Better blood pressure control may be as simple as an automated telephone call.

Symphony Health Solutions, a provider of high-value data, analytics and technology solutions for life science manufacturers, payers and providers, and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), a professional organization dedicated to improving cardiovascular health, today announced they have entered into a business relationship to develop new insights from an integrated healthcare database, which will include assets from the ACC’s rich National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) and Symphony Health’s Integrated DataverseTM.

The cardiology profession, like healthcare, is in a state of flux. With large numbers of physicians at or near retirement age, there could be an exodus of talent. Today's newly trained specialists are finding that their career path bears little resemblance to that of their elders.

Who should prepare the next generation of cardiologists to succeed in the increasingly complex milieu of medicine? Physicians, medical schools or the societies designed to meet their professional needs? Perhaps all.

The evolving fiscal needs of the U.S. healthcare system have made reducing the number of 30-day readmissions for certain conditions a priority, but despite the laser focus on the issue, discharge planning is still inadequate, researchers reported in a JAMA Internal Medicine study published online Aug. 19.

Cardiology held onto its spot as one of most sought after specialties in an analysis of physician recruitment requests while once-hot radiology dropped from the top 20 list. Income data suggest not all is rosy for cardiologists, though.

The American Heart Association (AHA) unveiled its lineup of 2013 late-breaking clinical trials to be presented Nov. 17-19 at its scientific sessions in Dallas. The program also will include 19 special reports.

Nurses caring for acutely or critically ill cardiovascular patients can take heart: The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers online educational support for cardiac nurses interested in deepening their expertise and acquiring subspecialty certification.