Appropriate Use of Nuclear Cardiology Studies in Clinical Practice

Chair
James E Udelson, MD, FASNC
Chief, Division of Cardiology
Director, Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory
The Cardiovascular Center
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, MA
 
Faculty
Brian G. Abbott, MD, FACC, FASNC, FAHA
Associate Professor of Medicine
Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University
Co-Director, Cardiovascular Imaging
Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island, the Miriam and Newport Hospitals
Providence, RI
 
Allen J. Taylor MD, FACC, FAHA
Chief, Cardiology Division
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Medstar Washington Hospital Center
Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute
Washington, DC

Overall Goal
This Satellite Symposium will increase learners’ competence in choosing the appropriate test in the appropriate patient.  Participants will learn about current roles and applications of the appropriate use of nuclear cardiac imaging studies and application of appropriate use criteria and guidelines when referring patients for nuclear cardiology studies.
 
Statement of Need
Beginning in January 2017, referring physicians must use physician-developed appropriateness criteria when ordering advanced imaging for Medicare patients, in an effort to reduce duplicate and/or unnecessary scanning and associated costs. [Congress.gov. H.R.4302 - Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4302] Primary care physicians must remain up to date on the appropriate use of cardiac imaging and testing to provide optimal patient care. The two education initiative described will provide the learners with the knowledge and skill to identify the appropriate cardiac test from the available technologies and to provide “the right test, in the right patient, at the right time.” These concepts are critically important to achieve the maximum benefit for patients. [Doukky 2013, Gibbons 2011; Hendel 2010; Nelson 2012]
 
Target Audience
This activity is intended for practicing internal medicine and primary care physicians as well as mid-level healthcare professionals that refer patients to nuclear cardiology imaging studies.
 
Accreditation and Continuing Education Credit
ASNC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 
 
ASNC designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians can claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
Program Agenda

• Welcome & Introduction – Dr. Udelson
• Clinical value of stress testing and myocardial perfusion imaging and AUC concepts – Dr. Udelson (10 minutes)
• Pre-operative risk assessment: When is myocardial perfusion imaging appropriate and not appropriate – 1 case study with discussion  – Dr. Abbott and Dr. Taylor (10 minutes)
• Low-risk patients: Is testing ever appropriate? 1 case study with discussion  – Dr. Abbott and Dr. Taylor (10 minutes)
• Outpatient with chest pain: When to image – 2 case studies with discussion  - Dr. Abbott and Dr. Taylor (15 minutes)
• Discussion and summary – Drs. Udelson, Abbott and Taylor

Program Objectives
After participating in this activity, learners should be able to:

• Refer for appropriate nuclear cardiology testing based on the patients’ clinical information.
• Select patients for nuclear cardiology procedures based on AUC and reduce inappropriate referrals
• Describe the benefits and risk of myocardial perfusion imaging in selected patient populations

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc.