The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “Transesophageal Echocardiographic Planning and Neo–Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Assessment for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Using Novel Software” by Bartkowiak et. al. Author Joanna Bartkowiak, MD, remarked, “Patients with severe, symptomatic degenerative mitral stenosis who may be candidates for transcatheter mitral valve replacement, require pre-procedural imaging to assess appropriate valve size and risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). A novel postprocessing TEE software facilitates assessment of LVOTO risk, which may be particularly helpful in patients with urgent need for transcatheter MV implantation and contraindication for contrast-enhanced computed tomography.”

In addition to that report on the remarkable advances in TEE guidance of transcatheter mitral valve implantation, this issue presents a second case in the Echo Innovation category, serving up a striking GLS bullseye display in a patient with an apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cases in the Congenital Heart Disease account for the valuable role of echo in a patient with partial Shone complex, as well as the various complications that can arise with a cor triatriatum dexter finding. Rare But Deadly Findings presents a case of ventricular septal rupture in a patient who experienced a motor vehicle accident, while this issue concludes with a report in Veterinary Clinical Cardiovascular Medicine demonstrating a Gerbode defect with echo/Doppler in a dog that suffered thoracic trauma. Read up on Dr. Sorrell’s editorial to review spatial, temporal, and contrast resolution as they relate to multimodality cardiovascular (CV) imaging and reasons to perform one test over another.

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.

ASE’s mission in advocacy is to represent the interests of our members, while advocating to create an environment for excellence in the quality and practice of cardiovascular ultrasound. ASE’s role as the voice of echocardiography on Capitol Hill, to federal agencies, and among private payers, is unquestionably of great, and ever-increasing, importance.

Your ASE membership allows you access to the following Advocacy tools in your ASE Member Portal:

• Ask a Coding Expert – Get help with common coding and reimbursement issues with an easy online submission form and FAQs.
• Coding and Reimbursement Information – Annual coding and reimbursement newsletter and updates, including webinars to make sure you are up-to-date on billing information. 
• Health Policy Briefing Newsletter – Each Monday, ASE provides the Health Policy Briefing Newsletter with the latest information on new developments in Washington D.C. that includes all recently introduced bills, scheduled hearings, and proposed legislation and regulatory actions.
• Advocacy Alerts and Action Center – ASE members are alerted when legislative or regulatory issues threaten their practices, and they are sent information about how to help protect our profession. 

Learn more by logging in to your Member Portal, and clicking the Advocacy tab.

This time of year, taxes and finances are top of mind for many individuals. As a benefit of membership, ASE members at all stages of their career have access to a financial literacy awareness program through the ASE Learning Hub. Now, or anytime, is a great time to plan for your financial future!

ASE partnered with JFS Wealth Advisors to offer the following:

• Financial information for all stages of your career
• Articles, videos, and blogs on a variety of financial topics
• Access to planning experts, and more!

There is less than one month left to take advantage of early registration rates to attend ASE’s 35th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 14-16, in Portland, Oregon. Register for ASE 2024 by Wednesday, May 8, to save up to $225!

This year’s new format includes short cases with panel discussions, more audience participation, and an interactive focus with less didactic presentations. There are also lots of activities allowing you to network with your peers. Download the Schedule at a Glance offering an overview of the events taking place during the conference and start planning the sessions you want to attend.

Now is the time to also reserve your hotel room. The conference has a new hotel directly across from the convention center and hotels connected by ASE shuttles from downtown. Learn more about discounted hotel accommodations and visiting Portland. 

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

DURHAM, NC, April 8, 2024)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is pleased to recognize 17 Industry Roundtable (IRT) Partners for 2024.

This represents a significant milestone and the largest number of IRT Partners in the program’s decades-long history. The ASE IRT program is a partnership between industry, practitioners, and scientists with the shared objectives of improving patient care through improving the quality of cardiovascular ultrasound imaging. These partnerships also help shape and impact the future of the field toward outcomes-driven innovations.

2024 ASE IRT Partners include:

• Abbott
• Bracco
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• Cytokinetics
• Edwards Lifesciences
• Fujifilm Healthcare Americas Corp. (Cardiovascular Ultrasound)
• Fujifilm Healthcare Americas Corp. (Medical Informatics)
• GE HealthCare (Cardiovascular Ultrasound)
• GE HealthCare (Pharmaceutical Diagnostics)
• Intel
• JenaValve
• Lantheus
• Pfizer
• Philips Healthcare
• Siemens Healthineers
• Ultromics
• Visura Technologies

G. Burkhard Mackensen, MD, PhD, FASE, Chair of the ASE Industry Relations Committee said, “The ASE Industry Roundtable Partners create invaluable alliances which foster the development of informed cardiovascular professionals, cutting-edge technology and products, standardized procedures, and more favorable legislative environments. Our partners fuel ASE’s programmatic efforts in advancing strategic initiatives within echocardiography, encompassing areas such as quality, standardization, automation, research, outreach, and beyond.”

For more information on ASE’s IRT Program visit ASEcho.org/IRT.

The April issue of JASE includes, “Temporal Trends in Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Artery Coupling in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Replacement for Degenerated Mitral Bioprostheses.” Author Akhil Narang, MD, FASE, remarks, “Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantation (TMViV) offers a safe and minimally invasive alternative for patients at high surgical risk with degenerated mitral valve prostheses. Our research group observed significant improvements in right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling indices one month after the procedure in a large single-center cohort. These findings suggest that echocardiographic-derived RV-PA coupling parameters could serve as valuable markers for monitoring outcomes following TMViV implantation in future studies.”

This issue includes various clinical investigations on diastolic exercise echo and outcome, tricuspid valve imaging in edge-to-edge repair, quantitation of mitral regurgitation with 3D echo, TEE during cardioversion, stress Doppler coronary flow velocity reserve, and fetal Doppler echo. Readers can also look forward to an imaging strategies report on the multimodality imaging approach for planning and guiding direct transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty. Two editorials and five brief research communications round out this issue.

Dr. Pellikka’s editorial acknowledges the hard work and diversity of the JASE reviewer team while Dr. Eidem’s President’s Message recognizes all ASE staff with a “fun fact” to introduce readers to those helping to fulfill the strategic mission of the Society each day.

Be sure to check out April’s Author Spotlight to learn more from lead authors Christina L. Luong, MHSc, FASE and Garvan C. Kane, MD, PhD, FASE, as they discuss their recent paper, Prognostic Significance of Elevated Left Ventricular Filling Pressures with Exercise: Insights from a Cohort of 14,338 Patients.

Please see the April ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.

The ASE Foundation would like to thank the donors who supported the Spring Giving fundraiser last week. $1,550 was raised towards ASEF’s travel grants and scholarships initiative. Your generosity empowers the Foundation to continue supporting the future of the profession. Thank you for helping the next generation of cardiovascular ultrasound professionals bloom and for kick-starting the Foundation’s 2024 Annual Appeal.

The American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey is nearing completion (June 30), and we urgently need all selected physicians to actively engage in this effort.

Today an email was sent to 500 practices for the first time from ppisurvey@mathematica-mpr.com to join the survey. Mathematica, a well-regarded consulting firm, is helping the AMA run this survey. Your practice may receive an email and a USPS mail packet from Mathematica that contains a link to the survey as well as supporting information. We urge you to speak with your practice management colleagues to determine if they have received these communications and ask them to complete this important survey.

The intent of the survey, which has been endorsed by over 170 medical societies and other healthcare associations, is to collect updated and accurate data on practice costs which are key element of physician payment. These data have not been updated since last collected over 15 years ago. It is critically important to update these data to ensure accurate payment.

In the coming weeks or months, you may be asked to complete this two-minute survey. Help us help YOU to update Medicare physician payment.

Register now for ASE’s virtual 2024 ASCeXAM Review Course, which is specifically designed to help you gain the knowledge you need to pass the ASCeXAM exam administered by the National Board of Echocardiography, Inc. (NBE). ASE offers three registration options: 

1. Physician Registration
2. Fellow/Allied Health Registration
3. International Registration

Starting Monday, May 6, registrants will receive online access to all course content including, pre-recorded presentations, PDF slides, and voice recordings. This course is updated each year and contains new presentations.

Registration also includes a live component on Saturday, June 22, where course faculty will host two, two-hour question and answer sessions. The 2024 Review Course offers comprehensive echocardiography education that includes 28.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. As a benefit of your ASE membership, you receive reduced registration rates. Log in to your Member Portal before registering in the ASE Learning Hub.