Number of Applications are now available for smart phone that would allow consumers to check the quality and patient satisfaction results of hospitals, with the touch of a button. Designed to locate hospitals based on geographical proximity (or by zip code), these apps allow the consumers to check and compare hospital performance. The two such apps are Hospital Compare and Hospital Intel.

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Read JCTR to stay up on the cutting edge research in clinical cardiology

Results from the CT-STAT trial presented at AHA Annual meeting 2009. More evidence to switch to CCTA as the diagnostic test of choice to rule out M.I

There are many new markers available to assess the cardiovascular risk in patients. How do you evaluate the use of such markers in general practice? Read the AHA Scientific Statement by Mark Hlatky et al in the journal Circulation.

Now there is a gene expression test to assesses patients at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). It is a blood-based test that measures the activity of 23 genes known to indicate CAD.  A company called CardioDX is marketing the product. Learn more about it on the link below:

www.cardiodx.com/corus-cad/product-overview/

Improving Door to Balloon times for STEMI patients is one of the highest quality improvement priorities for any hospital that performs primary PCIs.  A newly improved technology to transmit EKGs digitally to Emergency Department receiving  stations and the smart phones of the interventional cardiologists could be the game changer. Medtronic recently introduced the new software for their Lifenet systems that can do just that.  Getting the EKGs in the hands of the ED physician and cardiologist before patient arrives at the ED front door typically can shave 20 to 30 minutes off  the total time from arrival to intervetnion. The trick now is to get the EMS companies to outfit their ambulances with the equipment. They may unwilling to do so because of the budget crunches facing City and State governments and private EMS providers  This might be an excellent use of federal stimulus money earmarked for medical information technology upgrades.

2009 Thompson Reuter Top 100 Cardiac Hospitals list is out.
Check out if your hospital made the list.
Go to the link below