Volume XII | Issue 7 | October 2020
THE HCI SPOTLIGHT
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry
 Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc. 
A Message from the CEO
Dear Colleague –

Recently, HCI opened a new site with a fantastic partner, Star Valley Health, in Western Wyoming. I’ve had the opportunity to travel throughout the world and I can attest that the landscape of Western Wyoming is as stunning as I’ve ever seen, and the people are wonderful. So, when I had the chance to do some trail riding after work there one evening, I jumped at the opportunity. We were able to take our vehicles from the base of the mountain at 6,000 feet to a summit with an incredible view of Star Valley at 8,000 feet. The valley’s golden harvest of hops was surrounded by mountain peaks of up to 11,000 feet, it was incredible…and the only way to see it was the way we got there. It was a great ride but, in my opinion ‘trail’ might not be a good description of the route we were taking. Keep in mind that I’m a flat lander from Florida, so to me it was more like a rock and boulder strewn rain wash out that had large tree roots thrown in. However, my confidence was growing the longer I was on the ride and, in fact, on the way down I remember thinking this is not only fun, but not that hard. It was shortly after that thought that I met ‘the tree’. Some mysterious force took control and this ‘force from hell’ took me off the path and toward a large unforgiving tree! My ‘All Terrain Vehicle’ showed its meddle and climbed ‘the tree’ with ease…until physics and gravity took over. It was at that point that I realized that maybe it was not as fun and certainly not as easy as I thought…and while the ATV is an a versatile machine, it will not fly…at least very far. Physics and gravity won the battle against our attempt at flight with the result of flipping the ATV on top of my leg. My fellow riders were able to free me and after a few minutes I was sure I was fine…and then after a few more minutes I was sure I wasn’t. Fortunately, I knew of a first-class medical center where I then received great care for my road rash and crushed foot and ankle. When I finally got home to Florida I was pretty banged up and not able to get around without some help. People kept asking, would you do it again? The answer is ‘Absolutely!’ I was able to do something and see things that very few people ever get to see. With life there is risk and while we should always take that into consideration, we need to live life. Not a bad message for our times. I think Abraham Lincoln had it right when he said, ‘And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

BTW, one of my fellow trail riders suggested I replace ‘the tree’ with ‘the bear’ to make the story more compelling…but the bear would be no match for that fine piece of machinery!

We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter.

Sincerely,
Cardiology
The 80 best hospitals for cardiology

Healthgrades released its Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards and Best Hospitals for Specialty Care report Oct. 20, recognizing several facilities for top-line care.

Reproductive profiles in women may indicate future CVD risk

Several reproductive factors, including preeclampsia, preterm birth and early menopause, may increase risk for CVD in women, researchers found.
A closer look at COVID-19 and heart complications among athletes

Jules Heningburg was sprinting up hills and playing pick-up basketball about a month after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Is it a heart attack or heartburn? This program will let rural patients know before they step foot in the hospital.

A new telehealth program in the western North Carolina mountains will connect emergency medicine doctors with first responders to help rural patients with chest pain get the best care.
Excellence in cardiology: The top U.S. hospitals in cardiac care, cardiac surgery and coronary intervention

Healthgrades has announced its annual list of the top hospitals in the United States, providing data on a range of service lines. Among these are cardiac care, cardiac surgery and coronary intervention.
New atlas of the human heart could guide personalized medicine in cardiology

It takes a vast network of at least 500,000 cells in six regions of the heart to keep the human body up and running. Now, there’s a new atlas of those cells, which cardiology researchers will be able to use to build their understanding of how a healthy heart operates—and what goes wrong when heart disease develops.
Southern China Team Wins “FIT Jeopardy!” Competition at Great Wall 2020

The team from Ji'Nan University in Southern China took home the win in ACC's "FIT Jeopardy!" competition at the annual the Great Wall International Cardiology Conference (GWICC).
MitraClip an effective bridge strategy for advanced heart failure patients waiting for a heart transplant

MitraClip is a safe and effective bridge strategy for patients with significant mitral regurgitation and advanced heart failure (HF) as they wait for a heart transplant, according to new findings presented Friday, Oct. 16, at TCT Connect 2020. Some patients may even improve enough that the heart transplant is no longer necessary.
Health
FDA OKs Remdesivir, First Drug for COVID-19

The FDA approved remdesivir (Veklury) on Thursday for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a first for the disease that started a global pandemic.

9 helpful tips for maintaining a healthy blood pressure

World Hypertension Day is Oct. 17, and the American Heart Association (AHA) is celebrating by emphasizing the importance of blood pressure management. Nearly half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure, the group noted in a statement—and 75% of those patients aren’t working to keep it under control.
OxyContin Maker to Take Plea on Federal Criminal Charges

With less than 2 weeks until Election Day, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an $8-billion plea deal with Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family over their roles in the country's opioid abuse crisis.

What are the risks and side effects of JUUL e-cigarettes?

A JUUL is a type of e-cigarette or vape pen that has risen to popularity mainly due to its discrete look and high potency. Juuling may cause several side effects, including coughing, a sore throat, and headaches. Longer term use has associated health concerns as well.
U.S. Has One-Day Record of Almost 84,000 New Cases

On Friday, more than 83,757 new coronavirus cases were reported, setting a one-day record and breaking the old record, set in mid-July, by 6,000 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Cottonelle Wipes Recalled Over Bacteria Concerns

Check your bathroom cabinet: Some packages of Cottonelle flushable wipes are being recalled because they may be contaminated with bacteria.
ACE inhibitor use prior to hospitalization boosts survival for COVID-19 patients

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were already taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a reduced risk of mortality, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Marijuana Use Linked to Lower Hospital Mortality in COPD Patients

Patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who reported using marijuana had less risk of in-hospital mortality and pneumonia than non-users, according to a nationwide population-based study.
Business
America Walks Community Change Grants

This program provides grants for projects related to creating healthy, active, and engaged communities that support walking as transportation, health, and recreation. 
Moderna Might Seek Government OK for Vaccine in December

Pharmaceutical company Moderna has enrolled all 30,000 volunteers in its coronavirus vaccine clinical trial and might seek emergency use authorization for the vaccine as early as December if the trials prove it’s safe.
The world needs more kindness. Here's how to develop your practice

In a global pandemic, who has time to be kind? But kindness expert Houston Kraft suggests you think about it within this worldwide crisis. Kindness may be wearing a mask to keep others from getting sick, checking in on a friend starting a new project or sitting to listen to a family member who just received a life-changing diagnosis.

Policy
CMS Approves Telehealth Cardiac Rehab During COVID-19 Pandemic

Responding to a key recommendation made by the ACC and other stakeholders, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) used emergency rulemaking authority to add cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) and intensive cardiac rehab services to the list of approved telehealth services outside the annual rulemaking process. 

Medicaid Telehealth Policies in Response to COVID-19
Fauci Says Nationwide Face Mask Rule May Be Needed

Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, MD, changed course on Friday, saying it may be time to impose a nationwide face mask rule.
ACC 2020 Legislative Conference: A Virtual Opportunity to Engage, Advocate and Influence

"Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death and the leading driver of health care costs. We own the problem. We must own the solution." These three sentences clearly articulate ACC's Advocacy mission and were the cornerstone of ACC's first-ever virtual Legislative Conference that took place from Oct. 4 to 6.
Education/Conferences
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.
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.
HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com