| News for and about nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular imaging professionals |  |
| ASNC2012 |  |  |
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ASNC2012 Special Report:
Embracing nuclear's role in multi-modality imaging |
Nuclear cardiology leaders will gather in Baltimore, Md., in less than a month to explore new research, debate clinical techniques and discuss the latest developments in health care at ASNC2012. In this special report, you'll find essential resources and conference highlights as well as a sampling of the latest developments in cardiology and health care.
Make your plans for your ASNC2012 experience with ASNC's program planner. And if you haven't yet registered, there's still time to do so. You'll find information on accommodations here.
Consider adding value to your trip with ASNC's two ancillary programs, the Nuclear Cardiology Board Exam Preparation Course and Nuclear Cardiology for the Working Technologist: What I Need to Know.
And be sure to check out the Exhibit Hall and can't-miss social events for networking and fun. Join colleagues for a picnic and baseball at Camden Yards on Saturday, Sept. 8, when the Baltimore Orioles take on the New York Yankees. The game starts at 7:05 p.m., but the ASNC event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a casual ballpark dinner with beers and soft drinks in the Bullpen Picnic Area, located just beyond the centerfield fence. Tickets can be added to your ASNC2012 registration. Camden Yards is within walking distance of the Convention Center.
We look forward to seeing you Sept. 6-9 at ASNC2012! |
| Patient-Centered Imaging | | |
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Plenary session: Looking to the future of our field
 Dr. Gary Heller will present the Eleventh Annual Mario Verani Memorial Lecture as part of the plenary session kicking off the conference. Join your colleagues Friday, Sept. 7, when Dr. Heller tackles the topic Nuclear Cardiology in 2012 and Beyond: Can We Meet the Challenges? Preceding Dr. Heller's talk will be remarks from ASNC leadership and a brief discussion on the future of health care reform.     
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For technologists: Spotlight on quality control
Catch the lunch and learn sessions Friday and Saturday focused on PET and SPECT (corporate support for the sessions is provided by Bracco Diagnostics). Discussions will cover quality control for equipment and isotopes under both modalities.
- Tool improves appropriate use of cardiac tests, study says
 A new decision-support tool using American College of Cardiology appropriateness criteria led to an increase in appropriate cardiac imaging tests, including myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, from 49% in the first two months of a pilot study to 61% in the last two months, according to findings presented at a cardiology meeting. The frequency of inappropriate exams also fell from 22% in the first two months to 6% in the last two months, according to the study. The automated tool took the place of radiology benefits managers in the study. AuntMinnie.com (free registration)
(7/23)
| Research and Technology | | |
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Research in focus
ASNC2012 includes a new research session track covering a variety of essential topics. Highlights include poster sessions covering areas such as perfusion imaging and appropriate use, a session covering Cardiac Imaging: What We Need to Learn to Publish in Cardiovascular Imaging: The Editor's Perspective, and a number of featured clinical studies:
- Endothelin Antagonism and Myocardial Perfusion Homogeneity: A Randomized, Crossover, Placebo-controlled, Blinded Trial of Darusentan Using Positron Emission Tomography
- Attenuation of the Side Effect Profile of Regadenoson: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study with Aminophylline in Patients with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Myocardial Perfusion Imaging - The ASSUAGE-CKD Trial
- The Prognostic Value of Cardiac SPECT Performed at Low-Volume Primary Care Physician Office Using Mobile Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory: The First Prospective Cohort Study
- The Fourteen Reflections of Perfusion: a Cross-Comparison Study of Seven Rb-82 PET Models Implemented in Eight Software Tools
- SPECT/CT improves diagnosis of infectious endocarditis
SPECT/CT imaging with hexamethyl propylene amine oxime white blood cells labeled with technetium-99m showed 90% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 94% negative predictive value in detecting difficult cases of infectious endocarditis, according to a study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The Italian study involved 131 patients with suspected infectious endocarditis. The findings suggest the imaging method can serve as an additional tool for the diagnosis of the disease, a researcher said. AuntMinnie.com (free registration)
(8/1)
- SPECT plus revascularization reduces cardiac events
Ischemia-guided revascularization using myocardial perfusion with SPECT imaging resulted in a lower overall rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, such as death, myocardial infarction, stroke or repeat revascularization, in patients with multivessel coronary disease, compared with the use of standard revascularization, according to a South Korean study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. This improvement resulted mainly from reduced repeat revascularization, according to the study, which assessed information on 5,340 patients. TCTMD.com
(7/10)
- To succeed in science, learn to collaborate
The ability to collaborate can help scientists improve their knowledge and skills, access specialized equipment and augment data for publication, science writer Sharon Ann Holgate writes. Scientists should test how well they get along with potential collaborators, get to know the team's dynamics, be clear on ground rules, nurture lasting relationships and resolve disagreements clearly, experts say. ScienceMag.org/Science Careers
(7/20)
| Practice Management | | |
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Plenary session: Nuclear cardiology amid a changing landscape
The plenary session kicking off Sunday, Sept. 9, focuses on some of the biggest headlines in health care today. Challenges in an Era of Cost Containment and Radiation Concerns: How to Keep Nuclear Cardiology Relevant tackles the big issues with perspectives on appropriate testing, radiation dose, the outlook for nuclear cardiology and more, followed by a panel discussion.
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ASNC and MedAxiom: The Business of Nuclear Cardiology
Ahead of the official start of the conference, join colleagues on Thursday, Sept. 6, for an exploration of the business side of clinical work at The Business of Nuclear Cardiology – Things to Know in A Changing Practice Environment. The session, a collaboration with MedAxiom, covers essentials such as the insurer perspective, hospital employment and compensation.
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Announcing the first ASNC/MedAxiom Joint Nuclear Survey: ASNC and MedAxiom are pleased to introduce their first joint survey, completed July 20, which will provide insights into the efficiency and profitability of nuclear cardiology departments. The results are scheduled to be released at ASNC2012 and will be available for purchase at the registration area.
- CMS accepts comments on PET agent review proposal
The CMS is accepting public comment on a proposal to simplify the process for assessing and approving PET imaging agents for reimbursement. The move is in response to a request from five medical imaging groups. The five organizations said there's no need for the CMS to duplicate the FDA regulatory process that PET agents are subjected to. AuntMinnie.com (free registration)
(7/23)
- Experts explain the uptick in physician E&M coding
Although an HHS Office of Inspector General report issued in May questioned the increased use of evaluation and management billing codes for Medicare patients from 2001 to 2010, experts interviewed for this analysis say the trend is likely not driven by fraud. Possible explanations for the change include a sicker patient population than in 2001, more accurate coding rather than undercoding, and increased use of EHRs. Medscape (free registration)
(7/20)
- Solo practices face challenges but can survive, report says
The solo physician practice faces challenges but is still alive, according to a Physicians Foundation report on the future of medical practice. Physicians testifying at a recent congressional hearing said eliminating the Medicare sustainable growth rate payment formula, creating a stable payment process, developing programs to reduce medical school debt, implementing malpractice and market reforms, and allowing providers to negotiate in groups can help save solo practices. Healthcare Finance News
(7/30)
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