September 29, 2023 By

ASE Advocacy Update 9/29/23

The fall season brings with it the potential for government shutdown on October 1. We are seeing this play out this week as Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 FY2024 appropriations bills or a short-term spending bill (i.e., Continuing Resolution (CR)) to keep the government funded while Congress continues to work on a broader spending package. The Senate is expected to vote by Saturday on a CR that would fund the government until November 17. There are two CR proposals in the House—one to fund the government for 30 days and the other until January 11—but a vote has not been scheduled and may not be by the October 1 deadline. Below are some highlights of the impact on key health policy areas in the event Congress does not pass a CR by midnight Saturday, September 30, and there is a government shutdown.

Congress

  • Congressional offices will remain open.

Medicare and Medicaid

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue to process claims.
  • Physicians would not have to hold claims until the CR passes, but there could be a delay in payment if the shutdown is prolonged and funding to Medicare Administrative Contractors is delayed.
  • If the shutdown is prolonged, it is possible that the release of the Medicare physician fee schedule final rule, outpatient prospective payment system final rule, and other major regulations could be delayed.
  • Medicare benefits will not be affected.
  • Medicaid has full funding for the next three months.
  • Approximately half of CMS employees would be deemed essential and continue to work, although many would be unpaid until the shutdown ends.
  • CMS staffing levels may not be sufficient to respond to physicians’ questions about Medicare policies or scores under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
  • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) staff may continue to develop new alternative payment models, but any new model that CMMI plans to formally announce would likely be delayed.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • HHS will use its authority under the Antideficiency Act (ADA) to maintain existing HHS activities, including research and vaccine and therapeutic development.
  • CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • CMS will continue Federal Exchange activities, such as eligibility verification, using Federal Exchange user fee carryover.
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will continue substance abuse and mental health programs, including those that provide critical behavioral health resources in the event of a natural   or human-caused disaster such as Disaster Behavioral Health response teams, the 24/7 365 day-a-year Disaster Distress Helpline that provides crisis counseling to people experiencing emotional distress after a disaster, and the 988/Suicide Lifeline to connect people in crisis with life-saving resources.
  • The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will maintain the minimal readiness for all hazards, including COVID-19, pandemic flu, and hurricane responses.
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue research and clinical activities.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to support drug and medical device reviews, as well as emergency use authorizations and countermeasures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. FDA will also continue core functions to handle and respond to emergencies, such as monitoring for and quickly responding to outbreaks related to foodborne illness and the flu, supporting food and medical product recalls when products endanger consumers and patients, pursuing criminal and certain civil investigations when the public health is at risk, and screening the food and medical products that are imported to the U.S.
  • HHS will continue to protect human life and property, such as monitoring for disease outbreaks conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • CMS regulations and guidance related to the No Surprises Act, including the Independent Dispute Resolution process, could be delayed.
  • The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will continue to oversee many direct health services and other activities funded through carryover balances, such as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program – Parts A and B and Ending the HIV Epidemic.
  • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will continue activities funded through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF).
  • Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is under a three-year appropriation; all of ARPA-H activities would continue during a lapse of appropriation.
  • The Indian Health Service (IHS) is under advance appropriations for FY 2024; the majority of IHS-funded programs will remain funded and operational in the event of a lapse of appropriation.

Miscellaneous

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue at least through October.
  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) could begin an immediate reduction in benefits a few days after the shutdown starts, although some states may be able to use extra funding to maintain funding for a week or two.
  • Student loan payments: The beginning of a government shutdown could coincide with the restart of federal student loan payments in the U.S. on Oct. 1, but borrowers will still have to make payments to their loan service providers.
Filed Under: Advocacy News, News
July 13, 2023 By

ASE Releases Updated Fetal Echo Guideline

 

 

 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
aporter@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography Releases Updated Fetal Echocardiography Guideline
The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multidisciplinary collaboration in fetal cardiac care and evaluation

(DURHAM, NC, July 13, 2023)—Fetal echocardiography is a highly sensitive and specific noninvasive tool used to detect, classify and evaluate fetal cardiovascular diseases. The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released a guideline document titled Guidelines and Recommendations for Performance of the Fetal Echocardiogram: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography, replacing the original guidelines and standards published by the Society in 2004.

The standards for imaging, reporting and communication of test results in fetal echocardiography continue to advance rapidly, and a considerable amount of new information has become available in the last 20 years. The purpose of this new guideline document is to provide updated recommendations for the performance and interpretation of fetal echocardiography.

The guideline focuses on the detection, classification, risk assessment, and perinatal care planning of pregnancies where the fetus has cardiovascular disease. Much of the information presented is the result of multidisciplinary collaboration and pooling of multicenter data and expertise of subspecialists and other important stakeholders in the care of fetal patients with cardiovascular disease.

The guideline’s writing group was commissioned by ASE’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council and lead by Co-Chairs Anita J. Moon-Grady, MD, FASE, and Mary T. Donofrio, MD, FASE. The group presents detailed guidelines for what constitutes a complete fetal echocardiographic examination that can be used as a guide for both learners and experienced practitioners. The Fetal Heart Society, the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine also endorse the document, which is published in the July 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

“Ongoing research and collaboration have supported efforts toward a better understanding of fetal physiology and disease processes and progression. This has led to significant improvements in fetal diagnosis and in clinical practice and outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Moon-Grady. “The information included in the updated guideline will help practitioners and clinicians maintain the best practice for fetal echocardiography and fetal and perinatal cardiovascular care across disciplines.”

This document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: News
June 23, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Research Spotlight 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

Large Study Finds Artificial Intelligence Can Assist Novice Nurses, Medical Residents in Acquiring Diagnostic-Quality Echocardiography Images

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way echocardiograms are acquired and interpreted. A new study, that will be presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md., will share how AI-guided software can benefit both the field of cardiovascular ultrasound and ultimately its patients.

The multi-center study compared the quality of echocardiography images acquired by nurses and medical residents. After just 12 hours of training with the AI-guided software, these novice users were able to acquire echocardiography images in 10 standard views with rates of diagnostic quality approaching that of expert sonographers.

The AI-guided software was developed by UltraSight using intuitive visual cues from more than 10,000 echocardiograms and was embedded into a Philips Lumify handheld device. The accuracy of the AI software was then evaluated by five expert readers who were blinded to the imagers’ identities and evaluated for sufficient quality for diagnostic interpretation.

“We found that the AI-guided software allowed novices to acquire images suitable for diagnostic interpretation by an expert reader in the majority of patients,” says one of the study’s lead authors, Dr. Roberto M. Lang, an internationally renowned cardiologist and specialist in echocardiography at the University of Chicago Medicine. “These promising findings confirm that AI-guided software could be potentially useful in teaching novice medical professionals and assessing cardiac function in settings where services of trained echocardiography laboratories are not available.”

Nearly 400 abstract poster presentations highlighting continuing innovations in the cardiovascular ultrasound field will be featured during ASE 2023. This study, titled Real-Time Artificial Intelligence Based Guidance of Echocardiographic Imaging: Does Novice Profile Affect Image Quality and Suitability for Diagnostic Interpretation? will be presented by University of Chicago Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging Fellow Dr. Juan Ignacio Cotella on Sunday, June 25, from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. ET at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General, News
April 20, 2023 By

ASE Elects 10 New Members to its 2023-2024 Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography Elects 10 New Members to its 2023-2024 Board of Directors

(DURHAM, NC, April 20, 2023)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to announce that its membership has elected 10 new Board of Directors members to serve the Society starting July 1, 2023. The new Board will be introduced at ASE’s 34th Annual Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, MD, from June 23-26, 2023.

The ASE Executive Committee welcomes newly elected Vice President David H. Wiener, MD, FASE, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, who will serve a one-year term.

The following new Board members were elected to serve two-year terms: Craig Fleishman, MD, FASE, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL (Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council); Enrique Garcia-Sayan, MD, FASE, FACC, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX (Member at Large); Allison Hays, MD, FASE, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, (Member at Large); Lanqi Hua, ACS, APCA, RDCS (AE, PE, FE) MS, FASE, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Member at Large); Sheela Pai-Cole, MD, FASE, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA (Perioperative Echocardiography Council); Lucy Safi, DO, FASE, Mount Sinai, New York City, NY (Leadership Academy Representative); Seda Tierney, MD, FASE, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA (Member at Large); and Susan Wiegers, MD, FASE, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (Past President Representative).

Paul Mayo, MD, FASE, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY (Critical Care Echocardiography Council) will serve a one-year term.

Previously elected members of the 2022-2023 ASE Executive Committee transitioning to a new position on the 2023-2024 Board are Theodore Abraham, MD, FASE, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (President-Elect); Benjamin W. Eidem, MD, FASE, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (President); and Stephen H. Little, MD, FASE, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX (Immediate Past President).

Keith Collins, MS, RDCS, FASE, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, (Council Representative); Cynthia C. Taub, MD, MBA, FASE, Dartmouth Hitchcook Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, (Treasurer); and Kelly Thorson, DHSc, MSRS, ACS, RDCS, FASE, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA (Secretary) will continue their service on the ASE Executive Committee through June 2024.

Directors continuing with their final year of service include Jose Banchs, MD, FASE, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO (Member at Large); Akhil Narang, MD, FASE, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL (Member at Large); Kian-Keong, Poh, MA, MMed, FRCP, FASE, National University Heart Centre, Singapore (International Representative); Fadi Shamoun, MD, FASE, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound Council); Neha Ringwala Soni-Patel, Med, BSME, RCCS, RDCS (AE/PE), FASE, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH (Member at Large); and G. Monet Strachan, ACS, RDCS, FASE, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (Cardiovascular Sonography Council).

ASE thanks the following 10 Board members who will complete their service on June 30, 2023: Carolyn Altman, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASE, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Council); Sujatha Buddhe, MD, MS, FASE, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Leadership Academy Representative); Anthony Gallagher, MHA, RDCS (AE, PE), FASE, Baptist Health Lexington, Lexington, KY (Member at Large); Arthur Labovitz, MD, FASE, Naples Cardiac & Endovascular Center (Retired), Naples, FL (Critical Care Echocardiography Council); Leo Lopez, MD, FASE, Stanford Children’s Hospital, Palo, Alto, CA (Member at Large); G. Burkhard Mackensen, MD, PhD, FASE, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Perioperative Echocardiography Council) Susan Mayer, MD, FASE, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO (Member at Large); Thomas Ryan, MD, FASE, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC (Past President Representative); Vandana Sachdev, MD, FASE, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD (Member at Large); and Raymond Stainback, MD, FASE, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX (Immediate Past President).

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General, News
April 13, 2023 By

ASE Names Marielle Scherrer-Crosbie, MD, PhD, FASE, as the Recipient of $1.1 Million in Grant Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
aporter@ASEcho.org

ASE Names Marielle Scherrer-Crosbie, MD, PhD, FASE, as the Recipient of a $1.1 Million Grant to Help Optimize Care for Patients Diagnosed with Severe Valvular Heart Disease

The grant will examine the role of a primary care provider and referral patterns for patients presenting with severe aortic stenosis and examine the effectiveness of an echocardiography-based intervention

(DURHAM, NC, April 13, 2023)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and the ASE Foundation (ASEF) have awarded $1.1 million in grant funding aimed at improving care for patients suffering from severe valvular heart disease (VHD). Funding support for this grant was provided by Edwards Lifesciences.

Marielle Scherrer-Crosbie, MD, PhD, FASE, Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the Impact of Echocardiography Report Recommendations on Referral Patterns and Outcome in Patients with Severe Valvular Heart Disease grant and will serve as the study’s principal investigator. Her research will examine the referral patterns and treatment of patients presenting with echocardiographic evidence of aortic stenosis (AS). AS is a progressive disease that occurs when the opening of a heart valve narrows, typically due to age. Over 1.3 million Americans over age 65 have severe symptomatic AS.1 Echocardiography is the key tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of AS, and is the primary noninvasive imaging method for AS assessment.2 This research study may be applied to other forms of VHD research, such as mitral, tricuspid, and aortic regurgitation, that would benefit from appropriate referral to specialized care. 

“As principal investigator and together with the selected research team, we are ready to utilize the wide-reaching imaging modality of echocardiography to fill an existing gap in the care of patients with severe AS, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality,” said Dr. Scherrer-Crosbie. “We aim to leverage the capabilities of patients’ electronic health records to improve this gap and to drive any needed changes in referral patterns with subsequent examination of impact on patient care and clinical outcomes.”

Current data depict that many VHD patients may have delayed or incomplete care because their diagnosis from a cardiovascular ultrasound examination does not result in an appropriate referral to a multidisciplinary heart valve team for treatment consideration.

“Considering the growth in the number of patients presenting with aortic stenosis, ASE believes the diagnosis, referral, and treatment for these patients needs to be optimized to improve patient outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs,” said Raymond Stainback, MD, FASE, Immediate Past President of ASE and Chair of ASE’s Research Oversight Committee.

The research will be funded over the next two years and will utilize a pre- and post-single arm study with a historic control aimed at testing a specific intervention’s impact on the care or management of patients with severe AS referred by a non-cardiologist for an echocardiogram.

“Patients impacted by valvular heart disease, and specifically severe aortic stenosis, continue to face significant challenges in receiving timely echo diagnosis and follow up,” said Todd Brinton, MD, FACC, Corporate Vice President, Advanced Technology, and Chief Scientific Officer at Edwards Lifesciences. “Without treatment, we know that, sadly, these patients face debilitating and deadly consequences as heart valve disease progresses. We are pleased to partner with ASE to further study and generate evidence for the clinical community to better understand the optimized referral and care pathway for these patients in need.”

Learn more about this grant by visiting ASEF’s website.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader of patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring.  We are driven by a passion for patients, dedicated to improving and enhancing lives through partnerships with clinicians and stakeholders across the global healthcare landscape.  For more information, visit Edwards.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, and the stylized E logo are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

1Owens DS, Bartz TM, Buzkova P, et al. Cumulative burden of clinically significant aortic stenosis in community-dwelling older adults. Heart. 2021;107:1493-1502.

2 Baumgartner H, Hung J, Bermejo J, et al. Recommendations on the Echocardiographic Assessment of Aortic Valve Stenosis: A Focused Update from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2017;30(4):372-392. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2017.02.009

Filed Under: News
April 4, 2023 By

ASE Publishes New Guideline Outlining Training Standards for Interventional Echocardiography

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
aporter@ASEcho.org

New ASE Guideline Outlines Training Standards for Interventional Echocardiography
The guideline provides comprehensive recommendations for training interventional echocardiographers and defines clear standards for training programs

(DURHAM, NC, April 4, 2023)—Interventional echocardiography (IE) is the primary imaging modality used to support and guide structural heart disease (SHD) interventions, such as heart valve replacements and other cardiac catheterization procedures. Successful medical outcomes are highly dependent upon the skill of the echocardiography team. A new guideline document from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) outlines clear and uniform training standards to help increase the number of skilled interventional echocardiographers and improve patients’ access to quality care.

Recommendations for Special Competency in Echocardiographic Guidance of Structural Heart Disease Interventions: From the American Society of Echocardiography provides guidance on all critical aspects of training for cardiology and anesthesiology trainees and post-graduate echocardiographers who plan to specialize in IE. The document outlines the requirements of the training institution, the duration and core competencies of training, minimal procedural volume for competency in IE, and knowledge of specific SHD procedures.

“SHD interventions rely on echocardiography before, during and after procedures,” says ASE’s President and Co-Chair of the guideline writing group, Stephen H. Little, MD, FASE. “IE techniques are unique since imaging is performed in real-time, it is highly dependent on 3D and non-standard views, and it has immediate and profound implications for patient management. Additionally, IE requires candid, accurate and timely communication with other members of the multidisciplinary SHD team.”

The document addresses core competencies common to all transcatheter therapies, as well as specific transcatheter procedures. A core principle is that the length of IE training and achieved procedure volumes are less important than the demonstration of procedure-specific competencies within the milestone domains of knowledge, skill and communication.

“Transcatheter therapies for SHD continue to grow at a rapid pace, which means that the demand for skilled interventional echocardiographers has steadily increased,” added Vera H. Rigolin, MD, FASE, Co-Chair of the guideline writing group. “Training standards are needed to ensure that interventional echocardiographers have the necessary expertise to provide fast, accurate and high-quality image acquisition and interpretation in real-time.”

This document is endorsed by 21 ASE International Alliance Partners and is published in the April 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. View all ASE Guidelines by visiting ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.


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Filed Under: General, News
March 24, 2023 By

March 24 is ASE Member Appreciation Day

We treasure your ASE membership all year round, but six years ago we started a tradition of designating a special day in March to share the top reasons why we love our members on ASE’s social media accounts. Today, March 24, 2023, is the 6th Annual ASE Member Appreciation Day!

This day of celebration focuses on the many ways that ASE’s diverse and inclusive membership helps advance the field of cardiovascular ultrasound and improve patient care. Follow along throughout the day on ASE’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to read the many ways we are thankful for you. You can also follow #ASEMemberDay, #HeartOfASE, #ASECares, #SoundSavesLives, and #EchoFirst hashtags.

We know we are not alone in our appreciation and encourage you to join us in celebrating ASE members! Share the many reasons why you admire, value, and respect your fellow ASE Members on social media. Just print or screenshot this sign, take your picture, and tag ASE in your social media post.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for being a member of ASE. Our community of members is strong, vital, and influential. You are changing the world and improving patient lives! We look forward to continue serving you and our community in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Robin Wiegerink, MNPL
Chief Executive Officer
American Society of Echocardiography

Filed Under: News
March 2, 2023 By

ASE Publishes New Guideline on Cardiac POCUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
aporter@ASEcho.org

ASE Publishes New Guideline on Cardiac POCUS to Help Optimize Pediatric Patient Care

The guideline provides recommendations for consistency in utilization of cardiac POCUS in children through collaboration across specialties

(DURHAM, NC, March 2, 2023)—Cardiovascular ultrasound is a powerful tool for evaluating cardiac structures and function, and technological advances and education have led to widespread bedside use of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). POCUS is a problem-oriented imaging tool enabling practitioners to evaluate and diagnose ventricular function and physiology, but its application to children requires consideration of anatomic and physiologic differences from adult populations and corresponding technical aspects.

A new guideline document from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) establishes a framework for indications of cardiac POCUS in the pediatric population. Recommendations for Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Children: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography provides more uniform recommendations that address specific considerations of cardiac POCUS in children.

The guideline recommendations were developed by a diverse writing group comprised of experts from different specialties offering an array of perspectives and approaches. The document is intended to facilitate collaboration among subspecialties and pediatric echocardiography laboratories by identifying key considerations regarding indications, imaging recommendations, training and competency assessment, and quality assurance.

“Although the clinical scenarios for someone in the pediatric emergency room, intensive care unit or operating room may vary dramatically, there are common technical factors to consider when imaging children and the same need for appropriate training and quality assurance,” said lead author Jimmy C. Lu, MD, FASE. “Previously, there were not uniform recommendations for utilization in the pediatric population, leading to variation among specialties, sometimes even within the same institution. This guideline aims to define those common considerations and to emphasize the importance of collaboration across specialties to optimize pediatric patient care.”

This document is published in the March 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. View all guidelines published by ASE by visiting ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
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PDF of news release.

Filed Under: News
February 3, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Registration & Housing Now Open!

Registration and housing for ASE’s 34th Annual Scientific Sessions are now open! Make plans to join us at the the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, June 23-26, 2023.

ASE 2023 Program Chairs James Kirkpatrick, MD, FASE, and Madeline Jankowski, BS, RDCS, ACS, FASE, as well as the entire Scientific Sessions Program Committee, are pleased to present a comprehensive program that allows for plenty of time for individualized learning and networking opportunities.

Two Registration Options are Available:

  • ASE 2023 In-Person: Registration includes up to 29.75 CME/MOC credits. ASE Members who register by May 23, 2023, can save up to $225!
  • ASE 2023 Virtual: Registration includes live streaming from the main plenary room and up to 24.25 CME/MOC credits.

Download the Schedule at a Glance to explore more details of this exciting meeting and register today

Filed Under: General, News
February 3, 2023 By

There’s Still Time to Register for SOTA

Limited time remains to register for the 35th Annual State-of-the-Art Echocardiography live course in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, February 18-20, 2023.

Join outstanding faculty at the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort and Spa property to learn the latest on structural heart disease, myocardial and pericardial disease, coronary artery disease, interventional echocardiography, and more!

Don’t miss Pfizer’s Science & Technology Theater on Sunday, February 19, 12:45 – 1:45 PM, titled Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM): Evaluating Clinical Findings to Support Earlier Diagnosis and Management. Board Certified Cardiologist Roxana Ghashghaei, MD, will be the speaker.

A total of 31.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ will be offered for the preconference Learning Lab (15 credits) and main course (16.75 credits). In addition to offering CME credits, this activity has been developed and registered with ACCME to provide MOC, MOC Part 2, and MOCA 2.0 credits in alignment with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. 

Filed Under: General, News
American Society of Echocardiography
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