Guest Blogger: Boston AF Symposium Highlights January 27, 2012
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Science & Research.Tags: AF, Afib, Atrial fibrillation, clinical guidelines
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Editor’s Note: Guest blogger Hugh Calkins, MD, FHRS, CCDS is the Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions Program Committee Chair (2012). He provides a brief overview of the Boston AF Symposium, which took place January 12 – 14, 2012.
This year’s Boston AF Symposium was very well attended, with more than 1,200 participants. I would like to share a few highlights from the meeting: (more…)
Health Information Technology: Building Safer Systems for Patient Care January 26, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: EHR, Electronic medical records, Health information technology, HIT, Institute of Medicine, IOM
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The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a report which evaluates health information technology safety concerns and recommends ways that both government and the private sector can make patient care safer using health information technology (HIT).
The report suggests that poorly designed HIT can result in dosing errors, failure to detect life-threatening illnesses, and delays in treatment. To reduce the risk of these occurrences, the IOM offers recommendations which can be implemented by the private sector and/or government. (more…)
Five Reasons Why Physicians Will Love mHealth January 18, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: Electronic Health Records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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1. Mobile health technology will increase patient engagement. Most patients do not take the responsibility they should for their own health. They are likely preoccupied with all the stresses of everyday life and might therefore take the ‘I feel good, so I must be’ approach. They possibly mutter these words after wiping their faces, hurriedly walking out of McDonald’s for lunch. Or is it because of mistrust of their physician who they get to see for a big 15 minutes that the electronic record time slot permits? Or that they are caregivers to others and sacrifice their own well-being for that higher purpose? (more…)
Most Popular Posts of 2011 January 16, 2012
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in Uncategorized.add a comment
EP Insights has had steady growth in readership and commentary since launching in February 2010. We would like to share the ten most popular posts of 2011 with you, encourage you to read any that you may have missed and contribute to the growing conversation among heart rhythm professionals.
- Education, Disclosures, and Bias, Oh My! (Part Two of Two) by Joshua Cooper, MD
In this post, Dr. Cooper is “evaluating the paradigm of Industry sponsorship of medical education.” - Appropriateness of ICD Use Challenged by Registry Study by Mark S. Kremers, MD, FHRS
Dr. Kremers discusses the findings of the study “Non–Evidence-Based ICD Implantations in the United States” noting that “the ICD Registry form should be reviewed by the physician to ensure accuracy and the supporting medical record should clarify issues that are not completely disclosed in the registry document. Increased attention to these issues will make the registry a better reflection of the care delivered and would be a positive development.” (more…)
Business Models of Mobile mHealth January 12, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: CMS, Electronic medical records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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PriceWaterhouse Coopers’ Health Research Institute released a comprehensive report (free registration required) describing business models and opportunities for the mobile health industry.
In the operational/business model, providers see mHealth as more efficient and beneficial to the patient. According to the study, one-third of physicians make decisions based on incomplete information and mHealth can result in better care by providing more robust and timely information from the patient or device. (more…)
Audit Alphabet Soup: MACs, RACs and Pre-Payment Reviews January 11, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, RAC
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To navigate the constantly changing current of Medicare audits, it is critical that the heart rhythm care community understands the distinction between a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)-driven review and a Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) review. (more…)
EP News: Basic and Translational January 10, 2012
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Arrhythmia, Atrial fibrillation, Genetic testing
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Genetic Testing as a Class I Indication for Patient Care
Gersh et al (Circulation 2011;13:124, PMID 22068435) updated the ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
In this updated recommendation for HCM, genetic testing is listed as a Class I recommendation to evaluate patients with HCM. All patients who undergo genetic testing should also undergo genetic counseling. Genetic screening is recommended in first-degree relatives of patients with HCM. In addition, genetic testing is recommended for patients with an atypical clinical presentation of HCM or when another genetic condition is suspected to be the cause. However, the Task Force also played down the importance of using specific mutations to predict the likelihood of sudden cardiac death (SCD). While some earlier works found certain mutations are “malignant,” subsequent studies showed in some instances the rate of adverse events (and prevalence of associated SCD risk markers) was lower in patients with “malignant” mutations than it was in those with mutations believed to be “benign.” (more…)
Update: RAC Demonstration Project January 5, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, RAC
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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will delay until further notice the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration Project. The prepayment review was scheduled to begin on January 1, 2012 in eleven states (FL, CA, MI, TX, NY, LA, IL, PA, OH, NC, MO). This week’s announcement states that the CMS received many comments/suggestions, that it is “considering these comments carefully, ” and that it will provide at least 30 day notice before the demonstrations begin. (more…)
When Is the Next Shoe To Drop – Why Wait? December 23, 2011
Posted by Christopher Clyne, MD, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: CMS, SGR, Sustainable Growth Rate
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The Super Committee has disbanded without any agreement on how to solve our budget deficit. This will impact all Americans. With regard to the medical field, there is a proposed 27.4% cut in Medicare reimbursement scheduled for January of 2012—unless the very partisan House and Senate agree to postpone this draconian cut. (more…)
Educating the Public About SCA and AEDs: Remembering Fred Thompson, Age 19 December 21, 2011
Posted by Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC in Education, Sudden Cardiac Arrest.Tags: AED, automatic external defibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, Heart Attack, Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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I posted the following comment on an internet news column that reported the sad story of the sudden death of a young athlete, named Fred Thompson. To save young lives (and also middle-aged and older lives), it is *critical* for the public to understand the difference between a “heart attack” and “sudden cardiac arrest,” so that bystanders can use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) even before the ambulance arrives. My posted comment was intended for the lay-public, hoping to reach at least one person who may witness a sudden cardiac arrest event and then have the knowledge and courage to act: (more…)
Heart Rhythm Society
Laurie Racenet, RN, MSN, ANP
Michael Giudici, MD, FACC, FACP, FHRS
Heather M. Ross, DNP, ANP-BC, CCDS, CEPS, FHRS
Anne Dubin, MD, FHRS
John D. Day, MD, FHRS
Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, FHRS
Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC
Amit J. Shanker, MD, FHRS, FACC
Bruce Stambler, MD
David Wiggins, RN, BS BME, CEPS
Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS
Leonard Ganz, MD, FHRS
christinechiuman
Craig Delaughter, MD, PhD
Ariana Del Negro, Heart Rhythm 2010 Quality
Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS
MSKremers MD,FHRS
Ann C. Garlitski, MD, FACC, FHRS
Alan Cheng, MD, FHRS
Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, MD
Christopher Clyne, MD, FHRS
Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS
David Scher, MD, FHRS
Sanjay Deshpande, MD, FHRS
