The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have set-up a new 'cluster' on pharmacovigilance (medicine safety) topics. Clusters are regular collaborative meetings between the EMA and regulators outside of the European Union, which focus on specific topic areas that have been identified as requiring an intensified exchange of information and collaboration. Building on the experience of previous regular videoconferences between the FDA and the EMA in this area and on the recent creation of the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, this cluster will provide a forum for a more systematic and focused exchange of information on the safety of medicines.

Partners HealthCare At Home has selected Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) to support its growing telemonitoring services, providing improved clinical oversight for newly discharged patients and those with chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure. With this enhanced care, Partners HealthCare At Home nursing staff can remotely monitor a patient's health by tracking vital signs and intervening earlier with medical attention, successfully reducing the rate of costly hospital readmissions.

Advocate Sherman Hospital has been selected as one of only 10 hospitals in the country to participate in the American College of Cardiology Patient Navigator Program. Developed by the American College of Cardiology and supported by founding sponsor, AstraZeneca, the Patient Navigator program allows Sherman to provide personalized services to heart disease patients and help them avoid a quick return to the hospital.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that hackers conducted “very thorough” attacks in 2013 on computer systems at three prominent cardiovascular device manufacturers: Medtronic, Boston Scientific and St. Jude Medical.  An executive at Boston Scientific called the report inaccurate.

To better address the needs of physicians who treat patients with valvular heart disease, Esaote North America is establishing a new sales force to bring industry-leading 3mensio Structural HeartTM software directly to leading Cardiologists and Radiologists for state-of-the art cardiovascular planning solutions.

Merge Healthcare Incorporated (Nasdaq:MRGE), a leading provider of clinical systems and innovations that seek to transform healthcare, today announced that Merge Cardio(TM) has been named Best in KLAS for the cardiology software category within the "2013 Best in KLAS: Software & Services" report. In addition, Merge Hemo(TM) has been named the Category Leader in Cardiology Hemodynamics for the third successive year.

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) announced today that the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) will join forces with the Measure Up/Pressure Down(TM) national hypertension campaign as a partner organization. Together, PCNA and Measure Up/Pressure Down(TM) will collaborate on educational materials and resources for patients and providers alike, support increased involvement of provider groups, and highlight the critical role nurses play in blood pressure management and control.

Dr. Laxmi Mehta, clinical director of the women’s cardiovascular health program and associate director of education at the Center for Women’s Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been elected to serve on the Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) as the first female ACC Governor for Ohio. Mehta's term will run March 2015-2018. She will concurrently serve as the president of the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. She will serve as Governor-Elect beginning March 2014.