As a major clinical trial in cardiology nears completion it has provoked a storm of criticism and controversy. The brouhaha erupted in response to a late change to one of the most important— and already controversial— trials in cardiovascular medicine. The NIH-funded ISCHEMIA trial was designed back in 2011 to provide a definitive answer to…
Cardiology World Erupts Into Controversy Over Change In Major Clinical Trial
March 18, 2018 by 4 Comments
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: Stents In The News
October 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Three big stent stories were in the news today. You’d never know that all 3 were about the same topic. The Ugly The ugly side of stents is emphasized in David Armstrong’s Bloomberg News story on Mehmood Patel, the Louisiana interventional cardiologist serving a 10-year prison sentence for Medicare fraud. These days Patel “leads health-conscious inmates on…
New Trend? Free Tablet Computers For All Registrants At TCT Meeting
June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Cardiologists and others who attend this year’s TCT meeting in San Francisco will receive a free tablet computer. TCT is the highly influential interventional cardiology meeting run by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. This year it will take place in San Francisco from October 27 through November 1. Heavily promoted in emails and on the site’s webpage, TCT is promising that…
Should Radial Artery Access Be The Default Choice For PCI?
February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Over on CardioExchange six cardiologists, from fellows to senior faculty, talk about whether radial artery access should be the “default choice for PCI: Megan Coylewright, MD, MPH (interventional fellow, Mayo Clinic): …radial PCI should be a part of every interventionalist’s toolkit… Micah Eimer, MD (cardiologist, Glenview, IL): The data are pretty convincing on the lower rate of…
Are Cardiologists Worried About Being Accused Of Unnecessary PCI?
January 8, 2013 by 3 Comments
In the last week two cases highlighted, yet again, the continuing shift in standards regarding PCI. In his interventional cardiology blog on CardioExchange, Rick Lange asks cardiologists: Could You Be Accused of Doing Unnecessary PCI? “Public confidence is eroding as the number of reports of physician suspensions and monetary penalties for unnecessary PCIs grow. Accordingly, patients…
DOJ Investigating Interventional Cardiology Services At HCA
August 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The hospital giant HCA has disclosed that the US Attorney’s Office in Miami is investigating the company and has “requested information on reviews assessing the medical necessity of interventional cardiology services provided at any Company facility (other than peer reviews).” Following its own preliminary investigation, the company said it was aware of such reviews in about…
Recent Comments