ACC Endorses Team-Based Care, Adds Advanced Practice Practitioners

Posted on by Kurt Jensen

The American College of Cardiology released a health policy statement endorsing team-based care and outlining the inclusion of advanced-practice practitioners.

The ACC’s strategic plan is aligned with the triple aim of improved care, improved population health, and lower costs per capita. The traditional understanding of quality, access, and cost is that you cannot improve one component without diminishing the others. With cardiovascular team-based care, it is possible to achieve the triple aim of improving quality, access, and cost simultaneously to also improve cardiovascular health. (read the statement)

The statement lists the advantages of several different models for team-based care, from the traditional care model to health clinics and a population health framework. These include reduced readmissions, reduced hospitalizations, reliable use of evidence-based therapies, consistent documentation of education, improved patient safety, efficient use of workforce, and improved access and care coordination.

The statement stresses the importance of inter-professional education in facilitating team-based care:

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Breast Screening May Also Predict Heart Risk

Posted on by Kurt Jensen

Continue reading for more news on predicting and screening for cardiovascular disease and risk.

Breast Calcification Correlated to Coronary Calcification

A new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) last week suggested that the breast screening mammogram could be an aid for heart risk assessment.

Continue reading Breast Screening May Also Predict Heart Risk

Working in the Cath Lab Causes Heart Disease

Posted on by Kurt Jensen

Radiation Safety (Still) Matters

In February, ACVP blog reported on a survey that showed non-physician Cath Lab employees, ACVP members, reporting higher levels of musculoskeletal pain due to radiation exposure and lead apron use.

In April, SCAI released a membership survey with almost 50 percent of responders reporting orthopedic injuries, and there has been "no discernible improvement" since a similar survey was collected in 2004.

There's more bad news. A new study published this week links radiation in the Cath Lab to subclinical atherosclerosis. That's right, working in the Cath Lab can cause cardiovascular disease.

The study calculated a radiological risk score based on proximity to radiation source, caseload, and the length of employment, and there was a significant correlation between this measure and carotid intima-media thickness on the left side, not on the right, which provides "further support for a causal connection."

What's being done?

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Cardiac News Round-Up April 17

Posted on by Kurt Jensen

Stroke

Thrombolysis Safe in Mild Stroke

Jose G. Romano, MD and colleagues reported in the April issue of JAMA Neurology that few treatment complications were seen when treating patients who experienced mild strokes with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Mild strokes are defined by an NIHSS score of 5 or less. The study did not address long-term outcomes in the mild-stroke population.

Monitoring Improves NOAC Adherence

Mintu P. Turakhia, MD reported in April issue of JAMA that adherence to new oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dabigatran was highest when pharmacists assisted in monitoring compliance. Dabigatran is one of four fixed-dose NOACs that have been approved as alternatives to warfarin for reducing stroke risk in patients with Afib.

Heart Failure

Ivabradine for Heart Failure Gets FDA Nod

The FDA approved the first new drug for heart failure since 2005---invabradine---approved to "reduce hospitalization from worsening heart failure."

Acute MI

New Strategy can Help Determine Heart Attack in Patients Within One Hour

Results are in from a larger-scale clinical trial for an high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T algorithm (hs-cTnT) which accelerates treatment for patients suspected of having acute MI. The test allows for safe rule-out and 75 percent accurate rule-in. ACVP blog discussed a similar, gender-specific test in January, which found that high-sensitivity is necessary for more accurate diagnosis of heart attacks in women.