As coronary CT angiography (CCTA) continues its rapid expansion, scanner vendors are now offering more economical solutions to ensure access to imaging technology beyond premium systems most often only found at flagship hospitals and academic centers. To conquer CCTA’s technical challenges, new technologies and AI are being incorporated into a new scanner to simplify acquisition and consistently improve image quality.
Exposure to scatter radiation and orthopedic issues related to years of wearing lead aprons during long EP procedures has led electrophysiologists to seek out new ways to reduce the need for angiographic X-ray.
Advancements in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation technology have been incremental over the past 30 years in efforts to improve safety, procedural efficiency and patient outcomes. While some newer technologies have gained a lot of attention in electrophysiology (EP) over the past several years, RF remains the solid frontline treatment.
"The onus is on us as cardiologists to make sure we offer the very best possible devices for our patients with the available data that we have," interventional cardiologist Anene Ukaigwe, MD, explained.
Women with cardiovascular disease are consistently underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to men, and those disparities are true for aortic stenosis as well. Women with symptomatic severe AS are up to 35% less likely than men to undergo aortic valve replacement, for example, and they often have to wait longer just to be referred for further care.
Experts recently offered a blueprint to make the choice easier when it comes to using cardiac PET to assess coronary artery disease, myocardial perfusion, viability, and ventricular function.
Topping the list of must haves when rolling out a new complex PCI program are a solid mission to offer leading-edge technology, top-down administrative support, physician and nursing leadership, a quest for quality, and a well-oiled team.
Teamwork, technology and a can-do attitude come together at a rural community hospital in the Southwest, where an Impella program for cardiogenic shock patients has saved many lives in past years.
Mountain States Health Alliance headquartered in Johnson City, Tenn., is one health system leading the charge and reaping the benefits of a more intelligent, decision support-enabled CVIS with a built-in quality control engine that ensures data entered into the report are consistent.
After pushing for years to build a unified cardiology database powered by structured reporting, several members of the heart team at 237-bed Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Mont., finally got their moment around six years ago.
Healthcare today is focused on the Triple Aim: Improving patient quality of care and satisfaction, improving outcomes, while also reducing total cost of care.