HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry |
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Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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We are pleased to report that HeartCare Imaging has be selected as a ‘Best Place to Work’ by Modern Healthcare for the fourth consecutive year. As CEO of this amazing company, I am proud of what our team accomplishes daily and am so happy to know that they not only enjoy what they do, but who they do it with. We strive to provide not only excellent benefits, but also an environment that allows for personal fulfillment, creativity, and advancement. With all the difficulties that 2020 has presented, being selected this year is especially gratifying. I should note that since many of our employees work at our partner-client sites, we share this award with our amazing partner clients.
HCI continues to grow with new rural hospital sites opening in Arkansas, Wyoming, and Michigan, and we remain committed to providing world class services for our partner clients throughout the US in rural and university settings. You will see an article in the newsletter regarding the Trump administration’s effort to expand telemedicine on a permanent basis while also enhancing rural healthcare reimbursement. HCI has been a leader in promoting these efforts, and we are pleased that there is movement that will help our rural partners both clinically and financially.
We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter. Please take care.
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Major imaging groups launch campaign urging patients to ‘return to care’ |
Several major U.S. radiology industry players are banding together, urging patients to “return to care” that they’ve put off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Machining the heart: New predictor for helping to beat chronic heart failure |
Researchers have used machine learning to predict which classes of chronic heart failure patients are most likely to experience heart failure death, and which are most likely to develop an arrhythmic death or sudden cardiac death. If confirmed in a larger study, these results will help doctors extend the life of patients worldwide.
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Premature Cardiac Deaths Across U.S. Dropped From 1999 to 2017 |
he rate of premature cardiac deaths (PCDs) decreased across U.S. counties from 1999 to 2017, although widening geographic disparities have been observed, according to a study published online July 29 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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Signs Of Early Heart Failure Revealed In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes |
Adults with type 2 diabetes that have no history, signs or symptoms of heart problems have been shown to have severely limited exercise capacity, according to researchers at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. Such limitations place them at impending risk of developing heart failure, according to the team who led the study.
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Plant-Based Diets May Lower Blood Pressure Even With Limited Meat and Dairy |
University of Warwick Medical School researchers have found that consumption of a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too. They argue that any effort to increase plant-based foods in your diet and limit animal products is likely to benefit your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease.
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Opium consumption after CABG increases risk for mortality, CVD events |
The risk for mortality, ACS and major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events increased throughout 5 years in patients who continued opium consumption after CABG, researchers found.
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Telomere length may predict CV risk in type 2 diabetes |
Telomere length may serve as a useful biomarker to predict risk for prevalent and incident cardiovascular complications among people with diabetes, according to findings published in Diabetes Care.
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AI, imaging help clinicians predict cardiac death in heart failure patients |
Researchers in Japan have used the combination of AI algorithms and medical imaging to predict when patients may be at an increased risk of arrhythmic events or even heart failure death. The findings, published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, could potentially save lives by helping at-risk patients receive the care they need as soon as possible.
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AHA: Yearly cardiorespiratory testing may improve CV health in youth |
Yearly testing for cardiorespiratory function performed in-office may not only be feasible for providers with little experience in exercise physiology, but may also result in improved CV health later in life for young patients, according to the statement.
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AHA: Housing status significant risk factor in development of CVD |
The American Heart Association released a scientific statement detailing the many correlations between homelessness, low-quality housing and neighborhood environment with the prevalence of CVD and its risk factors.
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New risk score predicts number of cardiovascular-related deaths throughout US |
Researchers have developed a new risk score that predicts mortality rates from heart attacks and strokes for every county in the United States, sharing their findings in the Annals of Family Medicine.
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MRI Scans Reveal Further Evidence of Dementia Risk in World Trade Center First Responders |
Research presented July 28 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference by investigators from Stony Brook University shows that responders who show signs of cognitive impairment (CI) have neurological abnormalities that are similar to those seen in patients who have Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
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Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine Might Reduce Alzheimer's Risk, Research Shows |
For years, public health officials have been trying to dispel the myth that people who get a flu shot are more likely to get Alzheimer's disease.They are not. And now there is evidence that vaccines that protect against the flu and pneumonia may actually protect people from Alzheimer's, too.
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FDG levels show link between Alzheimer's, Down syndrome |
PET imaging has revealed reduced FDG uptake in key brain regions associated with early- and late-stage Alzheimer's disease among people with Down syndrome. The findings could indicate the degree of brain atrophy in individuals, as well as one reason why this patient population is susceptible to dementia.
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Weight loss may not help improve athletic performance in younger women |
For young women who want to improve their aerobic fitness, weight loss may not matter, researchers found.
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Positive PSMA PET/CT at Biochemical Recurrence Predicts PCa Progression |
Positive results on PSMA PET/CT scans predict more aggressive disease progression in men with prostate cancer (PCa) who experience biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP), according to investigators presenting at the European Association of Urology 2020 virtual congress.
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Clarity's breast imaging agent enters clinical trial |
Radiopharmaceutical firm Clarity Pharmaceuticals said that its copper-64 SAR-Bombesin (SAR-BBN) agent has been used in the first patient of its Copper-64 Bombesin in Breast Cancer Trial (C-BOBCAT).
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Cancer screenings drop precipitously due to COVID-19 |
The number of screening exams for colorectal and breast cancer performed at 20 U.S. hospitals dropped by nearly 90% in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published online July 27 in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics.
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Plasma Exchange 'Encouraging' as Novel Alzheimer's Treatment |
Plasma exchange (PE) with albumin replacement may be effective for slowing down symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), new research suggests.
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Untreated Shingles May Increase Risk of Dementia |
According to researchers at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, patients who have left their shingles symptoms untreated have an increased risk of dementia.
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Survivors of Adolescent, Young Adult ALL May Suffer Late Effects |
Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may experience late effects, with a high incidence of subsequent endocrine disease and cardiac disease, according to a study published in the August issue of JNCI Cancer Spectrum
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High EHR Inbox Volume is the Leading Cause of Clinician Burnout |
ncreased clinician workload, primarily due to a high volume of patient call messages in the EHR inbox, is the predominant cause of clinician burnout according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA).
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Hospitals partner with industry to co-create digital tools |
More hospitals are opting to co-develop products with technology companies, rather than purchasing them out-of-the-box. While the process can reap significant rewards in the form of more tailored products, it also comes with pitfalls—hospitals need to select the right partner, as well as commit resources, including their own time and money.
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Medical practices with fewer women have bigger wage gaps |
Specialty medical practices that are dominated by men tend to have wider salary gaps between genders compared with practices with more female doctors, according to a study published July 30 in BMJ. The gap is smaller between genders in nonsurgical specialties like radiology.
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Subspecialists must maintain general radiology skill set ahead of future crises, experts say |
Subspecialist radiologists must maintain a jack-of-all-trades skill set to help address future crises, experts argue in a new opinion piece.
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Pandemic-related volume dips may have ‘dire’ consequences for radiology trainees, particularly IR students |
Medical schools have been upended by the pandemic, with a new analysis suggesting that the massive declines in diagnostic and interventional radiology exams may have far-reaching consequences for trainees.
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RELIANCE MEDICAL GROUP CEO: VIRTUAL OFFICE WILL 'EVENTUALLY GENERATE MORE REVENUE' THAN REGULAR CLINIC |
To remedy the patient volume declines and recoup lost revenue, most provider organizations have gravitated toward virtual care services, which have emerged as one of the most mainstream healthcare solutions during the pandemic.
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Trump orders HHS to make telehealth expansion permanent |
CMS swiftly followed President Donald Trump's Monday order to review and continue Medicare's coverage of telehealth services. Shortly afterwards, CMS proposed to permanently allow Medicare providers to use telehealth to carry out home visits for so-called evaluation and management services and some visits for people with cognitive impairments. The agency also wants to temporarily continue telehealth services for emergency department visits and other services to give the industry "time to consider whether these services should be delivered permanently through telehealth outside of the (public health emergency)."
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Here's a peek at the White House's unreleased drug-pricing order |
Partial text of an executive order the White House has refused to make public indicates the White House is using a more aggressive version of a payment demonstration for outpatient drugs to try to pressure drugmakers to the negotiating table.
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Part D premiums likely to increase slightly in 2021: CMS |
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates the average basic premium in Part D will be $30.50 next year, a slight increase from $30 in 2020 but still the second-lowest premium rate ever.
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HHS 340B hospital pay cuts are legal, appeals court rules |
An appeals court panel on Friday ruled that an HHS policy that cut some Medicare outpatient drug payments by 28.5% at 340B hospitals is legal, overturning a lower court decision.
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For over 25 years, HRSI has provided Authorized User (AU) classroom and laboratory training to physicians. HRSI's training is recognized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and fulfills the didactic training required by law. |
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The 106th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, RSNA 2020 will be held in Chicago, Illinois between 29 November - 04 December 2020. |
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September 24-27, 2020
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
We invite you to the 25th Annual Scientific Session of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology to be held in Washington, DC. Join physicians, scientists, technologists, nurses, colleagues in industry and many others from around the world in this educational event and celebration.This year’s program highlights many exciting developments in the field of nuclear cardiology, and is designed to offer value to attendees of all levels of expertise and seniority.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com |
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