Volume XVI | Issue 7 | July 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
My career has required that I travel for business quite a bit. In fact, I’m on two airlines ‘Million Mile’ status and probably have at least that many on other airlines. While I’m not a fan of air travel, it is necessary in order to be effective in meeting with colleagues and clients. A couple of weeks ago I had the unfortunate experience of flying on the Friday of the Microsoft/CrowdStrike debacle. Interestingly the airline passengers seemed to be taking it all in stride…lining up in queues as long as Concourse A in Atlanta’s airport…just waiting for their turn. As I was trying to navigate the horrible travel delays it occurred to me that it never used to be like this. Sure, there were delayed flights, but until recently I can’t remember any full-scale shutdowns of airlines, or in this case, the entire worldwide air system. Now, it seems like they happen at least once a year. We can discuss the various theories of what technical reasons have caused this phenomenon, but I think it’s more important to look at the root cause which I believe is that we’re becoming used to mediocrity vs. expecting excellence. Whether it’s airline flights or options at your store, we’re being expected to expect less. This reminds me of "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, where the decline of excellence and the rise of mediocrity lead to societal collapse. We must resist this trend and strive for excellence in all we do.
I can tell you that this attitude will not ‘fly’ at HeartCare. We will never forget that we need to be excellent because we’re providing people’s healthcare. There is no room for mediocrity in the delivery of a service that is so important. That said, I believe every industry should have the same attitude to the product they deliver. There shouldn’t be room for mediocrity not only in the product delivered, but most importantly by the people involved in delivering the product. At HeartCare, excellence starts with our people and our culture, you can count on us!
Best Regards,
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New CMS plan adds Medicare coverage of PET imaging agents
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a new reimbursement plan July 10 for diagnostic PET scans that would provide separate payments for radiopharmaceuticals, as well as an extra payment for hospitals when they use domestically produced technetium-99m (Tc-99m).
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The Resurgence of Interest in 99mTc-Pyrophosphate Scans for Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Trend to Watch
Over the past year or two, you might have noticed an uptick in the use of 99mTc-pyrophosphate (PYP) [LA1] scans to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis. This trend prompts several questions: Why the renewed interest in a condition once considered rare? What is driving the increase in scan orders? And most intriguingly, will this upswing continue? Let’s dive into these queries to uncover the answers.
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Department of Energy awards SHINE $32M in effort to boost domestic isotope supply
SHINE Technologies has been given an additional $32 million in funding to continue its efforts to boost medical isotope production in the United States.
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COVID remnants still show up on PET scans years after infection
For some people, evidence of immune responses from contracting COVID-19 can be seen in multiple organs years after recovering from the virus.
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Nearly half of U.S. counties don't have a single cardiologist
Around 22 million people live in counties that are "cardiology deserts" and need to travel nearly 90 miles round trip to seek specialty heart care.
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Mediterranean diet may protect the hearts of cancer survivors
Following a Mediterranean diet can help cancer survivors significantly lower their long-term risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.
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Which Anticoagulant Is Safest for Afib Patients With Cirrhosis?
Apixaban (Eliquis) was associated with lower serious bleeding rates than rivaroxaban (Xarelto) or warfarin in patients with cirrhosis and atrial fibrillation (AF, Afib) in a nationwide cohort study.
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2024-2025 Best Hospitals for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery
These 10 hospitals outperformed all others in the 2024-2025 U.S. News Best Hospitals for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery rankings.
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30-year risk of cardiovascular disease may help inform blood pressure treatment decisions
According to a new study, both 30-year risk for cardiovascular disease in addition to 10-year risk may be considered in making decisions about when to initiate high blood pressure medication.
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Delaying diabetes with diet and exercise for four years results in better long-term health
Individuals diagnosed with prediabetes can reduce their long-term risk of death and diabetes-related health complications if they delay the onset of diabetes for just four years through diet and exercise, according to new findings.
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Combining popular diabetes drugs offers complementary heart and kidney benefits
New research shows combined use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) is likely to offer additional protection against heart and kidney disease in patients with diabetes.
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Off-the-shelf wearable trackers provide clinically-useful information for patients with heart disease
Monitoring of heart rate and physical activity using consumer wearable devices was found to have clinical value for comparing the response to two treatments for atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
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How the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule could impact nuclear cardiology
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) has shared new comments on some of the nuclear imaging-specific information contained in the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) proposed rules that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published this month.
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Surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest linked to greater anxiety, depression among women
Women had significantly greater medication use for anxiety/depression 5 years after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Changes in socioeconomic factors were not significantly different from the general population.
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GLP-1s Are Growing In Popularity For Weight Loss But Losing Steam Among People With Diabetes, Study Suggests
The use of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide for weight loss has increased twofold over the past decade, but declined in use among type 2 diabetics, according to a new study, and the researchers warn the resulting and ongoing drug shortage may limit diabetics’ access to the drugs.
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Dengue fever is — unfortunately — having a banner year. Can it be quelled?
In the Americas alone, almost 10.4 million suspected cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, were reported to the World Health Organization in 2024 as of the first week of July, an increase of 232% compared with the same period the year before.
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The CDC issues a warning after at least 2 deaths in a listeria outbreak linked to deli meat
At least two people have died and dozens more have been hospitalized in connection with a listeria outbreak linked to meat sold at U.S. deli counters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
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People Want More Protein. Even at Dessert.
People are flocking to ice cream, cakes and cookies with extra protein mixed in. They don’t always need the boost.
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Covid Cases Are Rising Again, but Your Chances of Long-Term Complications Are Lower
A summer Covid wave is hitting the country, but there’s one consolation: Your chances of developing long Covid have fallen since the start of the pandemic.
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Genetic diagnostics of ultra-rare diseases
The majority of rare diseases have a genetic cause. The underlying genetic alteration can be found more and more easily, for example by means of exome sequencing (ES), leading to a molecular genetic diagnosis. ES is an examination of all sections of our genetic material (DNA) that code for proteins.
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Social media is fueling a tween skin care craze. Some dermatologists are wary
Dermatologist Elizabeth Houshmand sees a lot of tweens and teens in her Dallas practice. A few months ago, a mother brought her 9-year-old daughter in with a significantly red, itching face. It turns out the daughter had been using a moisturizer that she'd seen promoted on social media.
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Sonio rolls out AI-based fetal ultrasound training solution
A new artificial intelligence-based tool could help train providers in identifying and diagnosing a wide array of fetal conditions.
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Psychotherapy Via Texts Can Be Just as Effective
Folks with depression who got therapy via text or voice messages fared just as well as those who got weekly video-based telemedicine sessions with a therapist, a new trial has found.
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What the 9 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. so far tell us about the disease
The illnesses, all in farm workers, have been relatively mild — a contrast to the flu’s deadly effect on many birds and some mammals
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Health Care Industry News | |
As a baby bust hits rural areas, hospital labor and delivery wards are closing down
Hospital leaders who close obstetrics units often cite declining birth numbers, along with staffing challenges and financial losses. The closures can be a particular challenge for pregnant women who lack the reliable transportation and flexible schedules needed to travel long distances for prenatal care and birthing services.
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Surgeries and doctor's appointments canceled amid global IT outage
There is no indication of criminal activity related to the current glitch, but hospital systems are no strangers to massive computer outages.
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Healthcare costs could grow up to 8% next year: PwC
The growth is driven by inflationary pressures, prescription drug spending and rising utilization of behavioral healthcare, according to the consultancy.
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Pharmacy group, providers sue Change Healthcare after cyberattack
The National Community Pharmacists Association and dozens of providers argue UnitedHealth-owned Change didn’t have adequate cybersecurity protections and caused them financial losses.
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20 medical schools with most graduates practicing in rural, shortage areas
U.S. News & World Report published its annual list of best medical schools July 23, which includes rankings of schools with the most graduates practicing in rural areas and health professional shortage areas.
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Healthcare is an ‘easy victim’ for ransomware attacks. How hospitals can mitigate the damage.
Limited resources in a highly connected ecosystem can make hospitals vulnerable, but planning ahead and implementing key protections could help thwart attack.
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A scientist took a psychedelic drug — and watched his own brain 'fall apart'
In the name of science, Dr. Nico Dosenbach had scanned his own brain dozens of times. But this was the first time he'd taken a mind-bending substance before sliding into the MRI tunnel.
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Daily Naps and Brain Training Reduce Dementia Risk
Exercising our brains with daily habits like naps and memory workouts, instead of relying on smartphones, can reduce the risk of age-related dementia. A new study highlights the superiority of human intelligence over AI.
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Infection Brain Inflammation Triggers Muscle Weakness
A new study reveals how brain inflammation from infections and neurodegenerative diseases causes muscle weakness by releasing the IL-6 protein. Researchers found that IL-6 travels from the brain to muscles, reducing their energy production and function.
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Brain Structure Differences Explain Faster Learning of Motor Skills
A new study reveals that quick learners of motor skills have distinct brain activity patterns. Using brain-monitoring electrodes, they found that visual processing plays a crucial role in learning new movements.
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Early Inflammation Linked to Midlife Cognitive Decline
A new study finds that higher inflammation in young adulthood is associated with reduced cognitive function in midlife. Researchers discovered that inflammation due to factors like obesity and smoking can impact memory and processing speed.
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Senators introduce bipartisan healthcare cybersecurity legislation
The bill would create a special liaison within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to help coordinate the government’s response during cyber incidents.
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Federal Trade Commission to sue three largest PBMs
Equalizing Medicare payment between sites of service to cut down on provider consolidation is a “no brainer,” one witness testified during the hearing.
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FTC noncompete ban partially blocked by Texas judge
The ban has wide-ranging consequences for healthcare, an industry that frequently utilizes noncompetes.
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FDA’s lab developed test rule could be first check on agency’s power post-Chevron
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine would make it easier to challenge agency regulations, such as the LDT final rule.
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CMS’ first No Surprises audit targets Aetna, finds some noncompliance
The audit of CVS’ health insurer found it was both overestimating and underestimating its qualifying payment amounts for certain air ambulance services.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
