Category Archives: Cardiology

Cardiology suicide report: 6 things to know – Becker’s ASC Review

While 1 percent of cardiologists have attempted suicide, an additional 8 percent have thought about attempting suicide, according to Medscape's 2023 "Cardiologist Suicide Report," which looked at survey results from over 9,100 practicing physicians across 29 specialties.

Here are five additional things to know from the report:

1. Two percent of female cardiologists have attempted suicide, compared to less than 1 percent of male cardiologists.

2. While 12 percent of female cardiologists have considered suicide, that number drops to 7 percent among male cardiologists.

3. Cardiologists between ages 42 and 56 are the most likely to have suicidal ideations, at 12 percent. An additional 2 percent have attempted suicide.

4. While 40 percent of respondents reported telling a family member about suicidal ideations, 5 percent reported calling a suicide hotline.

5. About 18 percent of cardiologists believe that health systems and medical schools should be responsible for student and physician suicide, and 55 percent believe they should not be.

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Cardiology suicide report: 6 things to know - Becker's ASC Review

5 studies that could make a big impact on interventional cardiology – Cardiovascular Business

1.RENOVATE-COMPLEX PCI found intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) offered better outcomes compared to angiography-guided PCI procedures. With more than 1,600 patients enrolled, the study found the number of coronary incidents that occurred after PCI procedures guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was about 7.7% vs. 12.3% for angiography-guided procedures.

"It really showed a benefit for use of intracoronary imaging," Rao explained. "The use of intracoronary imaging in the U.S. is still lagging behind that of other countries. For coronary trials, it was one of the more important trials to come out of ACC."

He said SCAI has dedicated resources to help operators who want to learn more about intravascular imaging to help boost the U.S. usage rates. He said this trial should help convince more facilities to adopt it.

2. TheTRILUMINATE Pivotal Trial for the Abbott TriClipexamined transcatheter edge to edge repair (TEER) of the tricuspid valve to reduce or eliminate regurgitation. The device was found to be superior to the current standard of care of using medical therapy alone, and clear improvements were seen in patient quality of life. While the results did not show a major difference in mortality and heart failure hospitalizations were only slightly lower in the device group, the big takeaway was that TEER made the patients feel much bette after treatment with the TriClip."These patients have very, very poor outcomes, and we know they are at high risk for heart failure and mortality. The data is complicated and mixed, but anything that improves the quality of life in our patients is valuable," Rao said.

3.Safety and Efficacy of TEER in Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Analysis from the STS/ACC TVT Registry. This review of MitraClip registry data from 19,088 patients treated with TEER confirmed that the device was associated with very good outcomes.. The rate of successful repairs that reduced or eliminated MR was 89%. Successful repairs also resulted in major reductions in mortality, heart failure readmissions and in the need for reinterventions at one year.

"I think this speaks to the fact that people are selecting their patients carefully and the technology continues to mature," Rao said.

4.Five-Year Results of COAPT showed that using TEER to treat heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation continued to show better outcomes across the board, beating the previous standard of care of medications only.

"It showed a percutaneous approach to functional MR is a really durable procedure. At the end of the day, it does appear we now have a good option," Rao said.

5. The FLAMEstudy comparedthe FlowTriever aspiration device for acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) to anticoagualtion medication alone, showing that the device significantly reduced in-hospital adverse events and had more than a 90% reduction in high-risk PE mortality. Rao said these findings help inform treatment decisions, which are increasingly moving toward a more aggressive, interventional, catheter-based removal of clots. Cardiology is also becoming more involved at the increasing number of hospitals creating PE responses teams (PERT).

"We are sorely in need to randomized trials in this space," Rao explained.

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5 studies that could make a big impact on interventional cardiology - Cardiovascular Business

Low, average and high income for the top 20 most recruited specialties – Becker’s ASC Review

According to the "2022 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives" provided by AMN Healthcare's physician recruiting firm Merritt Hawkins, non-invasive cardiology is the highest paying top recruited physician specialty.

The review was created using a representative sample of 2,695 permanent physician and advanced practitioner search engagements that were ongoing or conducted by Merritt Hawkins/AMN Healthcare's staffing companies from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

Low, average and high income for the top 20 most recruited physician and advanced practice specialties:

Nurse practitioner

Low: $68,000

Average: $138,000

High: $266,000

Family medicine

Low: $185,000

Average: $251,000

High: $322,000

Radiology

Low: $200,000

Average: $455,000

High: $650,000

Psychiatry:

Low: $145,000

Average: $299,000

High: $450,000

OB-GYN:

Low: $138,000

Average: $321,000

High: $520,000

Internal medicine:

Low: $180,000

Average: $255,000

High: $375,000

Anesthesiology:

Low: $260,000

Average: $400,000

High: $500,000

Cardiology (non-invasive)

Low: $300,000

Average: $484,000

High: $1,000,000

Cardiology (interventional)

Low: $425,000

Average: $527,000

High: $668,000

Gastroenterology

Low: $216,000

Average: $474,000

High: $600,000

Hematology/oncology

Low: $215,000

Average: $404,000

High: $590,000

Certified registered nurse anesthesiologists

Low: $163,000

Average: $211,000

High: $270,000

Hospitalist

Low: $203,000

Average: $284,000

High: $376,000

Pulmonology/critical care

Low: $212,000

Average: $412,000

High: $650,000

Pediatrics

Low: $200,000

Average: $232,000

High: $412,000

Orthopedic surgery

Low: $400,000

Average: $565,000

High: $790,000

Urology

Low: $400,000

Average: $510,000

High: $600,000

Neurology

Low: $275,000

Average: $356,000

High: $525,000

Dermatology

Low: $250,000

Average: $351,000

High: $450,000

Rheumatology

Low: $200,000

Average: $258,000

High: $325,000

Oral maxillofacial surgery

Low: $300,000

Average: $368,000

High: $450,000

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Low, average and high income for the top 20 most recruited specialties - Becker's ASC Review

How one cardiologist turns to art to be a better doctor – The Philadelphia Tribune

The life of a doctor isn't easy these days. Many are saddled with massive student loan debt, work long hours and continue to deal with the trauma of treating patients during the pandemic.

Doctors, nurses and other front-line health-care workers bore the brunt of the pandemic. Many contracted covid-19, and some even had to intubate their colleagues. Others developed long covid, and some suffered such intense emotional pain that they died by suicide. Doctors who want to seek mental health support are fearful of retribution from state licensing boards.

National Doctors' Day is celebrated every March 30 to recognize the contributions of physicians. The first Doctors' Day was observed by Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a Georgia doctor who sent notes and flowers to physicians. She chose March 30 because it's also the date in 1842 when anesthesia was first used, a remarkable milestone in patient care. The day became an official holiday when Congress passed a proclamation in 1991.

To celebrate National Doctors' Day, I wanted to highlight the contributions of Shirlene Obuobi, a cardiologist, cartoonist and author, who writes regularly for The Post. Recently, I had the chance to chat by email with her while she was on a short break at the hospital. Here's our conversation.

Q: Did you always know you would become a doctor?

A: I decided I wanted to be a doctor at a really young age. It was a fairly practical decision; my mom is a neonatologist, I grew up in health-care environments, and I was a high-achieving kid who wanted to make her West African parents proud. My reasons got more complicated and personal with age. I find that medicine has the potential to be inherently fulfilling both intellectually and emotionally. I like that my job allows me to be a part of peoples' family, so to speak. Cardiology was a bit different - I joke that I went into it kicking and screaming near the end of my first year of residency. It's notoriously intense, but I love the physiology, the scope and the constant movement in the field.

Q: How did you get into writing and art while you were also being a doctor?

A: I've been writing and drawing for as long as I can remember! I've been creating stories and processing my experiences through art since I was a kid, and continuing to do so during my journey through medicine was a given.

Q: What's your favorite aspect of creating comics or writing?

A: The daydreaming! When I have an experience, I often attempt to translate it into art in my head, or find ways to figure out how I could portray the scenario to someone who doesn't have my context.

Q: Do you think having this outlet helps you connect with patients or process the experience of being a doctor?

A: Absolutely. Maintaining empathy in health care and especially as a trainee requires active effort. People are our work, and they are our work when we haven't slept for multiple days, when we've skipped meals, when our family members are getting impatient with us because we're so rarely present. By revisiting my experiences in art, I'm able to process my own feelings and put myself in the shoes of not only my patients but my colleagues. I think it keeps me from becoming a complete nightmare.

Q: What's the stress level like now that the intense part of the pandemic - and the 7 p.m. cheering every night - is over?

A: Ha! Honestly, I don't think the cheering ever really felt like it had much substance in the early days of covid. Most of my colleagues would say they'd prefer something concrete, like better pathways to loan forgiveness. It's very stressful and usually thankless. But there are the occasional days and moments that make it worth it. Keep in mind, I'm a cardiology fellow. I have a sleep debt about five years deep!

Q: What do you want patients to take away from your columns?

A: I have a couple of missions. I want to humanize medicine and the people in it. There's a lot of dissatisfaction with the American health-care system that I think is misplaced upon the people who are the faces of it. But doctors and other health-care workers are people, privy to the same tendencies and biases as everyone else, and they also are subjected to a considerable amount of primary and secondary trauma that has been totally normalized, even though it has clear consequences on our mental health.

I also want to give people insight into how health care works from the point of view of health-care workers, so that they can better advocate for themselves.

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How one cardiologist turns to art to be a better doctor - The Philadelphia Tribune

Why investors are eyeing these 3 specialties – Becker’s ASC Review

Investors are keeping their eye on gastroenterology, cardiology and orthopedics, according to McDermott Health's "2023 Physician Practice Management" report.

According to the McDermott Health report, gastroenterology has high utilization of evaluation and management codes, which increased for 2021. Medicare ASC payments for colonoscopies with lesion removals and colonoscopies and biopsies are expected to increase in 2023, according to VMG Health's "ASCs in 2022: A Year in Review" report. These factors put the specialty in an advantageous spot for growth in 2023.

Cardiology is the fastest growing ASC specialty, according to Avanza's "2022 Key ASC Benchmarks and Industry Figures" report. As more cardiology procedures get approved to be performed in outpatient settings, the specialty could become more popular among ASCs and investors.

One private equity firm in particular has taken notice of cardiology's growth potential. In January, Viper Partners announced its plans to open a mergers and acquisitions department specifically focused on deals in the cardiology space. The firm decided to enter the space because of cardiology's low concentration of private equity, aging population, and changes to Medicare and Medicaid rules.

Orthopedic surgeries bring in more revenue than any other specialty nationwide and offer the highest reimbursements to ASCs, according to VMG Health's "Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study" for 2022. These factors combined with opportunities for value-based care make orthopedics an attractive option for investors.

"I am likely stating the obvious when I say that ASCs with meaningful orthopedic volume stand a much better chance of financial viability and sustainability than those [without]," John Ryan, CEO of OrthoIndy in Indianapolis, told Becker's. "While it is absolutely possible for an ASC to be financially successful without orthopedics, those ASCs with orthopedic procedure volume at or above 25 percent have a far clearer path to navigate the other economic pressures on an ASC's financial health."

Link:

Why investors are eyeing these 3 specialties - Becker's ASC Review

Churchwell named to national list of top Black health care leaders – VUMC Reporter

Andr Churchwell, MD

by KathyWhitney

Andr Churchwell, MD, has been named to Beckers Hospital Reviews 2023 edition of the Black health care leaders to know list.

The list acknowledges that diversity in leadership, particularly at the executive level, lends health care organizations a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of their clients and employees. The leaders featured on this list work tirelessly to advance their organizations and communities.

The list honors Black leaders for their commitment to the health care field; their viewpoints are crucial to the foundation of organizations, programs and partnerships that foster health equity and inclusion.

Churchwell is Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, Institutional Belonging, Community Outreach and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer of Vanderbilt University.

He was the first African American chief medical resident at Atlanta-based Grady Memorial Hospital in 1984 while completing his medical training. A few years later, he was among the team of experts from Emory and Georgia Tech in Atlanta that formed a bioengineering center. He has earned several awards for his achievements in cardiology and health equity and dedicated his career to improving diversity in medical trainees and academic medicine. Churchwell is a professor of Medicine (cardiology), a professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, and a professor of Biomedical Engineering.

Of note, Churchwells brothers and former Vanderbilt University School of Medicine faculty, Keith Churchwell, MD, president of Yale New Haven Hospital and executive vice president of Yale New Haven Health System, and Kevin Churchwell, MD, president and COO of Boston Childrens Hospital, were also named to the Black health care leaders to know list.

The complete list can be found here.

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Churchwell named to national list of top Black health care leaders - VUMC Reporter

Dr Rajesh Rajan: The harbinger of heart health – Free Press Journal

Dr Rajesh Rajan has dedicated much of his medical career towards clinical cardiology and research in heart failure. His undying devotion towards better healthcare is evident from a number of achievements, and recognition that he has received in his field of cardiology.

Born in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India to Koodal Rajan A.V., an advocate, and P.N Vasanthamma, a teacher, Dr Rajan eventually went on to study Medicine from RUDN University in 2003. Following his interest in cardiovascular diseases, he acquired a fellowship in Cardiovascular Surgery from Bakulev Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery in 2005. By the time he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology from Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Dr Rajans life trajectory was set, as he also acquired a Ph. D in cardiology from RUDN University. When he relocated to Kuwait in 2013, Dr Rajan continued his research in heart failure and cardiorenal anemia syndrome.

Dr Rajan has the credit of inventing Rajans Heart Failure Risk Score or (R-HF Risk Score). This is a new prognostic risk predicting calculator efficient for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). While using this tool, physicians will need to enter only four variables to calculate the risk score. The online version of our heart failure risk score calculator will be available at https://www.hfriskcalc.in.

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Dr Rajan, along with his colleague Kotevski, also proposed a new classification for single coronary artery (SCA): Rajan's and Kotevski TYPE-IV (R-IV-C) modified Lipton's classification. It was defined as type-IV quadfurcation of a single coronary artery from the right aortic sinus.

The Government of India officially invited Dr Rajan as the national president of Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC) for a high-power meeting to take decision on cardiac stent prices back in 2018. Dr Rajan advocated for the price reduction strongly, and his requests were implemented during a meeting in Delhi at NPPA headquarters held recently.

Some of Dr Rajans academic achievements include fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians London, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Ireland, European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, and American Heart Association.

Dr Rajesh Rajan is the Founder President and Chairman Board of Governors of the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists, representing the nation's clinical cardiologists to the federal government. He has also been a participant in the Indo-Soviet Cardiology Research Project of KIMS Hospital and RUDN University. His research has been featured in noted national and international medical journals.

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Dr Rajesh Rajan: The harbinger of heart health - Free Press Journal