July 30, 2014 — The American Society of Echocardiography Education and Research Foundation (ASEF) announced that it will host Value-Based Healthcare: Summit 2014, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, in Washington, D.C., at the JW Marriott hotel. This forum will feature speakers and panelists from across the healthcare spectrum, each offering their perspective on the transition to value-based healthcare, with a focus on the role of cardiovascular ultrasound in the changing environment.
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) will kick off the daylong program by addressing federal challenges in handling the growth in nation’s healthcare expenditures and the difficulty of orchestrating an effective Congressional response to the problem. Thomas R. Graf, M.D., will then discuss his experiences as Chief Medical Officer for Population Health and Longitudinal Health Care Services Lines at Geisinger Health System, one of the largest U.S. healthcare systems, which is at the forefront of the accountable care movement.
“Recent studies have depicted the United States as having some of the most expensive healthcare among the developed nations of the world, but with the worst patient outcomes,” commented Benjamin F. Byrd III, M.D., FASE, immediate past president of ASE and chair of the summit. “One of the primary goals of this summit is to bring together clinicians, legislators, private and governmental payers, patient advocates, researchers and industry representatives, to collaborate on ways to deliver superior value in cardiovascular care in this constantly changing healthcare environment.”
As part of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely alliance, ASE is also hoping that this forum will encourage delivery systems and clinical practices to apply the principles of this campaign and implement the recommendations in practice; focusing on creating an evidence-based framework to help patients and doctors to engage in conversation about their cardiovascular imaging tests, procedures and treatments. As increasing emphasis is placed on the value of tests and procedures, all healthcare professionals will continue to need guidance to help them decide which tests may be most appropriate and economical for their patients.
The forum will feature a variety of panel discussions and will include audience interactive sessions to provide attendees and leaders with the opportunity to engage in the dialogue and listen to all stakeholder perspectives. The event is co-sponsored by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) and the National Board of Echocardiography (NBE), and will include their representatives in order to provide additional expertise at the event. The proceedings from the summit will be published in a future issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE).
Additional confirmed speakers include Anthony J. Dean, M.D., FAAEM, FACEP, director, Division of Emergency Ultrasonography, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center; Denis B. Buxton, Ph.D., associate director of the Basic and Early Translational Research Program at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI); Randolph P. Martin, M.D., FACC, FASE, FESC, director of clinical education at Piedmont Heart Institute, frequent health correspondent and recipient of the American Heart Assn.’s Howard L. Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award for Health Science Reporting; and Pamela S. Douglas, M.D., MACC, FASE, FAHA, director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Program at Duke University. As speakers continue to be added, an updated agenda can be found at www.asecho.org/summit2014.
During the Summit, the ASE Foundation will also officially announce the recipient of its 2014 Research Award. This $200,000, multi-year award will be presented to a project aimed at demonstrating the relevance and impact of echocardiography on patient outcomes. Echocardiography is the most widely used evaluation and diagnostic tool for heart and circulation problems, employed to diagnose patients of all ages, from the infant in the womb to the frail, elderly patient. This award will help encourage the appropriate use of echo for better patient care.
For more information: visit www.asecho.org
