In This Issue:
 President's Message
Weaver and Bates Assume ACC Leadership Roles
To Clear Smoke From Michigan, Keep Heat On Senate
Michigan Gathering at ACC.08
Cardiology Day at the Capitol
Michigan D2B Survey Underway
Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium
20th Annual Chapter Conference
IC3 Program™ Now Enrolling
Chapter Receives Award
Medicare Saga Continues
President's Message
Stuart A. Winston, DO
The US Presidential race is obviously well underway. On the stump, there is considerable talk about health care reform. I suspect all of us have our opinions of what we’d like changed in how health care is delivered in this country and how it should be financed. One thing seems certain. Health care reform in some fashion is very likely to be in the news in 2009.
Until now, the American College of Cardiology’s advocacy in Washington has obligatorily been concentrated on reimbursement issues as the profession has been under systematic siege by threatened and realized cuts in payments for physician and imaging services. Though absolutely necessary, the resultant repetitive ACC message risks leaving CMS and the Congress primarily remembering our outstretched hand (palm up).
The ACC leadership understands this and is adopting a forward-looking, comprehensive Health Care Reform Strategy. Underlying this shift is an appreciation of the aging population; the challenges of unsustainable growth in health care costs; the impact of the large population of the uninsured; the growing obesity and diabetes epidemics; and the continued need to acquire, adopt and manage new science and technology.
Dr. Jim Dove, ACC President, and Dr. Jack Lewin, ACC CEO, have appointed a Blue Ribbon Health Care Reform Panel who is charged with helping craft the ACC’s strategy. Michigan’s Dr. Barry Lewis, already serving on the ACC’s Advocacy Committee, was asked to be on this panel. Earlier this month, the group presented its views to the ACC’s Health Care Reform Summit in Washington, DC. The conviction is that cardiologists can indeed help shape policies; policies that have the health of our patients and the health of our practices as top priorities.
March, 2008 marks the end of my term as President of the Michigan Chapter. It has been my privilege to serve the Chapter during this dynamic time. The leadership of the Chapter will be in good hands as Dr. Hank Rosman becomes your President at ACC.08’s Convocation and I am confident that our new Council structure with increased sub-specialty representation will serve the needs of all our physician and CCA members in the areas of Quality, Education and Advocacy. I urge you to take the opportunity offered by this transition to step up and ask “How can I help?” If you want to get involved with Chapter endeavors, contact me or Hank through our Chapter Executive, Alice Betz (alice@accmi.org). Thanks to all!
Weaver and Bates Assume ACC Leadership Roles
The Michigan Chapter congratulates W. Douglas Weaver, MD and Eric R. Bates, MD on their new positions with ACC.
Dr. Weaver will become president of ACC at the Annual Scientific Session in March. His extensive history of service to the College includes the JACC and ACCEL Editorial Boards, the Annual Scientific Session Program Committee, the Task Force on Property, the Budget, Finance and Investment Committee, the NCDR Cath PCI Registry Steering Committee, and the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Bates will become a member of the ACC Board of Trustees. He served as president of the Michigan Chapter from 2002-2005 and has continued to be involved in Michigan issues especially the Certificate of Need Commission Cardiac Cath Advisory Committee. His committee work for the College includes the ACC/AHA ST- Elevation Myocardial infarction Guideline Writing Group, the ACCF Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents, the Ethics and Discipline Committee, the General Cardiology Planning Summit, and the JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions Live Programs Committee.
Most recently, Dr. Bates co-authored the 2007 Focused Update of the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. This update results from a new process that enables ACC/AHA guidelines to keep pace with new evidence and data. Before the initiation of this focused approach, periodic updates and revisions of existing guidelines required up to 3 years to complete. Now, however, new evidence will be reviewed in an ongoing fashion to more efficiently respond to important science and treatment trends that could have a major impact on patient outcomes and quality of care.
To Clear Smoke From Michigan, Keep Heat On Senate
House Bill 4163, which would ban smoking in nearly all public workplaces—including bars and restaurants—faces a tough road in Michigan's Senate. The first hurdle is to move the bill out of the Senate Government Operations & Reform Committee chaired by Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester). Sen. Bishop has publicly stated that he favors leaving the decision to go smoke-free up to business owners, so your action is important!
All Chapter members should call, email, or write Sen. Bishop to urge him to hold a hearing on HB4163 and to communicate your support for a workplace smoking ban. If you live or work in Sen. Bishop's district, be sure to let him know that you are a constituent when you call or write. You will find Sen. Bishop's contact information here
If HB4163 were to pass the Senate and be signed into law, Michigan would join 31 other states that already have adopted some form of workplace smoking ban. For more information on the campaign for a smokefree Michigan, go to www.makemiairsmokefree.org.
Michigan D2B Survey Underway
Michigan's D2B hospitals have been diligently working toward the goal of providing door-to-balloon times in less than or equal to 90 minutes in greater than 75% of patients presenting with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). "I am confident that the multidisciplinary efforts of our 42 PPCI hospitals have resulted in substantial quality improvements that are likely everyday translating into better outcomes," said Dr. Stuart Winston, Chapter President.
Because of the unique and universal participation of Michigan's PPCI hospitals, the Michigan Chapter is conducting a survey to gauge the success of the initiative and to gather information so to better design future intiatives.
D2B hospitals that have not yet completed the survey should contact Alice Betz at 517-663-6622 for access to the electronic survey.
Michigan Chapter Receives Award
The Michigan Chapter received ACC's Chapter Recognition Award at the Board of Governor's Leadership Forum in January. The award is given to Chapters that meet criteria set by the Board of Governors Steering Committee. This is the second year of the recognition program and the Michigan Chapter has been recognized both years.
New this year was the Heroic Efforts to Create Results and Opportunities (HERO) Award given to one "best of class" chapter in each of three categories -- Venti, Grande and Tall. Dr. Stuart Winston and Alice Betz were pleased to receive the HERO award in the Venti category -- see photo at left. The Michigan Chapter will be profiled in an upcoming issue of ACC's Cardiology.
Medicare Saga Continues
At the close of 2006, Congress passed a six-month Medicare payment fix replacing the scheduled 10 percent cut in Medicare physician payments with a .5 percent update for 2008 and continuation of the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).
ACC is now working to stop the July cuts and ensure a minimum 18 month payment fix without any further cuts to medical imaging. Your continued contact with lawmakers in Washington will be critical in this effort. To stay up to date on the latest Legislative news and calls to action, join the ACC’s CardioAdvocacy Network (CAN) at www.acc.org/can.
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You and your guest are invited to the All Chapter Reception at ACC.08 in Chicago.
Michigan has a special reason to celebrate this year as our own Dr. Doug Weaver will assume the office of President of the American College of Cardiology at the ACC.08 Convocation.
The All Chapter reception is a great opportunity to celebrate with Dr. Weaver, enjoy a drink and hors d'oeuvres with Michigan colleagues, and reunite with friends from states where you trained or previously practiced.
Join us!
Sunday, March 30
6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Hilton Chicago
Do you want to be a catalyst for a healthy Michigan?
Plan to attend Cardiology Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, April 23
Lansing, Michigan.
The day will begin with an issue briefing to prepare you to meet with Michigan's lawmakers. Next, you will have appointments with key legislators. The mission will be to gain support for smokefree workplace legislation and budget dollars for the Healthy Michigan Fund.
Watch your email for more information or contact Alice Betz 517-663-6622/alice@accmi.org.
Take Heart
9th Annual
Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium
Monday, March 3, 2008
Washtenaw Community College
Program Highlights
Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging
Diabetes in the 21st Century
Designer Drugs
Co-sponsored by:
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Michigan Chapter ACC
Registration: $50
Cardiac Care Associates Discount Registration: $35
Go to www.accmi.org for a brochure and registration form.
20th Annual
Michigan Chapter Conference
Sep. 26-28, 2008
Grand Traverse
Resort
Enrollment is open for ACC's new IC3 Program™ (Improving Continuous Cardiac Care). IC3 is the first office-based registry designed to provide physicians with the most current, nationally recognized best practices to enhance the office-based evaluation, treatment, and education of cardiac patients.
The first 100 practices to enroll will receive a point-of-care decision support tool – at no additional cost! For more information go to www.improvingcardiaccare.org.
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