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- Keeping cardiovascular imaging relevant amid change
Cardiovascular imaging professionals should strive to understand the latest cardiovascular techniques and technologies while staying abreast of changes in health IT, meaningful use criteria and accreditation and certification guidelines, according to an essay written by imaging experts Drs. Pamela Douglas and Michael Picard. Themes to focus on include access and value, quality, cost and leadership, according to the authors, who say it's essential to articulate the value of imaging as new delivery models take hold. "[I]t is not enough to be a crackerjack imager; quality also includes the entire functioning of the laboratory and its service to patients and referring physicians," Douglas and Picard write. CardiovascularBusiness.com
(2/23)     
- True appropriate use incorporates gray areas, cardiologist says
Updated language for procedure and imaging appropriate use criteria is a step in the right direction, says cardiologist Dr. J. Jeffrey Marshall. The new language eliminates the term "inappropriate" and better acknowledges the complicated nature of medical decision making, he says. "Except for some rare exceptions, physicians are always trying to perform appropriate procedures and order appropriate tests, but sometimes these decisions fall into a gray zone," Marshall said. CardiovascularBusiness.com
(2/25)
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- Study: Mediterranean-style diet reduces cardiovascular risks
A Mediterranean-style diet may prevent about 30% of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients, according to a study published on the website of The New England Journal of Medicine. University of Vermont nutrition professor Rachel Johnson called the study from the University of Barcelona "really impressive" because it used meaningful end points rather than just risk factors such as cholesterol, hypertension or weight. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(2/25)
- The difficult conversation about costs
While physicians have been a key focus of efforts to reduce health care costs in recent years, patients’ views play a critical role in their ability to balance resources and appropriate care, writes Dr. Pauline Chen. A study published in the journal Health Affairs finds that most people want to leave costs out of discussions about their care and would request more expensive options even if they carried only marginally greater benefit than cheaper alternatives, believing "cost was synonymous with quality," Chen writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Well blog
(2/21)
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- Plan to fix Medicare doctor payment gains some steam
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., garnered some support Tuesday for his plan to solve the Medicare physician payment issue. Revised cost estimates for addressing the problem could help after the Congressional Budget Office lowered the projected price tag to $138 billion over the next 10 years from $245 billion. Kaiser Health News/Capsules blog
(2/27)
| ASNC News | | |
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- JNC free access articles
If you have not received the Jan./Feb. issue of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, it may mean that you have not renewed your ASNC membership! Go online today to ensure that you receive each of the six issues that will be published this year! Three editorials are available as free access in the recently published Journal of Nuclear Cardiology (Jan./Feb. 2013) issue: Stress-only imaging: Faster, cheaper, less radiation. So what's the hold up? by Milena J. Henzlova, MD, Lori B. Croft, MD, and W. Lane Duvall, MD. Myocardial perfusion models: A means or an end? by Nils P. Johnson, MD, MS, and K. Lance Gould, MD. Myocardium at risk: Reasons and methods for measuring the extent, by Alessia Gimelli, MD, and Daniele Rovai, MD, FESC. ASNC membership provides a complimentary subscription to the JNC, and each issue provides free CME opportunities. Renew your membership so that your subscription is not interrupted!
- Exhibit at ASNC2013!
ASNC invites you to take part in the 18th Annual Scientific Session, scheduled Sept. 26-29, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. ASNC2013 offers a unique combination of cutting-edge science and practical clinical applications. Whether your goal is to introduce yourself to new customers or enhance relationships with your current customers, you will have the opportunity to meet with decision-makers face-to-face to discuss new products, cutting-edge research and technological advances in cardiology. Don't miss ASNC2013, where you will meet face-to-face with top doctors and technologists in nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular CT; experience unparalleled buying power -- 94% of exhibiting companies felt the attendees could make buying decisions and 64% could recommend products for purchase; launch new products; get instant results from contacts on the show floor; increase brand exposure; and build and maintain key relationships. For more information, contact Jo Pumphrey at jo@mtgsplus.com.
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