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.

Nearly half of all surgeons have considered leaving the profession due to burnout
Burnout remains one of the biggest issues in modern healthcare. More than 1,500 surgeons, including many from the field of cardiac surgery, provided feedback for a new report on that very topic.
Moderate valve oversizing during TAVR boosts survival—too much may be less beneficial
Oversizing transcatheter heart valves can improve TAVR outcomes. There is still a reason to be cautious, however, especially when patients are receiving a balloon-expandable valve.
4 points about healthcare AI that notable experts are emphasizing in the public square
The brain is the single most complex internal system in the body. That’s a no-brainer. But can you name the runner-up? (Bonus points for guessing what this has to do with healthcare AI.)
Financial aid nonprofits merge to do more for patients feeling pinched by medical bills on top of overall inflation
Two medical charities that last year gave $640 million to 200,000 struggling Americans are combining forces so they can expand their collective wherewithal.
Do older patients shy away from mHealth apps—or do clinicians too often assume they will?
Researchers: “Clinicians’ perceptions about older patients’ interest in and ability to use mobile health apps may negatively impact recommendation of mHealth apps and subsequent adoption by older adults.”

CDC: Updated COVID jab significantly reduces odds of infection

The latest COVID-19 vaccine began entering recipients’ bodies last September. Now comes early CDC data supporting the formulation’s general effectiveness.

Targeting the left atrial posterior wall during pulsed field ablation fails to improve outcomes

Researchers explored the potential of an alternate way to perform PFA on patients with persistent AFib, presenting their findings live at AF Symposium 2024 in Boston.

FDA approves first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement device, the EVOQUE system from Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards makes history, receives FDA approval for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement device

The approval, based on positive results from the TRISCEND II trial, represents a significant milestone for the treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation.

CT-first strategy the most effective path forward when evaluating stable chest pain

Heart teams have several options when patients present with stable chest pain and require further testing. According to a brand new analysis of nearly 800 patients, CCTA may be the best place to start.

healthcare technology safety hazards ECRI

ECRI: Top 10 healthcare technology hazards that are avoidable (by suppliers) and/or minimizable (by providers)

The nonprofit patient-safety organization says the list “reflects our judgment about which risks should be given attention now to help care providers, as well as device manufacturers, prioritize their patient safety efforts.”

AI-powered risk score predicts how heart failure patients will respond to loop diuretics

New research out of Texas could go a long way toward improving care for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Farapulse Boston Scientific Pulsed Field Ablation PFA fda approval

FDA approves Boston Scientific’s pulsed field ablation system for AFib

The FDA’s final decision was based largely on positive results from the ADVENT clinical trial, which compared treatment with the Farapulse PFA System to the current standard of care.

SAVR in the TAVR era: Volumes are down, but it remains the go-to choice for certain patient populations

Annual SAVR volumes in the United States decreased by a whopping 44.5% from 2012 to 2022. However, heart teams across the country seem to agree that surgery is a safer, more effective treatment option than TAVR when patients present with bicuspid aortic valves.

Care Delivery

Nearly half of all surgeons have considered leaving the profession due to burnout

Moderate valve oversizing during TAVR boosts survival—too much may be less beneficial

4 points about healthcare AI that notable experts are emphasizing in the public square

Financial aid nonprofits merge to do more for patients feeling pinched by medical bills on top of overall inflation

Do older patients shy away from mHealth apps—or do clinicians too often assume they will?