An overview of coronary artery anatomy will be reviewed in a live, interactive format that simulates clinical practice.

The introduction of a new treatment strategy often carries with it a hope of broadening options in patient care. Attendees at events such as the upcoming Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference in San Francisco anticipate that they will depart with knowledge of safer, more effective techniques, devices or drugs that they can apply to patient care.

With an annual death toll of about 440,000, preventable hospital errors now rank as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., a Leapfrog Group report stated. The Leapfrog Group is an independent nonprofit group whose mission is to promote patient safety. 

In order to ensure broader public access to clinical trial data, a system should be in place that provides the desired information while protecting patient privacy and the integrity of the data, according to a report published online Oct. 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Gregg W. Stone, MD, co-director of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference, talked about the history of the 25-year-old event and new initiatives in the first part of a Q&A with Cardiovascular Business. In part two, below, he elaborates on upcoming late-breaking clinical trials and other research.

This year’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference is expected to draw approximately 12,000 attendees, said co-director Gregg W. Stone, MD, at a press conference. The figure is on par with 2012’s final attendance.

Although hospitals have financial motivation to lower their readmission rates, many have not taken the recommended steps that could reduce those rates, according to a research letter published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Digisonics, a Best in KLAS provider of cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), has introduced functionality for Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) calculations.  Appropriate Use Criteria are evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the appropriate imaging or treatment decision for a specific clinical condition/indication. Digisonics recognizes that reimbursement audits will be tied to appropriate use scores in the future, so there is considerable benefit for facilities that utilize the Digisonics CVIS to monitor appropriate use scores and produce the required structured reports.