eCardioVascular Beat

The quality quotient

Kristy Wayson

Executive director, Providence Heart and Vascular Institute

Welcome to the second edition of eCardioVascular Beat, Providence Heart and Vascular Institute’s new electronic physician newsletter.

This issue focuses, in part, on quality and outcomes, two of the driving forces behind excellent cardiovascular care. Cardiologist Douglas Dawley, M.D., examines how to reduce radiation exposure from cardiac testing. Likewise, Jeff Robins, R.T., explains how Providence cardiovascular labs are exceeding state benchmarks aimed at limiting exposure from fluoroscopy.

Vascular surgeon W. Kent Williamson, M.D., gives an update on the Providence Vascular Registry, which has proved to be a valuable tool for managing patients with carotid disease. And elsewhere in the newsletter you’ll find articles on reducing hospital readmission rates for cardiovascular patients, and new blood-transfusion guidelines.

In other topics, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon E. Charles Douville, M.D., and cardiologist Brad Evans, M.D., team up to review the benefits of stent grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Our experts also take on two subjects of keen interest to patients: herbal supplements and saturated fat. Cardiologist Naji Hamdan, M.D., examines interactions between prescription medications and some popular herbal remedies. And cardiologist James Beckerman, M.D., finds counterintuitive research on the link between saturated fat and heart disease.

See what’s new with Providence Heart and Vascular experts, and watch “Broken Hearts Revisited,” a medical grand rounds webcast with cardiologist Steven Riley, M.D.

We’re proud of the passion that our physicians and program teams bring to their exceptional care. That same dedicated commitment is apparent in this robust issue of eCardioVascular Beat.

We welcome any comments on the topics and news in this issue, and we value suggestions for future publications. Our continued goal is for you to look forward to receiving eCardioVascular Beat several times a year, and that you find it a valuable resource within each of your practices.