The NCDR EP Registry Suite is entering a new era with key updates to both the AFib Ablation Registry™ and the EP Device Implant Registry™. The AFib Ablation Registry version 2.0, which launched last week, brings enhanced tracking of energy sources and follow-up outcomes, providing even more detailed insights. Meanwhile, the upgraded EP Device Implant Registry version 3.0, launching in early 2025, will offer streamlined data collection via procedure-specific pathways, the ability to capture new devices and track procedure participation of Fellows in Training. Now is the time to explore the EP Registry Suite and gain access to these powerful tools. Learn more.

Join a distinguished panel of judges on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. ET to hear young investigators pitch their electrophysiology research ideas "Shark Tank"-style. See which project has the most potential and learn more about the tools needed to conduct successful research. Competition winners will receive $5,000 in seed research funding and move on to the Heart Tank Tournament of Champions at ACC.25, taking place March 29-31, 2025, in Chicago, IL. Register here.

The ACC is currently accepting submissions of abstracts, complex clinical cases and interventional challenging cases to be presented at ACC.25, taking place March 29-31, 2025, in Chicago, IL. Submit your research for a chance to transform the future of cardiovascular care by sharing your research with over 12,000 attendees from more than 130 countries. The deadline for all submissions is 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Don't miss your chance to be part of ACC.25 — submit your abstract or case today!

September is National Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month. Take advantage of and learn more about ACC's latest AFib resources, including ACC's online course, Early Onset of AFib and the Contemporary Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs. Join Suneet Mittal, MD, FACC for "Quick Tips on Utilization of Antiarrhythmic Drugs in AFib Management," which provides a concise overview of the most recent clinical evidence and guideline recommendations for managing and treating AFib. Plus, listen to ACC CardiaCast podcasts and look for new activities launching this fall. Learn more.

ACC President Cathleen Biga, MSN, FACC, and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, FACC, joined other advocacy leaders from both societies in meeting with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' officials to seek the addition of cardiac ablation services to the ambulatory surgical center (ASC) covered procedures list in the 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule. The ACC and HRS have advocated for the inclusion of these services, and although they were not included in the proposed rule, efforts on this front continue. See a letter penned by both societies on this topic from earlier in May. The ACC will use information gleaned from this meeting to continue pushing for this change in the final rule, which will be released later this year.

Starting this October, the NCDR's AFib Ablation Registry will include an enhanced data collection tool offering the option of highly sought-after follow-up data, the ability to track cutting-edge technologies and metrics to keep your practice in line with the latest guidelines...

Enhanced dashboards for all NCDR registries – including the EP Device Implant Registry and AFib Ablation Registry – are now available. The new dashboards provide robust visualizations and a faster, more dynamic data customer experience to support facilities, health systems and clinical care teams in their commitment to optimizing cardiovascular patient care and outcomes. Learn more about the dashboards' capabilities to provide actionable insights here. Plus, current NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services participants can access an "Introduction to NCDR's New Dashboards" course in the QII Learning Center.

ACC's NCDR is proposing several key updates to the EP Device Implant Registry, including an expansion of pacemaker devices collection, refinement or removal of outdated elements, and updates to intra and post procedure events. These updates have the potential to crucially strengthen the quality improvement work coming out of the registry, and the ACC is seeking comments as it moves toward implementing these changes. Review the proposed modifications and provide your feedback by Friday, June 14.

In the coming weeks, you may be randomly selected to complete a survey for the American Medical Association's (AMA's) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). Survey participants will be asked to estimate the typical time, intensity and complexity of their work and the Relative Value Unit (RVU) for the procedure in comparison to a list of reference services with established RVUs. Feedback from these surveys are used to create AMA recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Upcoming surveys will look at the PCI family of codes and the existing code for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA), respectively. Check your email folders for survey emails from Matt Minnella via a noreply@qemailserver.com email address. The deadline for both surveys is Tuesday, March 12. Learn more about the RUC process here.

The ACC has officially launched the new CV ASC Registry Suite – the first unified registry for cardiac procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and office-based labs. With the expansion of ASCs performing select cardiac procedures on eligible patients throughout the U.S., the newest NCDR registry is the first of its kind to easily fit into the patient care workflow and provide these centers with data-driven insights for measuring care delivery and outcomes. The CV ASC Registry Suite leverages the existing NCDR CathPCI Registry and EP Device Implant Registry platforms and metrics to offer big-picture reviews, at-a-glance assessments and patient-level drilldowns on procedures such as diagnostic cardiac catheterization, PCI, defibrillator and pacemaker implants. Learn more.

Join your colleagues in Atlanta, April 6-8, for ACC.24 and explore the Electrophysiology Learning Pathway to get equipped with practical information on the latest advancements, research findings, and innovations that can be used to improve your understanding of arrhythmia management. Sessions in the learning pathway will cover clinical scenarios commonly encountered by general cardiologists and will review the intersection of electrophysiology with other cardiovascular disciplines. Register by March 6 to SAVE and learn more about all ACC.24 has to offer!

As part of ongoing efforts to capture and report meaningful information and improve patient care, physician leaders of ACC's AFib Ablation Registry are proposing a version update to the registry dataset.

U.S. News & World Report recently released the 2024 edition of the "Best Hospitals" guidebook, featuring more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and facilities participating in NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services.

Join us virtually for Cardio-Obstetrics Essentials: Team-Based Management of Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy on Dec. 15. This interprofessional course is focused on providing a basic to intermediate level of education on the evolving field of cardio-obstetrics and will convene a uniquely qualified and diverse group of cardiologists, maternal-fetal specialists and cardio-obstetrics team members.

This live webinar taking place on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. ET will provide patients and their families with the latest information on atrial fibrillation (AF) and its management, from lifestyle modification to stroke prevention.

Cardiac electrophysiology is an ever-evolving field. Victor Abrich, MD, goes in depth about what aspects of cardiac electrophysiology to consider when choosing a specialty. He discusses topics such as financial impacts, conduction pacing and other technological advancements.

Join ACC’s distinguished international faculty members as they discuss the most recent science and clinical guidance for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib), including the role of antiarrhythmic drugs, with ACC’s new online course, Early Onset of Atrial Fibrillation & the Contemporary Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs.

If you are attending Heart Rhythm 2023, join JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology Editor-in-Chief Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, and members of the editorial board on Friday, May 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. CT, at the Hilton Riverside for wine and appetizers and to celebrate the ongoing success of the journal.

ACC’s EP Device Implant Registry just launched five new pacemaker metrics to customize your registry experience and focus data collection on pacemakers, ICDs or both.

The University of California San Francisco is recruiting patients for a new VIBRANT-AF Research Study.

Attending ACC.23/WCC in New Orleans? Mark your calendars for these JACC Journals events!

Participating in the Electrophysiology (EP) Registry Suite can open doors to new research opportunities for your practice.

Join your colleagues at ACC.23 Together With WCC and learn about the latest developments in the field of EP.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health Resilient Supply Chain Program is conducting a survey in support of an interagency effort to develop a recommended list of critical medical devices – including device materials, components, parts, or accessories – to improve the nation’s preparedness for future emergencies and implement the National Strategy for a Resilient Public Health Supply Chain.

Beginning in January 2023, JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology will be published exclusively online, and all print publications of its sister journals will be discontinued.

Patients considering implantation of an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death must undergo a shared decision-making conversation as directed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination.

The ACC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute will be partnering to host another Innovation Pitch Challenge March 4-5, 2023, at ACC.23/WCC in New Orleans.

Join ACC's Federal Cardiology Section for a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 7-8 p.m. ET to get a firsthand look at what's happening in the electrophysiology (EP) lab at federal hospitals serving active military personnel and veterans.

ACC's Clinical Spotlight Series shines a light on best practices and emerging science across practice-changing topics in care including atrial fibrillation, lipid management and SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure.

Perfect your knowledge of clinical cardiac electrophysiology with EP SAP. Not only can EP SAP help you identify knowledge gaps and reinforce existing knowledge, it can also be used for the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) – an ACC and ABIM option for meeting Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements in Electrophysiology.

The proposed cuts to EP ablation services remain a top priority for the ACC. Add your voice to the College's advocacy efforts by joining ACC's grassroots campaign and urging Congress to contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to stop the draconian cuts that will have a severe impact on EPs caring for patients with arrhythmias.

The ACC recognizes more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and facilities that participate in NCDR registries and ACC Accreditation Services in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guidebook, released Sept. 14.

The Clinical Spotlight Series shines a light on best practices and emerging science across practice-changing topics in care including atrial fibrillation, lipid management and SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure. Test your knowledge and earn up to 0.5 CME/MOC/CNE credits with TWO new certified patient cases as part of Rapid Fire AFib: The Latest in Management Strategies.

Join the Academic Section on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. ET for “Heart Tank For the Cardiovascular Investigator: Electrophysiology,” where our distinguished panel of judges – Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC; Pamela Mason, MD, FACC; and Jim Freeman, MD, FACC – will listen to Young Investigators "pitch" their EP research ideas.

Learn to identify signs and symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and develop a treatment plan including guideline-directed medical therapy with ACC’s free online course, PAD: Optimizing Treatment Strategies.

Medical device technologies play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients with arrhythmias. In line with the Journal’s commitment to advancing scientific understanding and patient care, JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology will publish a special focus issue highlighting research on this topic.

Now is the best time to take advantage of the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) – an alternative option offered by the ACC and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for meeting maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements, as well as all other education, licensure and certification needs.

When it comes to meeting maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements, you have choices! With the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP), there is no need to take a comprehensive exam covering the breadth of your field.

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology Editor-in-Chief Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, and Douglas P. Zipes, MD, MACC, shared strategies for developing a translational research career in a recent webinar.

Share your quality improvement successes with an abstract for ACC Quality Summit, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 in Los Angeles, CA, and virtually.

In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month this May, the ACC is raising awareness for arrhythmia detection. Patients with arrhythmias are at an increased risk of suffering a stroke.

When it comes to meeting maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements, you have choices! If you’re due for an MOC assessment this year, the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) is an MOC assessment option that helps meet ALL your needs!

Share your quality improvement successes with an abstract for ACC Quality Summit, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 in Los Angeles, CA, and virtually. Showcase how NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services data has helped improve patient care, processes or qualitative initiatives!

Research presented at Heart Rhythm 2022 and simultaneously published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology highlights the lack of reliable data regarding the number of board-certified female or underrepresented minority (URM) electrophysiologists in the U.S. as part of a call to increase representation in the field.

Share your quality improvement successes with an abstract for ACC Quality Summit, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 in Los Angeles, CA, and virtually. Showcase how NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services data has helped you improve patient care, processes or qualitative initiatives!

Learn contemporary concepts in etiology and pathophysiology for syncope and improve your diagnostic skills with the Assessment and Diagnosis of Syncope online course.

"If cardioneuroablation proves to be as effective as it is touted to be, it will revolutionize the management of dysautonomia-associated arrhythmias," writes Edward Chu, MD.

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology is accepting applications for the associate editor position. Led by editor-in-chief, Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, the Journal publishes original research and state-of-the-art reviews from cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, neurology, outcomes research and related fields.

Join Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, editor-in-chief of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, and Douglas P. Zipes, MD, MACC, for a live webinar on Wednesday, April 20 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET to learn strategies for developing a translational research career.

Improve your knowledge and diagnostic skills and learn contemporary concepts in etiology and pathophysiology for syncope with the Assessment and Diagnosis of Syncope online course.

The ACC and Heart Rhythm Society have developed a pilot program that will introduce a tailored, competency-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) and clinical cardiac electrophysiology (CCEP) curriculum during the third year of CVD training.

Catch up on the informative JACC: Asia expert journal club series centering on key cardiovascular topics and recently published manuscripts. For each journal club, JACC: Asia editorial board members are joined by authors and experts from across Asia for discussions on key themes, including cryocatheter ablation as an effective method for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; shaping the future of the Asian cardiovascular community; the epidemiological features of CVD; and the latest in coronary physiology research.

Now is the best time to take advantage of the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) – an alternative option offered by the ACC and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for meeting maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements, as well as all other education, licensure and certification needs.

While most causes of syncope are harmless, the presence of serious medical conditions warrant additional evaluation and treatment. Review your knowledge of syncope with this infographic in Cardiology.

"In the wake of the Omicron surge and recent holiday celebrations, a significant majority of the phone calls were from frantic patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were unsure what to do. Most patients only had mild viral symptoms, but some reported palpitations and chest discomfort," writes Edward Chu, MD.

Learn contemporary concepts in etiology and pathophysiology for syncope and improve your knowledge and diagnostic skills with ACC’s new online course, Assessment and Diagnosis of Syncope.

While many CV care team members are familiar with Holter monitors, there are several options using mobile telemetry, patches, loop recorders, and wearables for longer term needs. Explore the growing number of available tools for arrhythmia detection with The Nuances of Cardiac Monitoring: An EP Expert Discussion, available through ACC’s free online course, Raising the Bar in Arrhythmia Detection: A Diagnostic Toolbox.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and its contractor, Acumen LLC, are currently field testing several episode-based cost measures, including a chronic condition-based episode for the ongoing management of heart failure (HF) patients, through Feb. 25.

The last Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) Performance Assessment window this year for EP SAP, is taking place Dec. 8 – 14.

Meet your education, licensure and certification requirements with the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP).

The ACC created the Managing AFib and BTK Inhibitors: Balancing Risk online course to educate the medical community about the importance of assessing risk, monitoring, and managing AFib and other cardiovascular risk factors for oncology patients.

The ACC created the Raising the Bar in Arrhythmia Detection: A Diagnostic Toolbox online course to increase awareness and knowledge on the growing number of cardiac monitors available for the detection of arrhythmias.

The Early Career International Working Group and the Electrophysiology Section Leadership Council are cohosting the second webinar in a series that provides a unique international perspective on challenging cases.

ACC's Electrophysiology and Sports and Exercise Cardiology Member Sections are teaming up to mark Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in October with a new webinar.

Several activities are happening around the College in recognition of National AFib Awareness Month.

The ACC recognizes more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and facilities that participate in NCDR registries and ACC Accreditation Services in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guidebook, released Sept. 14.

JACC: Case Reports is inviting submissions of cases representing interventional, surgical, structural, electrophysiological and transcatheter procedural complications for a special themed issue planned for 2022.

As part of the proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed reduced work RVUs for electrophysiology (EP) ablation services.

Ten manuscripts and editorial comments coinciding with research presented during HRS 2021 were simultaneously published in JACC and JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

The ACC has created a free, online course: Raising Awareness and Understanding of Cardiac Amyloidosis to improve clinicians’ understanding of cardiac amyloidosis, which is often not recognized and underdiagnosed.

The ACC has created the Raising the Bar in Arrhythmia Detection: A Diagnostic Toolbox online course to increase awareness and knowledge on the growing number of cardiac monitors available for the detection of arrhythmias.

Did you know? You now have the option to use EP SAP to maintain your American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification through the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP).

Interested in discussing the latest science from ACC.21? Tune in for an Electrophysiology Section webinar on Thursday, June 3, at 7 p.m. ET.

Have thoughts about the Late Breaking Clinical Trials and Hot Topics? We want to hear them!

The ACC has changed the name of its ICD Registry to the EP Device Implant Registry, effective April 1. The EP Device Implant Registry will include data on ICD and CRT-D procedures previously captured in the ICD Registry, as well as provide flexibility to capture novel pacemaker procedures.

JACC: Case Reports is inviting all ECG lovers with a passion for ECG teaching to submit three examples of interesting/complex ECGs with relative multiple-choice questions and explanations for this competition by April 15.

The latest issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology features new research that assesses the feasibility and outcomes of left bundle branch area pacing in patients eligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Three JACC Journals not previously included in Impact Factor rankings – JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, JACC: Basic to Translational Science and JACC: CardioOncology – will receive their first Impact Factors later this year.

A special focused issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology offers insights into new clinical research and commentary surrounding atrial fibrillation (AFib).

In a new podcast episode following the recent issue of JACC: Cardio-Oncology, Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, discusses the patterns of anticoagulation use in cancer patients with atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter.

Despite the association with sudden cardiac death, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome has largely been viewed as a benign condition and contemporary management continues to advocate reassurance and lifestyle changes.

The ACC and the American Heart Association released updated clinical performance and quality measures on atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter Dec. 7 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

A newpreprint server platform, First Look, offers JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology authors the opportunity to showcase their accepted research while it undergoes the peer review process.

Now live via online open access, the newest issue of JACC: Case Reports features a mini focus issue on electrophysiology.

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology has published a special issue dedicated to ventricular tachycardia (VT) featuring exciting research with informative central illustrations, editorial comments and research letters.

This year's European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress might have been delivered virtually, but it included a wealth of new boots on the ground and hands-on the patient information for the management of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Like all therapies, the wearable cardioverter defibrillator is most effective when used as prescribed, but this requires continuous adherence for up to 90 days and constant attention towards the various device alarms that may become activated at any given moment.

For AFib Awareness Month, take advantage of ACC's latest Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) resources. Located on CardioSmart's new website, the AFib Shared Decision Making Tools help patients with AFib decide whether to mitigate their risk of stroke with blood thinners.

The latest issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, and second under the leadership of new Editor in Chief Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, features a mini focus issue on catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, informative imaging in electrophysiology cases and a basic and translational science manuscript examining subcellular Ca2+ signals within and among cells comprising the sinoatrial node (SAN) tissue.

Survival from out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic, even in moderately affected U.S. communities, according to an article published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.

JACC: Case Reports will publish a special themed issue on complications this December. Authors are invited to submit cases representing interventional, electrophysiology and transcatheter complications for consideration on or before Monday, Sept. 7.

The first issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology under new Editor-in-Chief Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, has been published. A physician scientist and director of the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Shivkumar brings many updates and enhancements to the Journal, detailed in his Editor's Page.

Complimenting the theme of the latest JACC: Case Reports issue, Editor-in-Chief Julia Grapsa, MD, FACC, has recorded a series of informative clinical case review videos on cardiovascular complications.

Join the ACC Electrophysiology (EP) Section Leadership Council for a webinar, June 29 at 7 p.m. ET, on the nuances of EP fellowship application.

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology simultaneously published three manuscripts and three accompanying editorials to coincide with research presented during HRS 2020.

Submit your abstract for ACC Quality Summit, scheduled for Oct. 7 – Oct. 9 in Orlando, FL.

NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services recognize the incredible challenges hospitals and front-line health care workers are facing while providing lifesaving measures for their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ACC Electrophysiology (EP) Section along with the Heart Rhythm Society COVID-19 Task Force, and the American Heart Association's Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, has released new guidance for cardiac electrophysiology during COVID-19.

The ACC is seeking comments on a draft of the 2020 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation or Venous Thromboembolism Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD, PhD, FACC, has been named the next editor-in-chief of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Shivkumar is a physician scientist who serves as the director of the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center; director of the university's electrophysiology programs; and professor of medicine (cardiology), radiology and bioengineering.

In a recent Cardiology article, Naomi F. Botkin, MD, FACC, shares her story about how a wearable device may have saved her life when she was experiencing moderate-intensity chest discomfort at work. After turning to her Apple watch for an ECG, she noticed an ST elevation on the single lead tracing, and was later diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction secondary to spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Don't forget to submit NCDR research proposal applications (RPAs) by Monday, Feb. 3. NCDR is accepting AFib Ablation Registry RPAs for the first time this year. Also, beginning this year, NCDR is changing its Research & Publications (R&P) cycle to offer one annual research proposal deadline and one annual review meeting for all NCDR registries, except the STS/ACC TVT Registry, PINNACLE Registry and Diabetes Collaborative Registry.

Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality in Italian Adults by Marialaura Bonaccio, PhD, et al. received the most online attention among research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) in 2019.

Applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology will be accepted through Jan. 1, 2020.

The field of electrophysiology (EP) has made important advances in recent decades. Yet, the exponential growth has not been equally distributed around the world.

There are a lot of big ways to get involved with the College – being on a Section Leadership Council, participating on a taskforce or committee, or serving as faculty for a live course, to name a few. However, we know that not everyone has the time for some of these larger-scale commitments. That's why the ACC is excited to announce the launch of our Microvolunteering Platform.

Applications are now being accepted for the ACC Leadership Academy Cohort IV, which will launch at ACC.20/World Congress of Cardiology in Chicago, IL.

Join world-renowned cardiologist and course director Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, at ACC's New York Cardiovascular Symposium, taking place Dec. 6 – 8.

Safe, streamlined guidance on procedural sedation in urgent or unscheduled cases may be helpful for cardiologists, according to a perspective from ACC's Electrophysiology, Interventional and Imaging Section Leadership Councils, published Sept. 9 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

For AFib Awareness Month, take advantage of ACC's latest atrial fibrillation (AFib) resources. The AFib Shared Decision Making Tools help patients with AFib decide whether to mitigate their risk of stroke with blood thinners. Use the Stroke and Bleeding Risk Calculator together with the decision aids to find the right treatment for your patients. ACC's CardioSmart team also offers additional resources to help your patients understand this condition, including the free AFib, Stroke and Blood Thinners infographic.

The electrophysiology (EP) community has started to work towards minimizing the exposure to radiation during ablation procedures.

The ACC (@ACCinTouch) and the Heart Rhythm Society (@HRSonline) are partnering to mark AFib Awareness Month with a Twitter chat on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. ET. Use the hashtags #AFibAwareness and #LifestyleAndAFib to ask questions, share knowledge and have your say!

Cardiology is the ACC's flagship member magazine — your member magazine — providing cardiovascular professionals with a comprehensive source for clinical and professional news. Find links to all of the July issue's articles and share on social media!

Check out the ACC.19 Meeting Coverage Page for post-meeting content on arrhythmias and clinical electrophysiology to reinforce the teaching points and education presented during ACC.19.

The ACC has made a select number of travel awards available to cover expenses for members to travel to ACC's 2019 Legislative Conference, Nov. 3 – 5, in Washington, DC.

Are you attending the 2019 Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions? Don't miss the JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology Meet and Greet Reception on Thursday, May 9, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. CT at the Fairmont, San Francisco.

Get a unique perspective on ACC.19 by following this year's Learning Pathway Tweeters.

Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) – including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban – are now recommended as the preferred alternative to warfarin for reducing the risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AFib), unless patients have moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis or a mechanical heart valve, according to the 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS Focused Update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation released Jan. 28 by the ACC, American Heart Association and Heart Rhythm Society and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Join us at the ACC.19 All-Section Reception, March 17, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Grand Ballroom A.

Take advantage of free, online certified educational activities to fulfill your 2018 CME requirements and earn MOC credit at the same time!

In a joint President's Message published Dec. 3 in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, ACC President C. Michael Valentine, MD, FACC, and American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) President Jonathan R. Lindner, MD, FACC, FASE, discuss the benefits of greater cooperation between the different societies in cardiology to provide a unified message on quality patient care.

In the latest issues of Cardiology, deep-dive into the emerging risk factors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

In this deep-dive video discussion, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC; Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Anne B. Curtis, MD, FACC; Peter Libby, MD, FACC; and Marc Ruel, MD, MPH, share their perspectives on the most significant science released during AHA.18.

A new guideline released Nov. 6 by the ACC, American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society outlines the clinical presentation and approach to clinical evaluation of patients who may have bradycardia or conduction diseases.

Inappropriate dosing of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is not uncommon in treating patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). To that end, the College has created an infographic to provide information on how clinicians should appropriately dose DOACs.

The September 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

ACC.19 registration is NOW OPEN exclusively for ACC members. Nonmember registration will open Wednesday, Sept. 26. Register early for the lowest rates and best selection of hotel rooms!

A series of eight state-of-the-art reviews is now publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). One review is publishing each week, examining the top risk factors affecting the cardiovascular health of patients: diet, tobacco, lipid control/cholesterol, blood pressure, psychological health, weight, physical activity and blood sugar.

His bundle pacing may have significant potential for future applications in patients who are traditional candidates for right ventricular pacing, as well as cardiac resynchronization therapy, according to a council perspective from ACC's Electrophysiology Section Leadership Council published Aug. 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The August 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

Although complications can occur, Fellows in Training (FITs) and Early Career cardiologists may benefit from involving themselves in the subfield of “humanitarian electrophysiology” at home and abroad, according to an FIT/Early Career column published July 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Geoffrey Rubin, MD, describes his experiences training abroad and notes that it is eye-opening to leave the comfort zone and daily routines of a resource-laden U.S. medical center, especially for training physicians. MORE...

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against preventative screening with resting or exercise electrocardiography in asymptomatic adults at low risk of cardiovascular disease events in an updated recommendation statement published June 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology has been accepted for full indexing in PubMed, a free, online archive powered by the National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM). The database comprises more than 28 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books.

JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology has been accepted for full indexing in PubMed, a free, online archive powered by the National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine. The database comprises more than 28 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books.

The ACC recently provided an analysis regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) new national coverage determination (NCD) policy governing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation for Medicare fee-for-service patients. The new NCD, released by CMS mid-February, includes developments in several areas – including shared decision-making, clinical indications and data collection – that ACC members should consider.

On Feb. 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final national coverage determination (NCD) policy governing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation for Medicare fee-for-service patients.

An extra issue of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology was published this month to serve as a mini-themed issue on subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators and contains numerous other papers selected for their practice-changing potential.

In the latest ACC Cardiology Hour, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, is joined by Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Rachel J. Lampert, MD, FACC; Prediman K. Shah, MD, MACC; and Chadwick W. Stouffer, MD, in a roundtable discussion of the hottest trials from AHA 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Among the trials discussed are DACAB, CANVAS, EXSCEL, POISE-2 and more.

The ACC, along with the American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society, have published new guidelines for the treatment of adult patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) or who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. The new guidelines replace the 2006 ACC/AHA/SC Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death and provide recommendations regarding general evaluation of patients with documented or suspected VA; treatments, therapies and prevention of VA; acute management of specific VA; and VA in the structurally normal heart.

Surveys assessing the physician work necessary to perform (1) leadless pacemaker implantation and explantation, (2) pulmonary wireless monitor implantation and management and (3) pediatric thermodilution studies are being distributed to members throughout the month of October. If you are randomly selected and receive a survey, please take 15 – 30 minutes to thoughtfully complete it. Annual updates to the physician work relative values are based on recommendations from the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC).

The College’s EP Section Leadership Council and CardioSmart in partnership with the Global Atrial Fibrillation Alliance invite you to assist in raising awareness during Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month this September! If you are interested in organizing an event at your institution or in your city, the EP Council and GAFA volunteers created a set of several PowerPoint presentations on a variety of topics related to AFib, including lifestyle modifications, medication, stroke, sleep apnea and others.

In conjunction with the ACC Committee Nominations cycle, the College’s Membership Committee is now accepting applications through Sept. 22. The Membership Committee was established as part of the 2015 College’s governance transformation and serves as standing committee of the College, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.

Watch the new "ACC Cardiology Hour," an expert roundtable discussion of the hottest trials from ESC Congress 2017.

The August 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

ACC members have numerous ways to stay up to date on the practice-changing science published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The journal publishes the latest developments and state-of-the-art clinical research in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias 12 times per year.

The ACC is seeking public comments on the ACC/HRS Lifelong Learning Statement for Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology (CCEP) Specialists. The statement builds on the  2015 Advanced Training Statement on CCEP to identify the lifelong learning competencies for CCEP specialists, similar, though not identical to the competencies for advanced training.

The LAAO Registry research and publications subcommittee is now accepting research proposal applications (RPAs) for hypothesis-driven research studies that employ the baseline data collected in the registry. To be considered during this initial review cycle, investigators should submit their RPAs by noon ET on Oct. 16, 2017.

The July 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

The ACC is seeking qualified candidates to serve as vice chair of the Annual Scientific Session for a two-year term of office for ACC.19 and ACC.20, moving on to assume another two-year term as chair of ACC.21 and ACC.22.

The ACC.org editors have created additional arrhythmias and clinical electrophysiology (EP)-related content meant to reinforce the teaching points and education presented during ACC.17.

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began the information collection process to update the national coverage determination (NCD) governing ICD implants.

The ACC is seeking input from practices on incorrectly denied or difficult prior authorization requests via the new web-based prior authorization tool (PARTool).

The ACC.org editors have created additional arrhythmias and clinical electrophysiology (EP)-related content meant to reinforce the teaching points and education presented during ACC.17.

The June 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!

The ACC.org editors have created additional arrhythmias and clinical electrophysiology (EP)-related content meant to reinforce the teaching points and education presented during ACC.17.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists, in collaboration with the ACC, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Radiology, American Dental Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, is seeking comments on their early draft of the Practice Guidelines for Procedural Moderate Sedation and Analgesia.

A recent Expert Analysis, authored by Yong-Mei Cha, MD, FACC; Byron Kwock Lee, MD, FACC; and Mina K. Chung, MD, FACC, members of ACC’s Electrophysiology (EP) Section Leadership Council, examines advances in cardiac implantable electric devices (CIEDs) in 2016, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible CIEDs, CIED implant complications and battery recalls.

ACC Past President Leonard S. Dreifus, MD, MACC, passed away on March 30 at the age of 92 in his home in Florida. Dreifus and his wife, Seline, are well-known for their philanthropic work, especially the gracious donation of the "Man Helping Man" sculpture installed at Heart House in Washington, DC.

Attending ACC.17? Join us for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! The event happening THIS Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC's 19+ Member Sections are working to accomplish and to connect with members in your specialty or interest areas.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a national coverage determination for leadless pacemakers. Responding to comments submitted by the ACC, in collaboration with the Heart Rhythm Society and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, CMS finalized coverage that includes leadless pacemakers implanted in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved label indications in prospective longitudinal studies.

Save the Date for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! Happening on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, this event will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC’s 19+ Member Sections. Submit your RSVP to attend.

The ACC, in collaboration with the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommending changes to its draft national coverage determination for use of leadless pacemakers.

The JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology website has been redesigned, bringing a fresh perspective to the journal’s vast content – and helping clinicians stay on top of the most important science and emerging discoveries in clinical cardiology.

The ICD/CRT Appropriate Use Criteria App provides decision and documentation support for clinicians assessing the suitability of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Discover original research and in-depth analysis with JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Increasing to 12 publications a year in 2017, the journal covers all aspects of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Get on-the-go highlights with in-depth audio summary recorded by Editor-in-Chief David Wilber, MD, FACC.

The Spring issue of Cardiology magazine, examines the broader implications of the Advanced Training Statement for clinical electrophysiology (EP) released by the ACC, American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society in September 2015. In a recent Leadership Page in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, Kristen K. Patton, MD, FACC, a member of the Electrophysiology Section Leadership Council, explains that “a major immediate effect...

Updated clinical performance and quality measures for treating adult patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter have been expanded to include the inpatient setting, and now address care domains that were not previously included, such as patient safety, effective clinical care, communication and care coordination. The updated measure set was released June 27 by the ACC and the American Heart Association, and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology....

David Wilber, MD, FACC, editor in chief of JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, and other experts explore the hottest electrophysiology research and trends presented during the Heart Rhythm Society’s 37th Annual Scientific Sessions (HRS 2016) in San Francisco, CA, in a series of video interviews. Read more >>>

The ACC/AHA Task Force on Performance Measures has developed a prevention of sudden cardiac death measure set. The Task Force is seeking public comments on the measure set. Before completing the survey, please review the draft prevention of sudden cardiac measure set. To provide comments, please access the survey here. If you need to exit the survey before you have finished commenting, you can save your responses and return to the survey later.

Audio summaries from Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) Editor-in-Chief Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, and JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology Editor-in-Chief David Wilber, MD, FACC, are interactive features offered by the journals. Fuster, Wilber and the JACC journals team want to hear from you about these summaries in order to make them even better.

The ACC has launched a new LAAO Registry to capture data on a new class of medical devices used in left atrial appendage occlusion procedures, which will help assess real-world procedural indications and outcomes as well as short- and long-term safety of procedures and devices for closing the left atrial appendage. The registry will serve not only as the formal U.S. Food and Drug Administration-mandated post-approval study for the WATCHMAN device, but it is also expected to serve as a long-term clinical registry for all patients undergoing occlusion of the left atrial appendage, regardless of the device used.

Since its inception as an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved sub-subspecialty training program in 1992, clinical cardiac electrophysiology (CCEP) has continued to evolve in both scope and complexity. At present, electrophysiology trainees complete a one-year specialty program, in addition to the requisite three years of general cardiology. However, as CCEP and the cardiovascular field have continued to evolve, this one-year program has seemed increasingly short.

Early recognition of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathies results in symptom resolution for patients, according to a Council Perspective from the ACC’s Electrophysiology Council published Oct. 5 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The Council notes that in managing patients with arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy, clinicians should focus on eliminating the arrhythmia with catheter ablation and “attempt careful and aggressive control of rate and rhythm.”

All hospitals participating in the NCDR’s CathPCI Registry and/or ICD Registry now have the opportunity to review and voluntarily report their results on several registry-specific measures. Hospitals that choose to participate in this effort will have their rating posted on CardioSmart.org starting in late October or early November. The ACC is encouraging eligible hospitals to take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and quality improvement.

In response to input provided by the ACC and other cardiology specialty societies (SCAI, HRS and HFSA) around the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM’s) new requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC), the ABIM today announced it is eliminating the requirement to maintain underlying certification in a foundational discipline in order to remain certified in a subspecialty. The ABIM Council unanimously passed the proposal to eliminate this “double jeopardy” provision, noting it was clearly an important topic to the internal medicine community.

Consistent with the updated national coverage determination that took effect in 2013, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated coding requirements that take effect next month. Starting July 6, claims for these services will only be processed when the KX modifier is included on the claim line as attestation by the provider of the service that documentation is on file verifying the patient has non-reversible symptomatic bradycardia due to sinus node dysfunction, second degree and/or third degree AV block.

Increases in body mass index (BMI) may significantly raise the risk of incident, post-operative and post-ablation atrial fibrillation (AFib) according to a recent study published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The researchers, led by Christopher X. Wong, MBBS, MSc, from the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute at the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, examined data from 51 studies including 626,603 participants.