, but those with asymptomatic disease have a less clear strategy. Some surgeons are now advocating for earlier intervention in this population.

The term social media has attracted considerable interest. Opinions about the concept vary widely, a result of many factors including: the purpose by which it is aimed; the age, background and audience of the person either sending or receiving the information contained; and the specific format being used.