Archives for May 2024

Access the Latest Free CME/MOC JASE Article in the ASE Learning Hub

As a benefit of ASE membership, you have access to over 25 free CME/MOC activities in the ASE Learning Hub (ALH)! The latest JASE CME article available in the ALH is titled, Pulmonary Vein Flow Morphology After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair as Predictor of Survival. Members can access this article for free in the ALH and earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Official Countdown: 16 Days until ASE 2024 Download the Final Program for Event Details

The ASE 2024 Schedule Details is now available! Already registered? Use the Whova app to begin planning your schedule. Not yet registered? View the Schedule Details to see the many education and networking opportunities offered at ASE 2024, and register today (on site prices rise by $125)!
The 35th Annual Scientific Sessions— taking place in Portland, Oregon, June 14-16—will provide an environment for engaged learning, share groundbreaking research, and explore the latest advancements in cardiovascular ultrasound. Both in-person and virtual registration options are available.
Highlights this year include:
  • Joint sessions with 17 partnering multimodality organizations.
  • Four featured special lectures.
  • Sonographer Career Day on Saturday where sonographer students are encouraged to attend and learn for the day.
  • Six Science & Technology Theater presentations by industry in the Echo Expo.
  • Eleven Poster Sessions and three Rapid Fire Abstract Presentations.
  • Exhibit Floor with over 50 booths, Bark Park sponsored by Siemens Healthineers, Coffee Carts, Charging Lounges, and Research Posters.
  • And more!

Echo VOL | 13 Issue 5


View Issue Larger | Download (PDF)

Now Available: 2024 Coding Connection Newsletter

ASE is committed to providing our members with the tools and resources they need to ensure coding accuracy and compliancy, and to maximize appropriate revenue. Log in to the ASE Member Portal and access the 2024 Coding Connection document under the “Advocacy” tab.

This free resource provides answers to echocardiography specific billing and assists you in coding accurately for the services you provide, especially in today’s environment of declining reimbursement and increased scrutiny. This newsletter includes information on recent coding updates for echocardiography services, evaluation and management services, Medicare split/shared visit changes, and ASE’s top 10 coding questions and answers.

ASE provides member-only access to coding information and a coding expert who is available to answer individual coding questions free of charge.

Join an ASE Council or Specialty Interest Group

ASE is an organization that is open to all echo enthusiasts, and a diverse and active membership not only makes ASE stronger, but also the field of cardiovascular ultrasound. As a free member benefit, members can choose to join one (or more) of ASE’s six Councils or four Specialty Interest Groups (SIGs).

ASE’s Councils provide members with an opportunity to be involved with one or more subspecialty group to enhance their careers and knowledge, and Council membership is free. The 2024 Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon, offers multiple opportunities to engage with Council members, including Council Business Meetings (see Whova App for schedule).

  • Cardiovascular Sonography
  • Circulation & Vascular Ultrasound
  • Critical Care Echocardiography
  • Interventional Echocardiography
  • Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
  • Perioperative Echocardiography

SIGs support members who have a common interest in specialized areas with growth potential in cardiovascular ultrasound. There are currently four SIGs that members can join for free. Meet members of SIG leadership at a Networking Event on Friday, June 14 during the President’s Welcome Reception.

  • Cardio-Oncology
  • Emerging Echo Enthusiasts
  • Neonatal Hemodynamics TnECHO
  • Veterinary

Join an ASE Council or SIG, by logging in to your ASE Member Portal. Contact Suzanne Morris at smorris@ASEcho.org with questions about Councils, and email SIGs@ASEcho.org with questions about joining a SIG.

Here to Make Your Day: CASE for May

The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “Use of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography to Identify an Unusual Cause of Aortic Regurgitation” by Buck et al. CASE Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “The authors have provided readers with an impactful CASE report that discusses an unusual cause of AR that was discovered with 3D TEE. Their patient had a new diastolic murmur and reduced diastolic BP after a recent invasive coronary angiogram with PCI performed 10 days earlier. TTE demonstrated significant AR and a small linear mass on the AV. Despite an initial suspicion for infective endocarditis, blood cultures remained negative and deductive reasoning raised the concern for an iatrogenic injury to the AV. The 3D TEE demonstrated a band of tissue on the edge of the right coronary cusp. This finding correlated beautifully to an intraoperative photograph and confirms the mechanism of the AR to be due to iatrogenic, partial detachment of the AV cusp. One of the great strengths of CASE is how it serves to help build your imaging knowledge base with these types of surgical and pathologic direct comparisons.”

In addition to that report, this issue presents two other cases in the Valvular Heart Disease category: rheumatic heart disease as an atypical cause of severe aortic stenosis and a rare acquired Gerbode-type shunt from endocarditis. Rare But Deadly Findings displays an accidental discovery of a mushroom-shaped RVOT as an early hint of pediatric arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), as well as a report on type A aortic dissection that emphasizes the importance of a rapid diagnosis through multimodality imaging. Read up on Dr. Sorrell’s editorial as he uncovers the historical evolution of echo and how today’s serendipitous findings in the lab continue to move the practice of echo forward.

Looking for a journal to submit your case report to? We want to hear from you! Email us with questions or submit your report today.

Now Open: 2024 Echo Florida Registration

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual Echo Florida, which will take place October 12-14, 2024, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Register early and save up to $225!

This year, attendees will register for Echo Florida through ASE’s Learning Hub. There are three registration options:

NOTE: Remember to log in to the ASE Member Portal before accessing the Learning Hub to also receive your member registration discount.

This annual course offers a comprehensive review of cardiovascular ultrasound, and this year will also include a new interactive format with hands-on workshops. Attendees can earn up to 20.25 CME/MOC credits.

EchoGuide Surpasses 65,000 Downloads

Since its release 18 months ago, ASE’s FREE calculator and algorithm app EchoGuide has been downloaded more than 65,000 times!

Enjoying EchoGuide? Let us know by writing a review in the Apple or Android App stores. Potential users will benefit from reading about your favorite app features and how this resource helps you in your day-to-day practice.

If you haven’t already, Download EchoGuide for access to more than 50 easy-to-use calculators, algorithms, and charts based on key ASE guidelines. The app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores and on the web

IGE Registry Welcomes Four New Participating Institutions and BMS as a Sponsor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

ASE’s ImageGuideEcho Registry Welcomes Four New Participating Institutions and Bristol Myers Squibb as a Sponsor

(DURHAM, NC, May 14, 2024)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to announce the addition of four new participating institutions to its renowned ImageGuideEcho RegistryTM. Over the past year, ASE has seen significant growth in its Registry, with the inclusion of Allina Health, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, University of Pennsylvania, and Lee Health. These institutions join six previously enrolled institutions aiming to support the Registry’s ongoing efforts to assess specific quality metrics and patient outcomes to drive technology application and quality improvement within the field of echocardiography and patient care.

Allina Health, a leading healthcare system based in Minnesota, became a participating institution on August 25, 2023. Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the first pediatric medical center to enroll in the Registry, joined on December 11, 2023. The University of Pennsylvania, renowned for its exceptional medical education and research, became a participating institution on February 22, 2024. Lee Health, a leading healthcare system in Southwest Florida, joined the Registry on March 28, 2024.

“We are thrilled to have these new institutions as a part of the ImageGuideEcho Registry,” said Jordan Strom, MD, MSc, FASE, ASE ImageGuideEcho Registry Committee Chair. “ With the addition of these four institutions, the Registry now encompasses an even broader range of healthcare settings, enhancing its ability to capture a comprehensive snapshot of echocardiography practice in the United States. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of the Registry’s value in improving patient outcomes and promoting evidence-based practice.”

In addition to the new participating institutions, ASE is proud to welcome Bristol Myers Squibb as a Gold Sponsor. Bristol Myers Squibb’s support will enable the Registry to further its mission of promoting excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound and improving patient outcomes.

“At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are committed to transforming patients’ lives through science,” said Cecilia Marta, PhD, CMD, VP, Head of U.S. Medical Cardiovascular and Established Brands, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We are proud to support ASE’s ImageGuideEcho Registry, as it aligns with our desire to advance cardiovascular care and underscores our belief in the power of data-driven insights to drive meaningful change for patients.”

The Registry serves as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals, providing valuable data and insights to enhance the quality of echocardiography imaging. The addition of these four institutions and the support of Bristol Myers Squibb, helps bolster the continued growth and success of the ImageGuideEcho Registry.

“We are extremely grateful to Bristol Myers Squibb for their commitment that will help us further our mission of promoting excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound and improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Strom. “I encourage other institutions and sponsors to join the Registry and contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and safety of echocardiography. By participating in the Registry, institutions can gain access to valuable data-driven insights, identify areas for improvement, and benchmark their performance against national standards.”

About ImageGuideEchoTM Registry

ImageGuideEchoTM is a comprehensive database that collects data from echocardiograms performed across the United States. The Registry data provides valuable insights into the use and outcomes of echocardiography and helps clinicians make informed decisions and improve the quality of care at their institutions. For more information on the registry and enrollment, please visit ImageGuideEcho.org or contact Registry@ASEcho.org.

 

About ASE

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram.

 

                                                                                ###

Registration is Open for Advanced Echo 2024

Did you miss Echo Hawaii or State-of-the-Art Echocardiography (SOTA) earlier this year? Or maybe you are looking for unlimited on-demand access to the latest education on established and emerging cardiovascular ultrasound technologies? Register for ASE’s Advanced Echo 2024 online course and access 28 presentations compiled from the 2024 Echo Hawaii and SOTA courses. Expert faculty discuss the latest technologies with a particular focus on how they can be effectively applied in a clinical setting.

Registration includes access to course materials until April 16, 2025; up to 13.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and ASE members receive reduced registration fees as a benefit of membership.