In This Issue:
 Message from the President
Registration is Open
Last Call for Cases and Abstracts
ACC Legislative Conference
CON and Elective PCI w/o Onsite Surgery
Cardiovascular Technicians Can Join ACC
Message from the President
Michigan Legislature to Consider Nursing Legislation
Dear Colleagues,
The Michigan Chapter has been busy these last several months with a number of important issues. We are moving into high gear, as we always do this time of year, organizing the upcoming annual chapter meeting that is now called the Michigan Cardiovascular Summit. Under Summit Chair Herb Aronow’s fantastic leadership, the meeting promises to be interesting, timely, and fun – I hope many of you will make time to attend.
We have also been grappling with several important legislative issues, and in this, my inaugural column, I want to both inform and invite feedback from you.
The Michigan Legislature will consider legislation that will update the 1978 Public Health Code by defining several aspects of licensure and scope of practice for advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners. A bill was recently introduced in the House by Representative Lesia Liss (D-Warren) and a mirror bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mark Jansen (R-Kent County). The proposed legislation would offer clarity regarding APN practice oversight, independent licensure, and scope of practice definitions that have not existed previously. The most controversial of these would allow APNs (not RNs) to prescribe both nonscheduled prescription drugs as well as Schedule 2-5 controlled substances independently.
Several states currently do allow independent prescribing authority for APNs, and many of our NP Cardiac Care Associate (CCA) members strongly support the bill. In contrast, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) vigorously opposes the legislation. Theoretically, the ability to prescribe would make APN-led practices competitive with primary care practices. Most cardiologists do not feel this threat, but rather view APNs as collaborative team members – indeed this is the model that the ACC has built by establishing the Cardiac Care Associate (CCA) membership category.
The Chapter is now faced with the dilemma of supporting the APN legislation in solidarity with our own CCA membership, and to the consternation of our colleagues in MSMS, or refraining from taking a stand, which would surely disappoint our CCA partners. I would like to hear from you – what do you think about the pending legislation? For FACCs: How do you currently work with APNs in your practice? What have your APN partners said to you about this issue? For CCAs: How do you feel this legislation would affect your practice? How strongly do you feel about it? Let me know!
Thank you,
Claire Duvernoy, MD, FACC
duvernoy@med.umich.edu
Plan to Attend the ACC Legislative Conference
September 11-13, 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Don't miss the opportunity to hear first-hand from members of Congress about key issues ranging from payment reform to new models of care delivery and to meet face-to-face with your own members of Congress. Keynotes include former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, and health care economist, Len Nichols.
Learn more about this unique conference here.
The Chapter is pleased to announce that Lisa Starkey, MSN, NP and Rasha Bazari, MD are the recipients of the CCA and Affiliate Member travel awards for the Legislative Conference.
One more travel grant is available for an FIT! Interested fellows should call Alice Betz at 517-663-6622.
CON Commission Rejects Elective PCI without Onsite Surgery
After a lengthy public comment session at its June 9 meeting, the Certificate of Need (CON) Commission defeated a motion to send the Cardiac Catheterization Standard Advisory Committee (SAC) recommendations to public hearing on a vote of 5-5.
The SAC’s recommended changes to the Cardiac Cath Standard can be viewed here. In brief, the recommendations included the following:
•Allow hospitals without on-site open heart surgery to perform elective PCI under certain circumstances
•Remove the minimum volume requirement to replace an existing cath lab.
•Include peripherals in volume when determining ability to add another cath lab at an existing service.
•Simplify the procedure equivalents and modify expansion and maintenance volumes to accommodate the new weighting system.
•For primary PCI requirements decrease the minimum annual volume from 48 to 36 and allow for the inclusion of all cardiac caths when determining if meet criteria of diagnostic volume for initiating primary PCI.
The Commission did pass a second motion that defers action until its September meeting, when MDCH staff will present a new version of the recommended language that eliminates the elective PCI piece.
A final motion to reconsider the elective PCI issue when updated ACC/AHA guidelines are released failed on a 5-4-1 vote.
Audio transcripts of the meeting are available here
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September 23-25, 2011
Grand Traverse Resort
The Chapter’s annual gathering has become a summit for cardiology's sub-specialties and for the entire cardiac care team. Attendees can choose one focused track or move from session to session to tailor their summit experience.
The Summit offers:
An outstanding educational program at one of the Midwest’s finest conference centers.
An agenda that allows time to enjoy autumn in the beautiful Grand Traverse Bay area.
For program details and registration information go to www.accmisummit.org
Last call for cases and abstracts for the fellows’ competitions at the Summit!
Oral Research Competition
Oral Case Competition
Poster Competition
•All presenters will receive one night’s lodging and complimentary registration for the conference.
•A $500 first prize and a $250 second prize will be awarded in all three competitions.
•Click here for more details and the electronic submission system.
Deadline for submissions:
July 11, 2011
CV Tech Sessions Offered at Summit
The American College of Cardiology is expanding its membership to include cardiovascular sonographers, electrophysiology specialists, invasive specialists and vascular specialists in a new Partners in Care (PIC) membership category.
In recognition of ACC's newest members, a Cath Lab Team session will be offered at the Michigan Cardiovascular Summit. Cardiovascular sonographers and electrophysiology specialists will find the Non-invasive Imaging Session and Electrophysiology Session of special interest. As always, Partners in Care are invited to attend all summit sessions.
For more information about the PIC membership and to download an application, visit www.CardioSource.org/PIC.
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