January/February 2013

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Not so, at least when it comes to cardiac care. Recent research and practice point to the kidneys as a pathway for treating cardiovascular diseases. Using a renal denervation technique, specialists have been able to lower blood pressure in patients with drug-resistant hypertension. And they aren’t stopping there. 

We appear to be poised on a new era for treating a variety of cardiovascular conditions with renal artery denervation, a percutaneous technique that disrupts the renal sympathetic nervous system using ablation. In this issue of Cardiovascular Business, we talk with interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists about its potential as a treatment for drug-resistant hypertension, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. While not approved in the U.S., the technique already has been approved for refractory hypertension in parts of Europe and Australia. 

EHR adopters are using health IT to improve patient outcomes. There is potential for savings, too, if barriers can be overcome.

PinnacleHealth embraces new technologies to cost effectively improve care.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) places a heavy financial burden on the U.S. healthcare system, but cardiologists may help to chip away at these costs.

Four physician executives share strategies for navigating today’s healthcare landscape. 

Some service line champions are calling these structures into service to help them maximize their potential. 

Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center in Lavonia, Ga., applied a creative business model to build when others were shuttering their doors.

Thoracic surgeons may find that accurate coding and billing under ICD-10 may require a higher level of specificity than before. 

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ensured that major structural changes in healthcare will continue to rapidly evolve. 

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