Care Delivery

This channel includes news on cardiovascular care delivery, including how patients are diagnosed and treated, cardiac care guidelines, policies or legislation impacting patient care, device recalls that may impact patient care, and cardiology practice management.

Whole-body MRI provider starts offering AI-powered CCTA scans

Patients electing to undergo a whole-body MRI at one Florida facility are now able to undergo a CCTA exam at the same time. All results are interpreted by a cardiologist, and the patient meets with a physician for a one-on-one consultation.  

Medicare fraud

Vascular imaging at heart of $71M fraud scheme—DOJ announces prison sentences

The years-long scheme involved sending kickbacks to physicians who ordered unnecessary transcranial doppler exams. Two conspirators have now been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay substantial fines.

Thumbnail

Women of all ages face rising risks of heart disease and stroke—but cardiologists see a path forward

Cardiovascular disease is already the No. 1 killer among women—and new projections from the American Heart Association suggest things are going to get much worse. There are certain things that clinicians and patients can do, however, to help reverse this trend and save countless lives.

weight loss surgery bariatric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy

Weight-loss surgery protects the heart more than GLP-1 drugs

Both treatment options were found to be effective in a new meta-analysis of nearly 20,000 patients.  Surgery, however, had the most substantial long-term impact.

clinician and patient

Researchers develop active listening system for creating ‘workforce wellness culture’ among healthcare workers

Healthcare leaders looking to optimize their workplaces for the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers have a new model from which to draw how-to tips, ideas and guidance.

Thumbnail

It’s about to get harder for many Medicare patients to see a cardiologist

UnitedHealthcare now requires patients enrolled in certain Medicare Advantage plans to receive a PCP referral before seeing a cardiologist. On May 1, the insurer will start denying all claims that do not include the necessary referral. UnitedHealthcare argues that "stronger PCP engagement" is good for patient care, but many stakeholders disagree.

Elder caree

New group names 4 things US healthcare can—and should—handle on behalf of Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers

Alzheimer’s disease already has the nation in a crisis of care capacity. The pressure to do more in response is mounting. Meanwhile the true total cost is hard to estimate since so many dementia caregivers are unpaid family members and other volunteers. 

teens smoking weed cannabis

Teenage cannabis users twice as likely as non-users to develop psychosis, bipolar disorder

The new research doesn’t solve the mystery of which tends to come first—the mental illness or the drug use. Regardless, the large study serves to underscore the need for proactive and preventive measures.