Updated ACCF/AHA/AACVPR Performance Measures Aim to Increase Patient Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs, Improve Quality of Care following Cardiac Events
Cardiac rehabilitation ‒ an organized, medically supervised program of services that might include exercise training, nutritional counseling and group support, among others ‒ can significantly improve the life expectancy and quality of life of people who have had a recent cardiac event, such as a heart attack, angioplasty or heart surgery. Yet, only one in five eligible patients actually receives this lifesaving and life-improving therapy.
ACCF Joins SCAI as New Partner in Accreditation of Cardiovascular Facilities
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) today announced an agreement to jointly sponsor the Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE) organization. Founded by SCAI in May 2010, ACE provides professional review of facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed and will accredit those that achieve predetermined benchmarks for quality care. Recent studies in Health Affairs and other journals have shown accreditation improves patient outcomes and promotes progress toward enhanced patient safety standards.
Key Clinical Competencies for Managing Patients With Advanced Heart Failure and Those Undergoing Heart Transplantation
Recent advances in cardiac care are helping more people live well and longer with heart disease, including heart failure—a condition in which the heart functions abnormally. This trend also means the demand for specialty care to manage heart problems is on the rise, especially for patients with the most advanced forms of heart failure (HF) and those undergoing heart transplantation. To help define the tools necessary to care for these patients, who often represent the most complex cardiac cases, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Physicians (ACP) today issued the first clinical statement outlining the competencies and skill sets required of treating physicians.
Statement from ACC President Ralph Brindis Regarding HHS’s Electronic Health Records Announcement
American College of Cardiology (ACC) President Ralph Brindis, MD released a statement in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) releasing final regulations for the first two years of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. The American College of Cardiology is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to disseminate information about the new electronic health records (EHR) to physicians and to encourage the adoption of electronic health records.
Statement from ACC CEO Dr. Jack Lewin on Recess Appointment of Donald Berwick as CMS Administrator
The American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) CEO, Jack Lewin, M.D. today released the following statement on the recess appointment of Institute for Healthcare Improvement CEO Donald Berwick to be the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator by President Obama:
“When the President nominated Don to be CMS Administrator, I said that he had made an excellent choice and I still feel that way today..." (Cont'd)
ACC/AHA Release Clinical Alert in Response to FDA Boxed Warning About Anti-Platelet Agent, Clopidogrel
Newly available information indicating that some patients vary in their genetic makeup in ways that may affect their response to clopidogrel (Plavix), and can prevent the medication from reducing their risk for heart attack, stroke and even death, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently added a warning to the information for this drug. To help clinicians interpret the new FDA warning for this widely prescribed anti-platelet agent, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) today released a joint clinical alert, shedding light on key issues for consideration and recommendations for practice.
ACC Statement on Congressional Failure to Stop Scheduled Physician Reimbursement Cuts
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Chief Executive Officer, Jack Lewin, MD, made the following statement today after the failure in Congress to stop the scheduled 21 percent cut to Medicare’s physician reimbursements taking effect June 1:
“For the better part of the last three years, patients have anxiously waited as Congress goes from year-to-year, and recently, from month-to-month, making sure that physicians will be reimbursed through Medicare. But, this time we are left with the worst case scenario ‒ Congress leaves town without even a band-aid therefore allowing substantial cuts to heart patients’ care to go through on June 1. (Cont'd)
Aspirin Recommended for Heart Health for People With Diabetes at High Risk
Low-dose aspirin therapy is a reasonable measure to prevent a first heart attack or stroke among people with diabetes who also have a high risk for heart disease, according to a joint statement of the American College of Cardiology Foundation, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association and published online in the journals of each organization, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Diabetes Care, and Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
ACC Encourages House to Pass SGR improvements in HR 4213
ACC Encourages House to Pass SGR improvements in HR 4213
Statement from Ralph Brindis, M.D., M.P.H., president of the American College of Cardiology
“We strongly encourage the House of Representatives to pass the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) improvements contained in the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213).
“Four years of positive updates will provide physicians with the stability needed, while we look at real ways for true payment reform and eliminating the need for the SGR.
“The ACC continues to push for a permanent payment solution and is working with Congress on real ways to do that. We want the SGR repealed. However, Congress also must not allow the cuts to go through on June 1 and we are advocating on behalf of cardiology members in that regard.
Today on The View, Barbara Walters announced on camera that she will be having surgery later this week to replace a leaky heart valve. Dr. Ralph Brindis, President of the American College of Cardiology, explains valve replacement.
ACC Signs on to Strict Code of Ethics; Cardiology Society reaffirms its commitment to transparency and firewalls
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) today announced that it has officially signed on to the Code for Interactions with Companies released by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. The code exists as a guide to appropriate relationships between specialty societies and for-profit companies, meant to increase transparency and set a standard for independent program development and independent leadership.
Statement from ACC CEO Dr. Jack Lewin on Dr. Donald Berwick’s Appointment as CMS Administrator
The American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) CEO, Jack Lewin, M.D., today released the following statement after President Obama named Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s CEO Donald Berwick, M.D., the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator:
Dr. Ralph Brindis Elected President of the American College of Cardiology
Ralph Brindis, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.C., the Regional Senior Advisor for Cardiovascular Diseases for Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, CA and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, was elected President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the ACC, held in Atlanta, GA.
New Guidelines Aim to Prevent Unnecessary Death from Thoracic Aortic Disease
When actor John Ritter died suddenly in 2003 from a tear in his thoracic aorta—the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body—that tragedy brought attention to a rare but deadly condition that takes the lives of an estimated 10,000 Americans each year. Now, new clinical guidelines spearheaded by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) not only offer new recommendations for the diagnosis and management of thoracic aortic disease (TAD), they deliver a powerful message to physicians and patients: Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.
American College of Cardiology and Roche Diagnostics Announce a Collaboration Agreement to Develop a Biomarkers Educational Resource Web Portal
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Roche Diagnostics today announced a first of its kind collaboration to develop a peer-reviewed Biomarkers Clinical Resource web portal.
