Features

New Data Underscore Importance of Looking for HCM Before Scheduling TAVR

Reported in 2018 by anesthesiologists at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, the case suggested a message to TAVR operators: “Vigilance and a high degree of suspicion” are critical for avoiding the potentially severe hemodynamic consequences of HCM associated with aortic stenosis, the authors asserted (J Med Case Rep 2018;18;12[1]:372).

Board Certification Brouhaha: Rads Cry Foul Over ABR’s Ways and Means

At the American College of Radiology’s 2019 meeting last May, speaker after speaker stepped up to the open microphone in the ballroom of a Washington, D.C., hotel to vent their displeasure with the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and its maintenance of certification (MOC) program.

COVID or Not, Big Money is Buying Radiology Practices. Should Yours Be Selling?

Ahead of print in Radiology Business Journal: As private medical practices continue feeling the squeeze of consolidation across U.S. healthcare, many radiology groups are considering acquisition offers from physician practice management companies (PPMCs).

Seeing the Future–in 3D: New CPT Codes Set the Stage for Expanding 3D Printing in Cardiology

Until recently, cardiologists’ eyes tended to glaze over at the mention of using 3D printing in their practices. Most believed the costs would be too high for routine use, that the applications and the price tag were better suited to academic applications.

Data Dilemma: Taming Healthcare’s Beautiful Beast

To get the operational perspective, CVB hosted a roundtable discussion with service line leaders about the opportunities and challenges they encounter around data.

90 Days a Dyad (or Triad): Strategies for Success & Errors to Avoid in the Crucial Early Days of Partnership

Experienced dyad and triad partners share tips for setting the stage for success and putting the brakes on mistakes.

New Take on Transplant: Reconsidering Hepatitis C-infected Hearts for Donation

As many as 700 hearts from donors with hepatitis C are discarded each year in the U.S. New research suggests at least some of these organs may be suitable for transplant.

Pop Goes the Pillbox: Will Polypharmacy Problems Limit the Adoption of SGLT2 Inhibitors?

Following data supporting their use for heart failure and type 2 diabetes, will sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors find a spot in the heart failure armamentarium?

On Revolution

Revolutions—dramatic and wide-reaching changes in the way something works, is organized or how we think about it—can sneak up on us.

Tracks & Training at TCT.19: The 2019 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium will convene Sept. 25-29 in San Francisco.

CRF program planners describe how they’re building on last year’s momentum with even more practical programming.

Pocket-sized: Pointers for Using (& Not Using) Handheld Point-of-Care Echocardiography

Handheld POC echo has proven useful in- and outside of the emergency department, but physicians still have reservations.

Algorithmic Potential: Leveraging Deep Learning to Improve Arrhythmia Identification & Classification

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a hot tool for diagnosing rhythm disorders.

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

FDA expands approval of Boston Scientific’s Farapulse PFA system

The FDA's 2024 approval of the Farapulse system covered patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Now, however, the technology is officially approved for patients with more persistent symptoms.

Health Imaging

New AI model outperforms humans at predicting sudden cardiac death

The model spots previously undetected scarring patterns on cardiac MRI scans of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—a leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young people.

Radiology Business

President Trump finalizes spending bill with 2.5% rad pay bump, but no inflation-based Medicare reform

The bill also includes some $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, with nearly 12 million kicked off insurance, drawing criticism from the American Medical Association and hospital lobbying groups.