Quality

The focus of quality improvement in healthcare is to bolster performance and processes related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Leaders in this space also ensure the proper selection of imaging exams and procedures, and monitor the safety of services, among other duties. Reimbursement programs such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) utilize financial incentives to improve quality. This also includes setting and maintaining care quality initiatives, such as the requirements set by the Joint Commission.

AHA still working to find more patients with severe aortic stenosis who may require care
The initiative is designed to help identify more patients who may require aortic valve replacement. Brian Lindman, MD, provided an update on the project's efforts.
Veterans with heart disease often receive better care through VA than they would elsewhere
Military veterans face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, making it especially important to ensure they receive high-quality care.
FDA commissioner, a veteran cardiologist, highlights ongoing issues with US healthcare system
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about healthcare spending, inconsistent patient outcomes and much more.
FDA commissioner urges health systems to strengthen AI quality oversight
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, explains the need for hospitals to perform quality assurance checks on clinical artificial intelligence to ensure these technologies don't "drift" from what was originally cleared by the FDA.
Deep learning reconstruction cuts radiation and contrast dose by half in aortic CTA exams
A new analysis in Academic Radiology dives into the importance of finding balance between reducing radiation exposure while maintaining image quality.

5 ways to improve care for heart failure patients with limited English proficiency

Researchers interviewed professional medical interpreters, sharing some of the lessons they learned in JACC: Heart Failure.

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

The top 10 children’s hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery

The 2022-2023 rankings include some familiar names at the top. Did your facility make the cut?

Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, executive director of the new Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a collaboration between Ascension Texas and the University of Texas at Austin, including its Dell Medical School. This new, state-of-the-art cardiology program fully integrates all the cardiac subspecialties to create a comprehensive heart team approach in treating patients.

VIDEO: Creating an integrated heart team program in central Texas

Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, executive director of the new Institute for Cardiovascular Health in Austin, Texas, discusses the facility's new, state-of-the-art cardiology program.

EHR alerts boost care for patients with HFrEF

Simple EHR alerts helped one health system get more guideline-recommended medications to its heart failure patients.

Survival on the rise among high-risk pulmonary embolism patients

The study's authors examined data from more than 1.4 million patients, noting that pulmonary embolism response teams appear to be playing a significant role.

LVAD patients spend nearly 1 in 4 days seeking care — is there a more effective way?

The study's authors noted that LVADs consistently lead to strong outcomes, but improvements are still needed to reduce the burden on patients.

VIDEO: Factors responsible for cardiologist burnout

American College of Cardiology President Edward T. A. Fry, MD, discusses cardiologist burnout and how the pandemic accelerated the issue.

How to improve shared decision-making among vascular surgeons and their patients

Researchers introduced decision support tools to 13 different hospitals, tracking the overall impact on shared-decision making and patient knowledge.

Around the web

Radiology Business

The impact of Trump tariffs on iodine contrast media costs

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Radiology Business

Key takeaways from RSNA 2024 for AI, CT, MRI and the radiology staffing shortage

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Quality

AHA still working to find more patients with severe aortic stenosis who may require care

Veterans with heart disease often receive better care through VA than they would elsewhere

FDA commissioner, a veteran cardiologist, highlights ongoing issues with US healthcare system

FDA commissioner urges health systems to strengthen AI quality oversight

Deep learning reconstruction cuts radiation and contrast dose by half in aortic CTA exams

Around the web