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Cardiovascular Quality and Research News

ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

The ACC CV Quality SmartBrief eNewsletter is a free, twice-weekly briefing for health care stakeholders interested in quality care. Learn more about the ACC CV Quality SmartBrief and subscribe.

  • Study: C. diff prevention program's effects uncertain

    In a study, 20 medical centers that employed a CDC Strategies Framework to address Clostridioides difficile infection saw a faster reduction in incidence than control hospitals, but researchers were unable to attribute the difference to the intervention itself. They noted that incidence of the infection was already declining in participating facilities, and the same rate of decline continued during the study. Contagion Live (4/14) Learn More

  • Infection prevention steps stop drug-resistant outbreak

    A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control found that replacing contaminated sinks failed to halt an outbreak of multidrug-resistant bacteria in a pediatric ward in Tokyo. Researchers said implementing infection prevention measures, such as prohibiting mouth-washing with sink water and strict disinfection protocols, was effective at stopping the outbreak. Healio (free registration) (4/15) Learn More

  • Risks of bird flu rise as more animals are affected

    H5N1 avian influenza has now been found in more than 40 mammal species, including dairy cows, and although the outbreak in cows has been mild, outbreaks in marine mammals have been devastating. Opportunities for spillover events and viral adaptation to people increase as more birds and mammals are infected, so testing of farm animals and workers, as well as phylogenetic analyses of the viruses in individual infections, are necessary, writes infectious disease physician Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, who served as a senior policy adviser on the White House COVID-19 response team. MedPage Today (free registration) (4/16) Learn More

  • Quality, care teams top of mind for new ACC leader

    The ACC's new president Cathie Biga says her two main priorities for the role are improving cardiology quality metrics and supporting cardiovascular care teams, with a focus on collaboration. In remarks at ACC.24, Biga discussed how the CV care team includes all clinicians with a hand in patient care -- physicians, nurses, technologists, imaging professionals, pharmacists and others -- and said "passion, purpose and inclusivity" should drive their work. She also spoke about value-based payment models and evolving technology in cardiology. Cardiovascular Business (4/17) Learn More

  • Health care disparities exist across all US states

    A Commonwealth Fund report indicates that major ethnic and racial disparities in health care and health outcomes persist across and within US states, particularly among Blacks, American Indian and Alaska Natives, caused by disproportionate access to high-quality care. Policymakers should work to ensure access to affordable and equitable health care coverage, improve primary care and service delivery, invest in social services, and reduce administrative burdens to promote health equity and reduce health disparities, report authors wrote. The American Journal of Managed Care (4/18) Learn More

  • Health data exchange grows, but challenges persist

    Health information exchange is expanding, with many hospitals participating in electronic data exchange, but challenges persist, especially for small and rural health care organizations. Manifest MedEx in California has launched a free network for admission, discharge and transfer notifications to support care coordination and compliance with the California Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework. TechTarget (4/17) Learn More

  • Telehealth comprised nearly 5% of claims in Jan.

    Data from FAIR Health show that telehealth accounted for 4.8% of medical claim lines in the US in January, with the West having the most telehealth claim lines at 6.3% and the South having lowest at 3.6%. Mental health conditions comprised 66.3% of claim lines, the most-diagnosed condition during that period, followed by acute respiratory diseases and infections and patient examinations. mHealth Intelligence (4/16) Learn More

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