HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry
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Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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‘It has been a tough year,’ might be the understatement of the century. As you know, it has been months since our last newsletter, and I would like to emphasize some of the good that has come out of the difficulties facing our nation and our world, and what we have learned at HCI in the process.
1. Up to date information is paramount during times of crisis – HCI worked with Praxis Infectious Disease to provide 3 webinars regarding the COVID-19 crisis during the early stages of the outbreak. I am proud to report that these webinars were free of cost and open to anyone that wanted to attend. Praxis was gracious to provide Dr. Ramzi Asfour and Dr. Dost Sarpel as infectious disease experts who were able to offer explanations, data, and solutions. Similarly, HCI provided information regarding the CARES Act and other government programs for our client partners and employees. These services were simply done to help our friends during uncertain times. Doing the right thing – it’s in our DNA.
2. HCI has been a proponent of telemedicine for years – I’ve previously shared our frustration that a technology so ‘ready for prime time’ was not being used due to political pressure from various groups that were afraid implementation would hurt their bottom line. Due to the inability for patients to see their healthcare providers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was finally allowed to be used (and reimbursed) with overwhelming positive reception and results. Seeing your healthcare provider in person will always be important, but there are applications for telemedicine that will allow for continued use well into the future. These applications will help achieve better outcomes, create efficiency, and bring healthcare costs down.
3. HCI Teamwork – Like many healthcare providers, HCI made the decision to close labs, have employees work from home, and, unfortunately, furlough some of our team. Last week, we held a company wide webinar with all of our employees. I am happy to report that 100% of our employees are back to work, and we are ramping up all our labs with some being back to full schedules. Closing labs, working remotely, and furloughing employees were dark days, but as I discussed with our employees last week, I realized what an incredible team we have. By working together in a spirit of unity and collaboration, we got through this difficult time together and successfully. We have come out of this stronger and more as a family than simply co-workers.
4. Partner–Client Teamwork – When we realized the ramifications of government decisions to ban elective procedures, we reached out to everyone we work with. We provided relief to our partner-clients to minimize the financial pressures of not scanning and continued to be a resource for information on a constant basis. When we received the ‘green light’ to open up, we were prepared with all of the pertinent information to let the providers and public know that it’s safe and necessary to come back to the clinic and/or hospital. (BTW, my personal belief is that prohibiting many of the tests we routinely performed will result in more advanced disease.)
5. Communication and Defense vs. Offense –We were aggressive with our communications and creativity. We made the decision not to circle the wagons in a ‘wait to see’ paralysis. Our management team was in constant contact with our employees, partner-clients, and prospects. Due to this strategy, we are ensuring that those we work with are opening their labs at a safe and faster pace than their competitors, and we are in the process of adding 3 – 4 more clients.
We are not through this pandemic yet and it will be with us for quite a while. In navigating these treacherous waters, we have learned that having a ‘can do’ attitude, working as a team, and continuing to believe in the work we do and the people we work with will result in positive achievements. We hope you are all safe, well, and moving forward. We are here for anything you need, and please feel free to reach out if we can be of assistance.
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Tough Childhoods Are Tough on Adult Hearts: Study
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Researchers found that those who experienced the most trauma, abuse, neglect and family dysfunction in childhood were 50% more likely to have had a heart attack, stroke or other heart problem in their 50s and 60s.
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Drink Up! Coffee Won't Harm Your Heart, Study Finds
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We were unable to find any evidence that those who drank coffee had a higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms. That's especially relevant because a common reason that health care providers recommend avoiding coffee is precisely to avoid abnormal heart rhythms
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Gap in Rural, Urban CVD Deaths Grew From 1999 to 2017
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The gap between rural and urban areas grew for cardiovascular disease age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) between 1999 and 2017, according to a research letter published in the May 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Hypertension during pregnancy increases risk for future CVD
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Expressing the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or HDP, per pregnancy underestimates the number of women affected by HDP compared with expressing HDP per woman, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Soda sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup may reduce renal blood flow, increase CKD risk
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Study participants who consumed soda sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup experienced increased vascular resistance in the kidneys compared with participants who consumed water, according to research published in the American Journal of Renal Physiology.
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United Healthcare will now reimburse for coronary CT angiography as ‘first line’ test
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The nation’s largest commercial health insurer has updated its payment policies and recently began reimbursing for coronary CT angiography as a “first line” test to assess stable chest pain.
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Statin, Aspirin Uptake Low With Peripheral Artery Disease, Stroke
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Uptake of guideline-directed preventive therapies is lower for patients with stroke and peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared with those with coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Quality of Care & Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions, held virtually from May 15 to 16.
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Cardiac Decompensation Seen in Children Following COVID-19
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Children may experience acute cardiac decompensation due to a severe inflammatory state (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published online May 17 in Circulation.
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Eating Prior to Cardiac Cath Noninferior to Fasting in CHOW NOW Study
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Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization are traditionally instructed to follow nothing by mouth, or nil per os (NPO), as there are no current standardized fasting protocols. The single center, randomized study was presented as late-breaking science during the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2020 Virtual Conference aimed to compare safety and clinical outcomes of a non-fasting (NF) strategy as compared to current standard fasting (SF) protocol.
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Fruit-, Veggie-Rich Diet May Soon Lower Markers for Cardiac Injury
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For middle-aged adults without preexisting cardiovascular disease, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables over eight weeks is associated with lower levels of markers for subclinical cardiac damage and strain, according to a study published online May 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Home health care after acute MI reduces readmission risk
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Patients who received home health care after hospital discharge for acute MI had lower risk for readmission at 30 days compared with those who did not receive it, according to data presented at the virtual American Heart Association Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions.
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The Best Way to Do Intermittent Fasting
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The best approach to intermittent fasting for patients' heart health may be a combination strategy, according to
Andrew M. Freeman, MD
, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.
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Mass General expert: Virtual care capability needs to be scaled like the National Guard
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The Covid-19 crisis has catapulted telemedicine and virtual care to the fore. The urgency of this all-consuming public health emergency has led doubters — both on the consumer and provider side — to shed old assumptions, and almost overnight, adopt tools to receive and deliver care remotely.
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Elevated calcium in mitochondria linked to cell death in Alzheimer's
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There are many unknowns when it comes to the complex mechanisms underpinning Alzheimer's disease, but research is continuing to shine a light on some of the key suspects. A new mouse study from Massachusetts General Hospital has for the first time established a connection between elevated levels of calcium in mitochondria and neuron death associated with the disease, offering a potential new target for efforts to slow its progression.
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New PET technique visualizes early Alzheimer's disease
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A new PET technique can visualize early Alzheimer's disease by imaging the synaptic density of the brain as indicated by the presence of a particular protein, according to a study by researchers from Yale University that was published May 13 in the Alzheimer's & Dementia Journal.
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Readily available radiotracer offers new option in prostate cancer imaging
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The novel radiotracer—18F-PSMA-1007—was proven to be just as accurate as the commonly used material—68Ga-PSMA—for characterizing intermediate- or high-risk forms of the disease. It’s another dependable tool clinicians can use to determine cancer severity and potentially bolster staging for patients across the globe, researchers wrote in the April issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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Screening reduces risk of breast cancer death by 41%
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Mammography screening reduces the risk of dying of breast cancer by 41% within 10 years of diagnosis, according to a study published May 11 in Cancer. The study attributes most of the mortality reduction to the impact of screening rather than advances in breast cancer therapy.
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Dementia Link to Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Clarified
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Millions of people around the world use proton pump inhibitors for conditions like heartburn, gastritis, and stomach ulcers. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report on how the long-term use of these drugs could increase the risk of developing dementia. Their study “Proton pump inhibitors act with unprecedented potencies as inhibitors of the acetylcholine biosynthesizing enzyme–A plausible missing link for their association with incidence of dementia” appears in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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BMI, Weight Change Linked to Prostate Ca Outcomes
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Obesity and weight gain after prostate cancer diagnosis significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality and possibly prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM), as well, a large retrospective review suggested.
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Hospital Volumes Slashed by More Than Half During Pandemic
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As US hospitals begin to reopen for elective procedures, a new report outlines the damage that the COVID-19 pandemic has done to the facilities' patient volumes and revenues.
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5 things you don't want to overlook in the IPPS rule
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While hospitals have focused on the proposed price transparency requirements of CMS' much-anticipated payment rule for Medicare inpatient hospital services, several other provisions in the rule could affect hospital operations.
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Deferred procedures drain hospital revenue by $60B a month
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Nearly 55% fewer Americans sought hospital care over the past two months, resulting in a $60.1 billion average monthly revenue loss across all U.S. hospitals, according to a new Strata Decision Technology analysis of more than 2 million visits from 228 hospitals. Those losses represent about a fifth of the healthcare industry's monthly output.
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Hospitals Struggle to Restart Lucrative Elective Care After Coronavirus Shutdowns
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The nation’s medical centers were forced to stop offering many surgeries, and sustained severe financial losses. Reopening is a daunting task amid the threat of more infection.
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HEALTHCARE SECTOR HEMORRHAGES 1.4M JOBS IN APRIL
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Hospitals reported 134,000 job cuts, but physicians and dentists offices and other outpatient care venues shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic bore the brunt of the losses.
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Politics that Affect Medicine
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Provider liability protections could get caught in partisan fight
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Republicans and Democrats are divided over whether liability protections for businesses should be included in the next round of COVID-19 stimulus legislation, and legal immunity for healthcare providers could get caught in the middle.
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House Democrats propose $100 billion for providers with new strings attached
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nlike prior COVID-19 relief bills, House Democrats did not pre-negotiate terms with the GOP-Senate or the White House, so it is unlikely that the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act will be signed in its current form. However, it's a window into Democrats' priorities for future COVID-19 relief.
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CMS wants to boost inpatient hospital payments by 1.6%
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CMS wants to increase Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services by 1.6%—or about $2 billion—in 2021.
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Imaging societies push for passage, changes to bill that would grant radiologists hazard pay
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Several major imaging societies are pushing for the passage of proposed legislation that would grant radiologists and other front-line healthcare workers “hazard pay” during this and future public-health emergencies.
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FDA requires devicemakers to report supply issues during pandemic
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A section of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, requires manufacturers to tell the FDA of any interruptions in the supply chain of medical devices that are likely to affect U.S. hospitals' ability to treat COVID-19 patients.
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CMS finalizes changes to ACA plans for 2021, pushes back deadlines due to COVID-19
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The Trump administration finalized a slew of regulatory changes for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA's) exchanges, including a key change that insurers do not have to count copay assistance from drug companies toward out-of-pocket cost-sharing and deductibles.
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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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