Competency ID

Medical Knowledge

All Clinical Cardiologists

Selected Cardiologists Based on Practice Focus

L-VALV-MK1

Know the characteristic features and natural history of congenital bicuspid aortic valve disease and associated aortopathy.

X

L-VALV-MK2

Know the etiology, natural history, pathophysiology, and differential diagnosis of rheumatic and other forms of acquired aortic, mitral, pulmonic, and tricuspid valve diseases.

X

L-VALV-MK3

Know the characteristic clinical features of rheumatic valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK4

Know the cardinal symptoms and physical signs of aortic and mitral stenosis and their role in management decisions.

X

L-VALV-MK5

Know the cardinal symptoms and physical signs of chronic aortic and chronic mitral regurgitation and their roles in management decisions.

X

L-VALV-MK6

Know the causes and distinguishing clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of acute versus chronic mitral and aortic regurgitation.

X

L-VALV-MK7

Know the indications for mitral valve intervention in patients with primary and secondary mitral regurgitation.

X

L-VALV-MK8

Know the indications for and characteristic findings of echocardiography during evaluation and follow-up of patients with native and prosthetic valve diseases, including endocarditis and its complications.

X

L-VALV-MK9

Know the role of stress testing in assessment of patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK10

Know the indications for MR and CT imaging in the assessment of patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK11

Know the indications for and characteristic findings at cardiac catheterization in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK12

Know the indications for and clinical pharmacology of drugs used for treatment of patients with valvular heart disease and prosthetic heart valves, including anticoagulation and antibiotic prophylaxis.

X

L-VALV-MK13

Know the effects of arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, on the clinical manifestations of, risks of complications in, and management of patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK14

Know the indications for and expected outcomes and potential complications of surgical therapy for patients with valvular heart disease, including repair versus replacement and selection of prostheses.

X

L-VALV-MK15

Know the indications for and expected outcomes and potential complications of transcatheter therapy for patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-MK16

Know the etiology, natural history, physical findings, differential diagnosis, complications, and treatment of patients with native and prosthetic valve endocarditis.

X

L-VALV-MK17

Know the effects of pregnancy on the clinical manifestations of valvular heart disease (native and prosthetic) and implications for patient management.

X

Patient Care and Procedural Skills

All

Practice Focused

L-VALV-PC1

Skill to identify the cardinal clinical ECG and chest X-ray findings in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC2

Skill to distinguish innocent from pathologic heart murmurs.

X

L-VALV-PC3

Skill to manage patients with combined valvular and coronary heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC4

Skill to select appropriate testing, including exercise testing, and integrate results with clinical findings in the evaluation and management of patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC5

Skill to distinguish aortic stenosis from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and other causes of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

X

L-VALV-PC6

Skill to identify and manage ventricular dysfunction in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC7

Skill to identify and manage pulmonary hypertension in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC8

Skill to determine candidacy for and optimal timing of cardiac surgical or transcatheter treatments in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC9

Skill to perform and interpret transesophageal echocardiography in patients with valvular heart disease.

X

L-VALV-PC10

Skill to perform and interpret diagnostic cardiac catheterization in patients with valvular heart disease.

X