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.

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 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.
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.
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.
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.

Robotic aortic valve replacement (RAVR) is a new minimally invasive treatment option for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) that uses advanced robotic surgical systems. It has already started gaining momentum as an alternative to both surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Q&A: Pioneer heart surgeon on the development and long-term potential of robotic aortic valve replacement

It's early for RAVR, but the minimally invasive technique has already started gaining momentum as an alternative to both SAVR and TAVR. We spoke to Vinay Badhwar, MD, one of the world’s leading voices in robotic heart surgery, to learn more.

Heart surgeons with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute have made a bit of history, performing the world’s first combined robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure—all through one small incision. Patients requiring these procedures typically undergo open-heart surgery.

Heart surgeons perform world’s first combined robotic AVR and CABG

The entire robotic procedure was performed through one small incision. Surgeons originally recommended the 73-year-old patient undergo open-heart surgery, but she requested a less invasive alternative.

Off-label TAVR for native aortic regurgitation linked to worse outcomes

Targeting aortic regurgitation with TAVR valves built to treat aortic stenosis may be the only option a cardiologist has—but valves designed specifically to treat AR are linked to much better outcomes, according to a new meta-analysis. Edwards Lifesciences recently acquired the two companies at the center of this study, JenaValve and JC Medical.

Artificial intelligence AI in healthcare

Industry Watcher’s Digest

Federal AI guardrails are taking shape.

Healthcare-specific AI: How to multiply successes and head off accidents

Given the rapid proliferation of AI-equipped medical devices across U.S. healthcare, unintended effects should surprise no one.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR: 5 key findings related to patients with small annuli

PPM is still relatively common after TAVR, especially among patients with a small aortic annulus. What can be done to minimize the risk of PPM? Does valve type play a role? Researchers explored those questions, and many others.

Industry Watcher’s Digest

FDA commissioner Robert Califf recently suggested the agency may need to double its workforce. And that’s just to oversee AI.

FDA taking the long view of generative AI in healthcare

The FDA’s fledgling Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) only held its first meeting last week, but it has already committed its thinking to writing.

Care Delivery

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

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

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

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

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