A new study published in the Oct. 30 edition of “Circulation” calls the onset of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among dialysis patients “catastrophic.” Millions of people around the world who suffer from end-stage kidney disease endure numerous complicated lifestyle changes once they begin dialysis, the diagnosis of PAD not only adds to their deteriorated quality of life but, increases their overall risk of dying by 36 percent,” the study’s authors said.

Hospitals and other medical facilities across the state of Washington will receive $1 million in grant money allocated for implementing and upgrading their information technology. The Washington Health Information Collaborative, a public-private partnership based in Seattle, is awarding grants of up to $20,000 to 49 small hospitals, community clinics and physician practices to spend on electronic health records and other computerized patient management systems.

Boston Scientific has launched new software enabling its Left Ventricular (LV) Offset feature in the CONTAK RENEWAL, RENEWAL 3, and RENEWAL 3 RF cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D). LV Offset allows physicians to further fine-tune synchronization of the heart by allowing adjustment of the delay between right and left ventricular pacing, which helps physicians provide more tailored care for heart failure patients.

A new cooling pad enters the healthcare market, joining a growing number of cooling systems used to induce hypothermia in some emergency cardiac arrest scenarios — the new treatment attempts to halt potential brain damage in cardiac patients. Life Recovery Systems HD, Alexandria, LA, will introduce its ThermoSuit at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific sessions in Chicago Nov. 12-15.

A new alternative to invasive, painful biopsies for determining heart transplant rejection is both available and reimbursable. The molecular expression test molecular expression test is a non-invasive alternative to biopsy that is safe, effective, quantitative, and reproducible with predictive capabilities biopsy does not provide. The test provides physicians with a broader clinical picture, enabling them to identify patients at low risk for current and future rejection.