From Your Chapter President

One week before the shocking resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer, Dr. Denis Manor and I participated in the Annual Legislative Day of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) in order to advance the interests and programs of New York State cardiologists and physicians. After listening to then Governor Spitzer, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, Health Care Czar Whalen and New York State Insurance Superintendent Dinallo address critical issues, we were impressed with their knowledge, interest and the direction in which they wanted to move the health care agenda. All of us need to continue to advocate for malpractice reform, managed care reform, reconfiguration of the State’s Medicaid program, as well as medical workforce enhancement programs that will benefit physicians and citizens of New York State. As we wait for the Governor’s Task Force on Medical Liability Reform to report on this extremely important issue, I hope that Governor Patterson will continue to work with leaders of our State Medical Society to impact on this and other problems. Without intervention, all physicians in New York State will see double-digit increases in premiums, as well as a surcharge of $50,000 spread over the next five years. Tort reform, reduction in medical errors, a healthy insurance environment, as well as risk and cost spreading all need to be addressed to overhaul this broken system. We need to keep a close watch on these issues, and be ready to make our voices heard.

At the national ACC meeting in Chicago, I was invited to attend the Board of Trustees meeting. This invitation was extended because of chapter recognition, thanks to the diligence of our Chapter Executive, Nancy Weiner, and the ideas and commitment of our previous President, Paul Kligfield. The agenda of quality to promote health care reform was ever so prevalent in many of the discussions. The College is committed to being at the table in the process of reworking Medicare, replacing the SGR (sustained growth rate), and reforming health care. The Quality First initiative has been bolstered by the Campaign for the Future exceeding its 10 million dollar goal and approaching 13 million dollars. This will allow the educational and quality goals of this College to be operationalized and moved forward forming a solid foundation for our part in the re-engineering of the health care system, which will occur with or without us. As the outgoing President, Dr. James Dove said, “We have an opportunity to proactively lead social change. It is not only the right thing to do, but it is our obligation to do it.” Please support the College’s effort in these areas.We must look beyond our own and current interests to health care of the future.

Please set aside, Saturday, October 4, 2008 for our annual meeting at the New York Athletic Club. Janet Wright from national ACC will speak on quality, Ed Hannan on NYS cardiovascular surgery and angioplasty programs, Bill Boden (a councilor) on the COURAGE trial, and Nick Hill from Tufts on pulmonary hypertension. Also, there will be fellow presentations and case discussion. It will be a tremendous day, and I look to seeing many of you there. Please encourage your fellows in training, cardiac care associates, and new FACCs to come.

On a more local level, Dr. Kligfield and Dr. VanTosh continue to lead our discussion with Care Core Cardiology in an effort to improve the process of pre-approval. This issue has or will touch everyone. As reimbursement tightens, our ability to test and image our patients will be controlled. We need to be sure appropriate care is given. Everything from cardiac CT, MR, nuclear, and echo is to be reviewed. Our input into the process on a local level is needed. It is here and we need to deal with it. Support from the national level is being sought for guideline adoption and appropriateness. I want to thank Paul and Andy for their efforts.

I want to call your attention to the First Annual Cardiac Care Associate (CCA) Meeting on Friday, June 6 at the New York Athletic Club. This program is directed to the CCAs who are becoming increasingly important in our cardiac care delivery system. Tracey Shannon has taken a leadership role in organizing this conference and bringing our chapter to the forefront in CCA interest and education. Many thanks to her outstanding effort.

We must keep this ball rolling. We remain a busy Chapter, and our relevance improves with the interest of members and their participation. Congratulations to the new council members, and I look forward to working with you.

See you on October 4th.

1st Annual Cardiac Care Associate Symposium: June 6, 2008

The 1st Annual Cardiac Care Associate Symposium 2008, presented by The New York Cardiological Society and the New York State Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, will be held on Friday, June 6, 2008 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. This unique academic event is designed to enhance current knowledge about the etiology, prevention, intervention and management of cardiovascular disease. Presentations will provide Cardiac Care Associates with evidence-based approaches to the treatment and care of the cardiac patient as well as provide information regarding current and new cutting edge technologies. The target audience includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, technologists as well as physicians and all members of the cardiac care team.

The full day meeting will include lectures, case studies and Q & A. Topics include: Management of Metabolic Syndrome: Obesity, Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia; Quality Improvement; Current Concepts in Interventional Cardiology: ACS and Acute Myocardial Infarction, Drug Eluting Stents, Congenital Heart Disease in Adults; Updates in Electrophysiology: Atrial Fibrillation and Current Management, Devices, Indications and Future Directions, Living with a Device-a Patient Perspective; Congestive Heart Failure: Concepts, Management and Transplant; Pulmonary Hypertension; Non-Invasive Imaging; and Prevention. Speakers include: Margo Minissian, MSN; Louis J. Aronne, MD; Frances Dooley, MSN; Kenya Beard, MS; Darcie DeMilt, CCRN; Alice Arden, MS; Michael Guiry, RPA-C; Manish Parikh, MD; Robert Sommer, MD; Kenneth Stein, MD; James W. Cheung, MD; Aileen Ferrick, MS; Maryjane Farr, MD; Maria Spinelli, MA; Michael Poon, MD; Judith Schipper, MS; and Paul Kligfield, MD.

Please encourage your colleagues and all members of the cardiac care team to attend. A program brochure will appear on the New York State Chapter website www.ny-acc.org in mid-April.

New York State Chapter Revises Committee Structure

In an attempt to best serve its membership, in this rapidly changing healthcare environment, the New York State Chapter has revised its committee structure. In addition to consolidating individual committees into six umbrella committees, a new Quality committee has been created.

We are inviting interested New York State Chapter members to contact us if they are interested in joining any of the following committees:

Education Committee

Advocacy Committee (third party reimbursement, legislative, imaging, carrier advisory, and interspecialty)

Quality Committee

Call for Abstracts

The New York State Chapter of the American College of Cardiology will, once again this year, host the Young Investigators’ Competition. The two winners of the 2008 Young Investigators’ Competition will be invited to present their studies as a poster presentation at the Annual Scientific Session on October 4, 2008 in New York City.

Cardiology 2008: The Science of Quality Care

The 80th Annual Scientific Session of The New York Cardiological Society and the 18th Annual Meeting of the New York State Chapter, American College of Cardiology, Cardiology 2008: The Science of Quality Care, will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. Among the topics to be discussed are the New York State Data Base, the COURAGE Trial, Quality Issues for Cardiology, Evaluation and Management of Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, and Emerging Insights in Cardiology: Short Presentations by New York State Fellows in Cardiology. Additionally, there will be a poster presentation by the two winners of the 2008 Young Investigators' Competition. Speakers include Edward L. Hannan, PhD; William E. Boden, MD; Janet Wright, MD; and Nicholas Hill, MD.

The target audience includes members of the New York State Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, other practicing physicians, cardiology fellows-in-training, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, cardiovascular technicians, and medical students.

The Summer edition of The Cardiologist will include a complete program agenda in addition to a registration form. A program brochure will be mailed to all members during the summer.

Creation of Volunteer Physician Clinics

Legislation is advancing in the New York State Assembly and Senate that would permit, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Health, the creation of volunteer physician clinics across New York State. The model for this program is the successful Schenectady Free Clinic which has for several years provided free primary care to uninsured patients in Schenectady county. The Schenectady program has been staffed with recently retired physicians who receive liability coverage through a combination of public and private grants.

Upcoming Meetings

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS (co-sponsor)
Saturday, May 3, 2008, The Princeton/Columbia Club, New York City

ADVANCED REIMBURSEMENT & CODING SEMINAR FOR CARDIOLOGY
Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Renaissance Hotel, Syracuse
Wednesday, May 24, 2008, Crowne Plaza Airport, LaGuardia Airport, East Elmhurst

1st ANNUAL CARDIAC CARE ASSOCIATE SYMPOSIUM 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008, New York Athletic Club, New York City

CARDIOLOGY 2008: THE SCIENCE OF QUALITY CARE
Saturday,October 4, 2008, New York Athletic Club,New York City

12th ANNUAL NEW YORK CARDIAC CENTER LECTURE
THE ROLE OF REVASCULARIZATION FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, FROM ACUTE SHOCK TO STABLE OCCLUSION AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Judith Hochman, MD, Thursday, December 4, 2008,Uris Auditorium,New York City