Heart Rhythm 2026: Electrophysiologist Mina Chung discusses CPR, PFA and much more

HRS has launched a task force focused on CPR and AED training, producing new guidance encouraging widespread education in high schools. Chung said this approach could train generations to save lives, and partnerships with digital health companies are enabling app-based, continuous CPR training and skill retention.

HRS builds a next-generation registry for PFA, other emerging technologies

Another major policy direction for HRS has involved strengthening real-world data collection, particularly as new EP technologies rapidly enter clinical practice. Chung highlighted the society’s new registry initiative for pulsed field ablation (PFA), an emerging therapy for atrial fibrillation that has seen explosive growth in just a couple years since the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.

While Chung said PFA offers improved safety compared to traditional thermal ablation techniques, there can be some complications that are just now starting to be seen as large numbers of patients are being treated with the technology. She said the new registry will help identify these complications and potentially lead to improved mitigation strategies.

"We need long-term data and we need to correct side effects. The PFA registry will enable long-term follow-up and also acute follow-ups. And we call it a data-collection platform, but it is really a a super registry," Chung explained.

Traditionally, data entry for registries has been time-consuming and often requires dedicated full-time staff. To streamline this process, HRS is partnering with OM1 and doing a pilot to test technology to help minimize that burden by using artificial intelligence (AI).

Beyond PFA, she noted growing concern about gaps in long-term device surveillance. Current post-market monitoring systems, including those managed by the FDA, often capture limited follow-up data, typically only extending a few years after device approval.

“We’re seeing issues emerge seven to 10 years out, and we’re not systematically tracking that,” Chung said. She hopes to see more transparent, user-friendly registries led by independent professional societies.

Expanding site-of-care flexibility with ASCs

A big policy win over the past year included expanded access to EP ablation procedures in outpatient ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) granted approval for ablations for atrial fibrillation to be performed in these settings. ASCs allow the same procure to be performed as a hospital, but at a fraction of the cost, which meets the goals of Medicare to lower overall healthcare costs.

Chung described the shift as potentially “revolutionary,” enabling lower-acuity patients to receive care in more cost-effective environments.

The move reflects broader healthcare system trends toward the decentralization of care, though Chung emphasized the importance of appropriate patient selection and clinical safeguards to ensure positive outcomes. This includes keeping higher risk and more complex patient cases in the hospital setting.

Strengthening the EP research pipeline

The HRS also launched a new research network designed to address workforce and collaboration challenges in EP research. The initiative aims to connect investigators across basic, translational and clinical domains, while also linking researchers with industry partners.

Chung noted that increasing clinical demands and reimbursement pressures have reduced the time physicians can dedicate to research, creating a need for structured support, mentorship and shared data resources.

The network will include a centralized platform for collaboration, as well as educational programming focused on research leadership and emerging tools such as artificial intelligence.

Ongoing EP advocacy challenges

As her presidency comes to an end, Chung has transitioned into a leadership role with Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), the advocacy arm of HRS.

Despite recent policy progress, Chung pointed to several ongoing challenges, including burdensome prior authorization requirements, reimbursement concerns patient access, and barriers to wider remote monitoring adoption. She said these are key areas for HRA advocacy.

“The system needs work, and we hope to really step into that and see how we can make it for the better,” Chung said.