About a third of referring physicians who responded to a survey about implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) provided answers that were out of step with national guidelines in terms of patient selection criteria, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in Heart Rhythm. General cardiologists were more likely than other physicians to answer compatibly with guidelines, but even a portion of the cardiologists responded counter to the expert panels patient selection criteria.

Physicians, researchers and a malpractice attorney provide varied perspectives on the current state of defensive medicine and reform efforts.

Cardiovascular practices that strive to remain independent need to creatively manage budgets and clinical practice to avoid capsizing.

In June 2011, Southcoast Hospitals Group, a three-hospital healthcare system in southeast Massachusetts, formed care centers and service lines.

There are risks and rewards with the use of healthcare IT, several studies and reports suggest. That doesnt mean we should avoid using the technology, but rather we should apply it knowing that few systemsand their human operatorsare infallible.

The 2012 American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session in late March in Chicago will feature a new Practice Performance, Improvement & Administration pathway that will help practice managers navigate those challenges better than ever before.

Technology doesn't hold a monopoly on innovation. Innovation can arise in the form of new processes or even in new ways of thinking.

As more cardiovascular practices integrate with hospitals to save on overhead, data management challenges exacerbate the arduous process. Many have to overcome several hurdles to create an almost seamless system.