BOSTONCardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) is an attractive option for mild-to-moderate heart failure (HF) patients. When compared with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), these patients may get more bang for their buck in two wayslower costs and better outcomes, according to an economic analysis of the RAFT trial presented May 11 at the annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society.

The use of newer technologies in renal artery stenting, such as drug-eluting stents, distal protection devices and intravascular ultrasound, appear to have no advantageous effect on re-hospitalization and mortality and add more than $43,000 to the healthcare system, according to a retrospective study presented May 9 as a scientific poster at the 35th annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). The study co-investigator told Cardiovascular Business that larger, prospective trials are needed to validate the use of these technologies.

Treating patients with acute ischemic stroke at a primary stroke center (PSC) compared with a non-PSC setting is cost effective, researchers reported in a study published online April 25 in Stroke. Based on their analyses, increasing the number of patients annually admitted to a PSC improved cost effectiveness.

In 2007, nearly four million emergency department visits in the U.S. were linked to cardiovascular disease. As medical costs for cardiovascular disease are set to triple by 2030 to $800 billion, the U.S. must find a way to simultaneously become more cost-effective and efficient, and employing a national cardiovascular emergency care system could be the answer.

What good are quality metrics if they measure factors that hospitals cant change? Using readmission data after PCI in hospitals in Massachusetts, researchers attempted to identify modifiable deficiencies that hospitals could target to improve performance. What they found was a wide variation in 30-day all-cause risk-standardized readmission rates, little of which was attributable to differences in procedural and postprocedural factors.

Despite data supporting the clinical benefits of remote monitoring, some practices are resisting adoption due to the potential liability of receiving alerts on a 24-hour basis. Four experts share their opinions on how practices should approach these considerations.

CHICAGOChanges to the physician fee schedule have overturned practices, leaving some private practice physicians running for cover at nearby hospitals. The future of the physician fee schedule and the changes linked to it remain a mystery, said Cathleen D. Biga, RN, president and CEO of Cardiovascular Management of Illinois, during a presentation March 25 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.

CHICAGOOwnership of data in a cardiovascular practice is everyones responsibility, said Cathleen Biga, RN, CEO of Cardiovascular Management of Illinois in Woodridge, Ill., at the American College of Cardiologys 61st annual scientific session. Failure to meet that responsibility may result in lost opportunities to improve careand revenue, too.