November 2, 2023 By

ASE Releases Updated COVID-19 Statement Guideline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

American Society of Echocardiography Releases Updated COVID-19 Statement Guideline
The guideline addresses lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and offers new recommendations and guidance to echocardiography laboratories for preparedness in future pandemics

(DURHAM, NC, November 2, 2023)—The COVID-19 pandemic altered the medical landscape and spurred dramatic changes in the practice of echocardiography. While we have moved on from a public health emergency, the emergence of multiple variants makes it an ongoing health issue and an opportune time to reflect on the impact of pandemics.

Considering these developments, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released an updated guideline document to address the current state of COVID-19’s impact on echocardiography and to apply lessons learned to echocardiography laboratory operations in future pandemics.

The new guideline, titled American Society of Echocardiography COVID-19 Statement Update: Lessons Learned and Preparation for Future Pandemics, is an update to the Society’s initial statement released in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

The statement offers recommendations on specific indications and decisions about the performance of echocardiography services, infection/transmission mitigation strategies, role of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound/critical care echocardiography, and training in echocardiography, all of which are important areas impacted by current and future pandemics.

“The information included in this guideline will help echocardiography laboratories better plan and prepare by incorporating the lessons we learned the first time around,” says James N. Kirkpatrick, MD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “If in the next pandemic we are once again in contingency or crisis situations, this scientific statement will help direct triage efforts, ensure resources are efficiently employed, and establish plans and protocols helping to prevent staff distress and burnout.”

Additionally, the guideline recognizes the role of professional societies in guiding the development of local policies in conversations between echocardiography laboratory directors and administrators, infection control experts, and staff.

“ASE was one of the first professional societies to offer guidance to echocardiography laboratories around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says ASE Past President (2019-2020) Madhav Swaminathan, MD, FASE, co-chair of the guideline writing group. “The pandemic has evolved since publishing that initial statement, and we have learned that sharing experiences and providing information proactively helps better protect echocardiography service providers and patients.”

This document is a multi-society and multi-national statement comprised of a diverse writing group that includes experts from ASE, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. It is published in the November 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

ASE published several earlier COVID-19 statements covering a variety of specific areas, including pediatrics and sonography. View all ASE Guidelines by visiting ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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 the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: News
September 29, 2023 By

ASE Advocacy Update 9/29/23

The fall season brings with it the potential for government shutdown on October 1. We are seeing this play out this week as Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 FY2024 appropriations bills or a short-term spending bill (i.e., Continuing Resolution (CR)) to keep the government funded while Congress continues to work on a broader spending package. The Senate is expected to vote by Saturday on a CR that would fund the government until November 17. There are two CR proposals in the House—one to fund the government for 30 days and the other until January 11—but a vote has not been scheduled and may not be by the October 1 deadline. Below are some highlights of the impact on key health policy areas in the event Congress does not pass a CR by midnight Saturday, September 30, and there is a government shutdown.

Congress

  • Congressional offices will remain open.

Medicare and Medicaid

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue to process claims.
  • Physicians would not have to hold claims until the CR passes, but there could be a delay in payment if the shutdown is prolonged and funding to Medicare Administrative Contractors is delayed.
  • If the shutdown is prolonged, it is possible that the release of the Medicare physician fee schedule final rule, outpatient prospective payment system final rule, and other major regulations could be delayed.
  • Medicare benefits will not be affected.
  • Medicaid has full funding for the next three months.
  • Approximately half of CMS employees would be deemed essential and continue to work, although many would be unpaid until the shutdown ends.
  • CMS staffing levels may not be sufficient to respond to physicians’ questions about Medicare policies or scores under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
  • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) staff may continue to develop new alternative payment models, but any new model that CMMI plans to formally announce would likely be delayed.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • HHS will use its authority under the Antideficiency Act (ADA) to maintain existing HHS activities, including research and vaccine and therapeutic development.
  • CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • CMS will continue Federal Exchange activities, such as eligibility verification, using Federal Exchange user fee carryover.
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will continue substance abuse and mental health programs, including those that provide critical behavioral health resources in the event of a natural   or human-caused disaster such as Disaster Behavioral Health response teams, the 24/7 365 day-a-year Disaster Distress Helpline that provides crisis counseling to people experiencing emotional distress after a disaster, and the 988/Suicide Lifeline to connect people in crisis with life-saving resources.
  • The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will maintain the minimal readiness for all hazards, including COVID-19, pandemic flu, and hurricane responses.
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue research and clinical activities.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to support drug and medical device reviews, as well as emergency use authorizations and countermeasures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. FDA will also continue core functions to handle and respond to emergencies, such as monitoring for and quickly responding to outbreaks related to foodborne illness and the flu, supporting food and medical product recalls when products endanger consumers and patients, pursuing criminal and certain civil investigations when the public health is at risk, and screening the food and medical products that are imported to the U.S.
  • HHS will continue to protect human life and property, such as monitoring for disease outbreaks conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • CMS regulations and guidance related to the No Surprises Act, including the Independent Dispute Resolution process, could be delayed.
  • The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will continue to oversee many direct health services and other activities funded through carryover balances, such as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program – Parts A and B and Ending the HIV Epidemic.
  • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will continue activities funded through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF).
  • Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is under a three-year appropriation; all of ARPA-H activities would continue during a lapse of appropriation.
  • The Indian Health Service (IHS) is under advance appropriations for FY 2024; the majority of IHS-funded programs will remain funded and operational in the event of a lapse of appropriation.

Miscellaneous

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue at least through October.
  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) could begin an immediate reduction in benefits a few days after the shutdown starts, although some states may be able to use extra funding to maintain funding for a week or two.
  • Student loan payments: The beginning of a government shutdown could coincide with the restart of federal student loan payments in the U.S. on Oct. 1, but borrowers will still have to make payments to their loan service providers.
Filed Under: Advocacy News, News
July 13, 2023 By

ASE Releases Updated Fetal Echo Guideline

 

 

 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

American Society of Echocardiography Releases Updated Fetal Echocardiography Guideline
The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multidisciplinary collaboration in fetal cardiac care and evaluation

(DURHAM, NC, July 13, 2023)—Fetal echocardiography is a highly sensitive and specific noninvasive tool used to detect, classify and evaluate fetal cardiovascular diseases. The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released a guideline document titled Guidelines and Recommendations for Performance of the Fetal Echocardiogram: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography, replacing the original guidelines and standards published by the Society in 2004.

The standards for imaging, reporting and communication of test results in fetal echocardiography continue to advance rapidly, and a considerable amount of new information has become available in the last 20 years. The purpose of this new guideline document is to provide updated recommendations for the performance and interpretation of fetal echocardiography.

The guideline focuses on the detection, classification, risk assessment, and perinatal care planning of pregnancies where the fetus has cardiovascular disease. Much of the information presented is the result of multidisciplinary collaboration and pooling of multicenter data and expertise of subspecialists and other important stakeholders in the care of fetal patients with cardiovascular disease.

The guideline’s writing group was commissioned by ASE’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council and lead by Co-Chairs Anita J. Moon-Grady, MD, FASE, and Mary T. Donofrio, MD, FASE. The group presents detailed guidelines for what constitutes a complete fetal echocardiographic examination that can be used as a guide for both learners and experienced practitioners. The Fetal Heart Society, the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine also endorse the document, which is published in the July 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

“Ongoing research and collaboration have supported efforts toward a better understanding of fetal physiology and disease processes and progression. This has led to significant improvements in fetal diagnosis and in clinical practice and outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Moon-Grady. “The information included in the updated guideline will help practitioners and clinicians maintain the best practice for fetal echocardiography and fetal and perinatal cardiovascular care across disciplines.”

This document and all guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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 the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: News
June 30, 2023 By

ASE Appoints 2023-2024 Board President

 

 

 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

American Society of Echocardiography Appoints 2023-2024 Board President

(DURHAM, NC, June 30, 2023)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin W. Eidem, MD, FASE, as the organization’s new Board of Directors President, effective July 1, 2023.

During the 34th Annual Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, Md., June 23-26, Dr. Eidem shared his vision as the 2023-2024 ASE President. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound professionals, enthusiasts, and multidisciplinary partners, and he explained that his presidency will primarily focus on the value of membership in the Society. As only the second pediatric cardiologist to lead ASE since it was founded in 1975, he plans to focus on three important initiatives he sums up as (1) ASE Matters, (2) ASE Mentors and (3) ASE Educates.

ASE Matters will help expand the organization’s opportunities for leadership and service, ASE Mentors will help foster engagement among new and longtime members and facilitate the training of future leaders in the field, and ASE Educates will address the ongoing need for education and training of adult sonographers in the area of adult congenital heart disease to better serve patients.

“Cardiovascular ultrasound imaging is a challenging and rewarding field comprised of a diverse group of professions made up of many specialties and subspecialties,” said Dr. Eidem. “In my term as President, I want to balance the varied needs of individual members, while also addressing the needs of our entire field. Increased member involvement advances and grows ASE and cardiovascular ultrasound.”

Dr. Eidem has held numerous leadership and volunteer positions on committees, councils, task forces, and writing groups, and served as chair of the Finance and Education committees, among others. He has been a member of ASE since 1995 and achieved Fellowship status from the Society in 2003. He most recently served on the Executive Committee on ASE’s Board of Directors as the 2022-2023 President-Elect.

Originally from St. Paul, Minn., Dr. Eidem earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Mich. He completed his residency in Pediatrics from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, before moving back to his home state to complete his fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology from Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He is currently the Director of Pediatric and Congenital Echocardiography at Mayo Clinic and is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cardiology.

ASE membership also elected ten new Board members to serve the Society starting July 1, 2023. The ASE Executive Committee welcomes newly elected Vice President David H. Wiener, MD, FASE, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, who will serve a one-year term.

The following new Board members were elected to serve two-year terms: Craig Fleishman, MD, FASE, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL (Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council); Enrique Garcia-Sayan, MD, FASE, FACC, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX (Member at Large); Allison Hays, MD, FASE, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, (Member at Large); Lanqi Hua, ACS, APCA, RDCS (AE, PE, FE) MS, FASE, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Member at Large); Sheela Pai-Cole, MD, FASE, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA (Perioperative Echocardiography Council); Lucy Safi, DO, FASE, Mount Sinai, New York City, NY (Leadership Academy Representative); Seda Tierney, MD, FASE, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA (Member at Large); and Susan Wiegers, MD, FASE, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (Past President Representative). Paul Mayo, MD, FASE, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY (Critical Care Echocardiography Council) will serve a one-year term.

Learn more about ASE by visiting, ASEcho.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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 the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Filed Under: General
June 23, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Research Spotlight 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Advances in Echocardiography Lead to Promising Research for Placing Pacemaker Devices

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—Research that will be presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md., will share how advances in echocardiography resulted in more accurately placed pacemaker devices.

Some pacemakers use flexible, insulated wires—also known as leads—to deliver electrical pulses that help hearts beat at a normal rate and rhythm. The current standard practice for placing pacemaker leads is fluoroscopic/X-ray guidance. However, a new research study conducted by Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., found that three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography resulted in more accurate pacemaker lead placement when compared to X-ray technology.

The study’s lead author Dr. Dale Burkett, who is an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics-Cardiology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, explained that when pacemaker leads are placed in the ideal location, they are able to better mimic the heart’s normal electrical conduction and reduce the long-term risk of heart dysfunction. Additionally, 3D echocardiography lowers both the patient’s and the cardiology staff’s exposure to radiation during the procedure.

“By using 3D echocardiography guidance, we are able to better visualize pacemaker leads as they move through the heart and guide them to where they are intended to go,” says Dr. Burkett. “Our work demonstrates that with advances in echocardiography, we can provide higher quality care for our patients who need permanent pacemakers for heart rhythm management.”

Highlighting continuing innovations in the cardiovascular ultrasound field, nearly 400 abstract poster presentations will be featured during ASE 2023. This study, titled 3D Echocardiography Guidance for Pacemaker Lead Placement Improves Accuracy of Lead Placement and Reduces QRS Duration Compared to Fluoroscopic Guidance, will be presented Sunday, June 25, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General
June 23, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Research Spotlight 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Imaging Research Highlighted at ASE 2023

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the field of cardiovascular ultrasound imaging, and research studies are examining the ways that AI can most benefit patients and medical practitioners.

AI-related research is a prominent topic at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md. This year’s meeting is appropriately named Foundations and the Future of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and will focus on education, science and innovation.

Three AI research studies that will be presented during the meeting highlight different AI tools including AI-powered chat interactions, identifying patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and identifying life-threating valve disease. The findings from each of these studies will be presented Sunday, June 25, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

Using AI-Powered Chat Interactions with Patients

The rise of online chat-based AI models has opened up new possibilities in the field of medicine. A new research study titled Enhancing Patient Comprehension of Echocardiography Reports through Artificial Intelligence-Powered Chat Interactions examines how chat-based AI technology could potentially improve the healthcare experience for cardiovascular ultrasound patients.

Echocardiography reports are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions, but they are oftentimes filled with complex medical terminology and numerous abbreviations that can be difficult for patients to understand. Providers use these reports to explain medical findings to patients, and patients can use the reports to actively engage in their healthcare, participate in insightful discussions with their doctors and obtain a better comprehension of treatment strategies.

“Our research is fundamentally about patient education and bridging the gap between medical complexity and patient understanding,” says lead author Dr. Joseph Kassab, a cardiovascular imaging research fellow at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “By leveraging AI-powered chat interactions, it is our hope that in the future, we might be able to provide patients with a medically validated tool to explore and better understand their echocardiography reports on their own time. Doctors continue to provide their irreplaceable expertise, while the AI models serve as a supportive educational tool, making information more accessible to patients.”

AI Can Detect HFpEF with Greater Ease and Precision

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major cause of disease and death worldwide, and diagnosis can be challenging. Various algorithms that include clinical risk factors and echocardiography measurements have been developed for diagnosis but are indeterminate in many patients. A research study titled Automated Echocardiographic Detection of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction using Artificial Intelligence applies AI to analyze a single, routinely acquired echocardiographic video clip in an effort to identify patients with HFpEF, a group with increased morbidity and mortality.

“Our novel AI model demonstrated excellent discrimination of patients with HFpEF versus without, more often than with clinical scores, and it was able to stratify patients according to mortality risk,” said the study’s senior author Dr. Patricia A. Pellikka, chair, Division of Cardiovascular Ultrasound at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “Further testing in varied populations and in different echocardiography labs is needed to refine the model, but it could potentially be used for screening and importantly, expedite diagnosis and treatment for a large group of patients.”

The deep learning-based AI algorithm was developed as a result of institution and industry collaboration. Mayo Clinic and Ultromics, an AI echocardiography company spun out of the University of Oxford, joined forces to develop the algorithm, which was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 after being awarded breakthrough device status. The research was supported by a grant from the ASE Foundation.

AI Technology Supports Echocardiography in Determining Aortic Stenosis Severity

Aortic Stenosis (AS) is a common form of valvular heart disease, and it is estimated to be present in over 12% of the population aged 75 years and above. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first line of cardiovascular imaging in determining the severity of AS and requires expert sonographic and interpretation capabilities to yield accurate results. AI technology has emerged as a useful tool to address these limitations but has not yet been applied in a fully hands off manner to evaluate AS.

A new research study titled Fully Automated Artificial Intelligence Assessment of Aortic Stenosis by Echocardiography tested an AI tool to measure echocardiographic markers of AS severity without human input. The AI-derived measurements were highly accurate when compared against expert cardiologist assessment.

“AI technology can allow for near instantaneous and hands-free identification of a life-threatening valvular heart condition by providers trained only in basic ultrasound,” said lead author Dr. Hema Krishna, a cardiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This machine learning platform can potentially extend diagnostic capability to patients in rural, community, or emergency room settings without immediate access to cardiologists.”

Dr. Krishna explained that rapid identification of hemodynamically significant AS can reduce the time to receive life-saving valve replacement therapy and also prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General
June 23, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Research Spotlight 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

New Research Study Uses Echocardiography to Compare Global Longitudinal Strain Values Among College Athletes Diagnosed with a COVID-19 Infection

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—COVID-19 may no longer be a global health emergency, but the effects of the disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are still being felt and studied. Research that will be presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md., will share how echocardiography was used to analyze left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) in college athletes who experienced mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In the study, nearly 200 student athletes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who tested positive for COVID-19 from September-March 2020, underwent a comprehensive echocardiogram to collect various data, including GLS values. GLS values can vary with age and sex, but they can be used to help predict future cardiovascular events and detect structural heart diseases.

The study found that GLS was normal in most college athletes when compared to reported normal values. However, GLS values in male football players were lower than previously reported normal values. These echocardiographic findings were supported by cardiac MRIs.

“Collecting and comparing GLS enables medical professionals to better monitor athletes for heart abnormalities associated with viral illnesses, such as COVID-19,” says the study’s lead author Dr. Parag A. Tipnis, an associate clinical professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Echocardiography remains a powerful tool in the diagnosis of cardiac disease and can be complementary to other modalities, such as cardiac MRIs, to help determine when athletes or patients can return to normal activities after an illness.”

Dr. Tipnis described the research findings as hypothesis generating, and stressed the importance of further analyzing GLS values in larger patient populations.

“My research team and I believe that future studies of GLS patterns in college athletes will be important in helping detect heart issues and minimizing the risk of sudden cardiac death,” he continued.

Highlighting continuing innovations in the cardiovascular ultrasound field, nearly 400 abstract poster presentations will be featured during ASE 2023. This study, titled Comparison of Global Longitudinal Strain Among College Athletes Diagnosed with Mild to Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection, will be presented Saturday, June 24, 7 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. ET at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General
June 23, 2023 By

ASE 2023 Research Spotlight 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Large Study Finds Artificial Intelligence Can Assist Novice Nurses, Medical Residents in Acquiring Diagnostic-Quality Echocardiography Images

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way echocardiograms are acquired and interpreted. A new study, that will be presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md., will share how AI-guided software can benefit both the field of cardiovascular ultrasound and ultimately its patients.

The multi-center study compared the quality of echocardiography images acquired by nurses and medical residents. After just 12 hours of training with the AI-guided software, these novice users were able to acquire echocardiography images in 10 standard views with rates of diagnostic quality approaching that of expert sonographers.

The AI-guided software was developed by UltraSight using intuitive visual cues from more than 10,000 echocardiograms and was embedded into a Philips Lumify handheld device. The accuracy of the AI software was then evaluated by five expert readers who were blinded to the imagers’ identities and evaluated for sufficient quality for diagnostic interpretation.

“We found that the AI-guided software allowed novices to acquire images suitable for diagnostic interpretation by an expert reader in the majority of patients,” says one of the study’s lead authors, Dr. Roberto M. Lang, an internationally renowned cardiologist and specialist in echocardiography at the University of Chicago Medicine. “These promising findings confirm that AI-guided software could be potentially useful in teaching novice medical professionals and assessing cardiac function in settings where services of trained echocardiography laboratories are not available.”

Nearly 400 abstract poster presentations highlighting continuing innovations in the cardiovascular ultrasound field will be featured during ASE 2023. This study, titled Real-Time Artificial Intelligence Based Guidance of Echocardiographic Imaging: Does Novice Profile Affect Image Quality and Suitability for Diagnostic Interpretation? will be presented by University of Chicago Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Imaging Fellow Dr. Juan Ignacio Cotella on Sunday, June 25, from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. ET at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
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, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: General, News
May 17, 2023 By

Read JASE and Earn FREE CME/MOC Credits

Did you know that each issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE) includes a free CME/MOC article? The articles are available each month in the ASE Learning Hub, making it easy to click, review, learn, and earn free CME/MOC credits. Simply log in to your ASE Member Portal, “Browse Catalog” then choose JASE CME on the left side. There are currently 10 free JASE CME/MOC articles available.


CME certificates are available for immediate access once you have successfully completed the activity. Additionally, CME/MOC credits earned through the ASE Learning Hub can be automatically transferred to your appropriate credentialing body (ARDMS, CCI, ABIM, ABP, ABA) if your birthdate and registry number are listed on your Member Profile. You can add or update this information in the Member Portal by clicking the “Update My ASE Profile” tab and then “Change”. Remember to scroll down and hit “Save” after making any changes. Need help? Submit an Education & Meetings Help Desk Ticket.
Filed Under: General
May 17, 2023 By

ImageGuideEcho Registry Booth at ASE 2023

ASE’s ImageGuideEcho™ Registry is the nation’s first echo-specific clinical data registry. Within the Registry, your institution will have the analytical tools to: track quality improvement, conduct detailed analysis into your own data, leverage continued alignment in quality with IAC, link to outcomes data, and examine data to conduct innovative research.

Join us at ASE 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland, and stop by the ASE ImageGuideEcho Registry Booth #531 in the Echo Expo. ASE member physicians will be presenting these five information sessions:

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

Growth of the ImageGuideEcho Registry
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Jordan Strom, MD, MSc, FASE

Cedaron: Improving Quality of Care
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Malcolm Bond, PhD

The Pediatric Echo Module
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Dan Forsha, MD, MCS, FASE & Charitha Reddy, MD

SUNDAY, JUNE 25

The Perioperative Echo Module
10:05 AM – 10:35 AM
Alina Nicoara, MD, FASE

ASE & IAC – A Continued Alignment in Quality
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
David H. Wiener, MD, FASE

Filed Under: General
American Society of Echocardiography
The Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals
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919.861.5574

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