“Many within the healthcare industry believe that cardiovascular care will be increasingly delivered in non-traditional ambulatory settings,” according to one author. “The cardiovascular care community must consider and prepare for this eventuality."

Do you know who owns your personal favorite doctor’s practice? Could it be a healthcare conglomerate? An insurance company? A private equity firm? Amazon?

While the numbers remain low, researchers believe they represent progress, especially when compared to other areas of medicine. 

The findings are derived from an analysis of fee-for-service Medicare data recorded across nearly 600 U.S. health systems. 

American College of Cardiology President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, discussed why the ACC and other leading cardiology groups are so eager to create a new, independent medical board. This has been a long-term goal for many years, he said, and now it may become a reality. 

“These requirements add a significant amount of additional time, resource, and administrative costs," the 4 groups said. 

"We know that the cardiovascular community is ready for an independent, self-governed entity, and we are proud to develop this new board with cardiologists and cardiology organizations at the helm," ACC President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, said in a statement.

The findings, derived from ACR's National Mammography Database, offer important clues as leaders seek to improve biopsy rates after screenings.