In keeping with tradition, the June JASE (online) spotlights the ASE 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions Scientific Research Abstracts. A clinical investigation, “Association between Transesophageal Echocardiography and Clinical Outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery,” by Emily J. MacKay, DO, MS et al, is complemented by an editorial comment, “Assessing the Value of Echocardiography in the Absence of Randomized Trials: How Analytic Techniques from Causal Inference Can Fill the Gap,” by Jason H. Wasfy, MD, MPhil, and Falco J. Bargagli-Stoffi, MSc, PhD. Dr. MacKay, a cardiac anesthesiologist and echocardiographer, said that the goal was to approximate the design of a cluster-randomized trial within the framework of an observational study. “Across all analyses, which controlled for both observed differences (by matching) and unobserved differences (by instrumental variable analysis), TEE was associated with improved clinical outcomes after CABG surgery. As data becomes more readily available to researchers, the appropriate and rigorous application of causal inference statistical techniques to observational datasets is a very real opportunity to fill evidence gaps to help clinicians make informed treatment decisions and improve outcomes.”

Other clinical investigations in this issue examine atrial fibrillation and functional tricuspid regurgitation, echocardiography and percutaneous mitral valve interventions, carotid artery ultrasound, echocardiography in COVID-19, and pediatric echocardiography. An article on echocardiographic imaging strategies for the BASILICA procedure, a brief research communication on the midsystolic notching on RVOT flow velocity with an accompanying editorial comment, and several letters to the editor round out the issue.

ASE President Judy Hung, MD, FASE, writes about her ASE term, Keith Collins, MS, RDCS, FASE, the sonographer co-chair of the ASE 2021 Scientific Sessions, gives a glimpse of its revolutionary programming, Gregory Tatum, MD, FASE, writes poignantly of the collaborative efforts of the Council on Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease and the ASE Foundation, and the education calendar outlines a multitude of learning options near and far.

On May 27, 2021, ASE approved the following policy statement on the adult cardiac sonographer performing screening echocardiograms in the newborn:

ASE is committed to supporting sonographers provide the best care for patients of all ages, newborns through adults. The ASE recognizes that sonographers without specialized pediatric training will be asked to perform transthoracic echocardiograms in newborn infants at institutions without onsite pediatric sonographers and pediatric cardiologists. The primary indication for these neonatal echocardiograms will be to assess for the presence of critical congenital heart disease that may require emergency medical intervention and transfer to a tertiary pediatric cardiac center for further infant care. Realizing the stress and challenges this scenario imposes upon sonographers, the ASE advocates for the universal adoption of the following:

1. Availability of additional sonographer training (online or in-person) for sonographers tasked with performing these scans;
2. Development of immediately accessible online educational tools;
3. Availability of appropriate ultrasound equipment for imaging newborn infants at all institutions performing Obstetrical deliveries and neonatal pulse oximetry screening;
4. Information Technology resources to support high bandwidth telemedicine transfer of imaging data; and
5. Establishment of formal telemedicine agreements or consultative privileges between hospitals without on-site pediatric cardiology presence and designated pediatric cardiologists available for prompt consultation.

To review ASE’s policy statements, click here.

We are less than three weeks away from ASE 2021 Scientific Sessions Virtual Experience, June 18-21, 2021. Although we will still be virtual this year, the educational and scientific content will be just as exciting as if we were all together in person. We have also added in a fun “game” this year where you can win amazing prizes, and there will be an ASE member talent show on Saturday evening.

Play to Win – Compete for Prizes

Play to win badges! There are three badges available. Win them all to become an ASE Super Star! The more you explore the ASE 2021 virtual platform, the more you will earn. The top 3 on the Leaderboard at 9:30 PM ET on June 21, 2021 will win three exciting prizes.

• FIRST PLACE: $2,500 credit towards registration, hotel accommodation, and transportation for any ASE 2022 conference!
• SECOND PLACE: $500 credit towards ASE products, conference, online education, or membership.
• THIRD PLACE: $250 credit towards ASE products, conference, online education, or membership. All prizes are not redeemable for cash.

LAST CALL: ASE Talent Show – Videos Due June 4

Can you juggle, sing (Karaoke counts as singing), yodel, whistle, play piano or violin? Whatever your talent, we are looking for all of our talented members to share a 30-45 second video to be a part of the ASE Talent Show on Saturday evening during the ASE Scientific Sessions. Upload your MP4 files to this Box folder by this Friday, June 4 to be included in this entertaining networking event. All the ASE 2021 registrants will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite, and the winner will be announced live. The winner will receive a free registration to the 2022 Scientific Sessions and the applause of many!

ASE is now accepting applications for 2022 Society Awards. These awards will be presented at the 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Seattle, Washington, June 2022. Check out the links below to see how you may nominate someone (or yourself!) for an award.

• Physician Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sonographer Lifetime Achievement Award
• Richard Popp Excellence in Teaching Award
• Meritorious Service Award 
• ASE Mentorship Award
• Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Echocardiography 
• Founders’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in Echocardiography for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
• NEW: Council of Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound (CAVUS) Luminary Award 

Make sure you do not miss the upcoming deadline of August 1, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Awards@ASEcho.org.

ASE Headquarters will be closed Monday, May 31 in observance of U.S. Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, June 1.

Pre-order your copy today for the member price of $179.99 USD, and receive a digitally signed edition! Offer ends July 15, 2021.

Written by international ASE experts, this textbook will be your go-to guide for everything related to strain technique and application. You will receive the hardbound book as well as online access to easily browse, search, and download content. 

Features Include:

• Wide range of strain imaging/speckle tracking echocardiography applications, including screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
• Step-by-step techniques on how to use strain imaging with expert tips on nuances and pitfalls
• Screening and follow-up of patients who receive cardio-toxic oncologic agents during cancer treatment
• Evaluation of patients with cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arterial disease, valve disease, implantable pacemakers, pericardial disease, hypertrophy, ischemic disease, and chest radiation
• Future applications, including elastography

The ASE Council on Cardiovascular Sonography is proud to announce Monet Strachan, ACS, RDCS, FASE, as this month’s Sonographer Volunteer of the Month.

Learn more about how Ms. Strachan got involved in cardiovascular ultrasound, began volunteering for ASE, and more here.

ASE is committed to providing our members with the tools and resources needed to ensure they are coding accurately, maintaining compliance with all requirements, and maximizing appropriate reimbursements.

The 2021 Coding Connection is now available in your ASE Member portal, and free to members. This resource document will assist you in coding accurately for the services you provide, especially in today’s environment of declining reimbursement and increased scrutiny. This document includes important information on telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, Modifier 22 use, E/M changes, the most frequently asked coding questions, and more.

ASE also retains a coding expert who can answer your specific questions. You may link to this service on-demand, directly through the ASE member portal. Log in to your Member Portal and click “Ask a Coding Expert” to get an answer from the experts!

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) are pleased to announce an enhanced partnership to assist labs with
quality improvement. This integrated solution will satisfy an accreditation requirement for quality improvement (QI) documentation specific for two QI measures: report completeness and timeliness. Facilities or physicians participating in ASE’s ImageGuideEcho™ Registry are now able to view accreditation specific data within the Registry interface, reduce data entry redundancy, and streamline their regular accreditation application process by uploading the Registry’s QI documentation to report completeness and timeliness. This collaboration, to introduce integrative
features across the Registry and IAC platforms, has been a long-term project aimed at supporting high quality care for patients. Read more here.

Just over a week ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began notifying healthcare professionals that the ultrasound contrast agents Definity, Definity RT, and Lumason contain polyethylene glycol (PEG) and should not be administered to patients with known or suspected allergies to PEG. Since that time, ASE President Judy Hung, MD, FASE, composed a team of healthcare providers and scientists committed to the well-being of patients to develop a Consensus Statement that is in alignment with ASE’s mission to provide education that improves clinical outcomes.

This statement has been generated to provide our members and all practitioners of echocardiography with information and recommendations that will benefit the safety of patients receiving ultrasound enhancing agents (UEAs). Specifically, this document provides expert opinion on the clinical impact of the recent alert from MedWatch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) product safety reporting system, on presumed Type I immediate hypersensitivity reactions to the polyethylene glycol (PEG) component of UEAs.