February 2011

All medical procedures and personnel performances are being scrutinized to ensure minimal waste and maximal outcomes and output. A study last month about non-evidence-based implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) procedures received a lot of press. And rightly so.

Due to recent highly publicized controversies of alleged over-stenting, state and federal authorities have begun to question the peer review process in cath labs. As a result, professional societies are exploring a new accreditation process, but some providers fear the time and costs that this could entail.

The promise of EMRs to improve the efficiency and quality of care makes their universal adoption a matter of when, rather than if.

In this era of healthcare reform and decreasing reimbursements for independent practices, producing quality care has become synonymous with transparency and economic efficiency.

The bifurcated anatomy is highly variable and PCI of bifurcation lesions is associated with increased procedural costs, greater complication rates and worse outcomes compared with PCI of simple coronary lesions. While progress has been made, more research and consensus need to occur.

While a cardiovascular information system (CVIS) can help practices achieve meaningful use and improve outcomes, due diligence is required to adopt one.

Given the ever-increasing advances in science and research related to genetics, its not surprising that discussions about personalized medicine among care providers and government officials are heating up.

Hospitals need to gain physician trust by building relationships based on transparency.