American College of Cardiology

ACCF/SCCT Coronary CTA Practicum

In Cooperation with:

All Programs held at Heart House
Washington, DC

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Statement of Need
To address the strong need for competency guidelines for practicing physicians in the emerging field of Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT), the ACCF/AHA Clinical Competency Statement on Cardiac Imaging with Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance was developed in 2005. This Competency Statement outlines the knowledge and skills required for expertise in CCT and the training requirements necessary to interpret CCT at three levels.

To encourage additional opportunities for the development of the required skills of competency in the quality performance and interpretation of CCT, the date to qualify for Level 2 or Level 3 training on the basis of prior experience has been extended to July 1, 2010. After this date, the amount of time and level of training required to meet the clinical competency for Level 2 CCT increases significantly.

Despite this time extension, the availability of high-quality educational training opportunities remains inadequate. To ensure the quality, integrity and availability of training opportunities, two premier organizations -- the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) -- have joined together to provide a unified educational program.

Program Overview
The ACCF/SCCT Coronary CTA Practicum is a series of intensive, three-day live courses and subsequent self study designed to train participants to perform and interpret coronary CT angiography. Each course repeats several times during the year and includes advanced lectures, reading materials, formal case presentations and interaction on CCT workstations. Participants work, two per 3-D workstation, with the leading experts in the field to manipulate and interpret over 100 cases. This includes hands-on evaluation of 50 cases with correlation to invasive coronary angiography.

Each attendee will benefit from:

• Mentored workstation review and hands-on evaluation of 50 contrast cardiac CT examinations with invasive coronary angiographic correlations, accounting for 50 of the required 100 non-direct performance cases
• ACCF’s Cardiac Tomography Self-Assessment Program (CCTSAP). CCTSAP provides the remaining 50 of the 100 non-direct performance cases
• SCCT’s new DVD, “Cardiac CT Live! 25 Live Mentored Cardiac CT Cases”. Complete cases, from patient history through scanning to diagnosis. Counts towards 25 of the 50 direct performance cases required.

In total, participants will achieve 125 of the 150 cases required for Level 2 competency.

Course Highlights

• 125 Cases for Level 2 Competence
• World Class Experts
• Choice of Equipment
  

This program offers maximum interaction with expert faculty and two participants per workstation.

Learner Objectives
Upon completion of the Practicum, participants will be able to -

• Discuss the general requirements for Level 2 CT competency
• Recognize the fundamental physical and technical principles used to acquire CCT images
• Describe the indications and contraindications for cardiac CT use
• Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements and techniques for interpreting CCT
• Demonstrate initial competency in performing and interpreting coronary CT

FACULTY
Content Development Board
Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC, FAHA
Stephan Achenbach, MD, FACC
Anthony DeFrance, MD, FACC
John R. Lesser, MD, FACC
Samuel L. Wann, MD, MACC
William Guy Weigold III, MD

Program Faculty

DISCLOSURES
ACCF faculty, committee members, staff and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity are required to disclose all real or apparent conflicts of interest.  All relevant potential conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted through a process that includes course directors and appropriate peer review by education committee chairs/members, for fair balance, scientific objectivity and validity, patient care and safety recommendations.  ACCF staff involved with this program have nothing to disclose. Refer to the links below for committee members and faculty disclosures.

ACCF/SCCT Coronary CTA Practicum

ACC Live Programs Committee (2007-2010) disclosures

AGENDA
Click here for agenda.

TARGET AUDIENCE
The course is designed for adult cardiologists, fellows, radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians who have basic knowledge of cardiac anatomy in computed tomography and a minimal amount of experience manipulating CT data sets on a workstation.

ACCREDITATION
Physicians

ACCF/SCCT Coronary CTA Practicum
The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The ACCF designates this activity for a maximum of 26.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Cardiac Tomography Self-Assessment Program
Note: Participants attending the ACCF/SCCT Coronary CTA Practicum will also receive a complimentary copy of ACCF’s Cardiac Tomography Self-Assessment Program. A participant is eligible for a maximum of 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ upon completion of this activity. Please see the CCTSAP for details on accreditation and designation for this activity.

ACCOMMODATIONS
The Fairmont, Washington, DC
2401 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
P: (202) 429-2400
F: (202) 457-5010

The Westin Grand
2350 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
P: (202) 429-0100
F: (202) 785-0786

The contracted rate at The Westin Grand per night for all 2008 CTA Practicum dates from Monday - Wednesday is $299 plus tax and Thursday - Sunday is $209 plus tax.  When calling to make your reservations, please reference the group name American College of Cardiology.  Please make your reservations early as no rooms are set aside for this particular program.  Rates are based on availability. 

For assistance with reservations please contact Kortney Jackson at the American College of Cardiology at 202-375-6472 or kjackson@acc.org 

Renaissance M Street
1143 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, District Of Columbia 20037 USA
P: (202) 775-0800
F: (202) 331-9491

GENERAL INFORMATION
Course Tuition
Course tuition includes all sessions and hands-on training, continental breakfasts, refreshment breaks and lunches. Attendees will also receive two CCT products for completion after the live program: the ACCF’s CCTSAP, containing 50 cases, and the SCCT’s DVD “Cardiac CT Live! 25 Live Mentored Cardiac CT Cases”.

Registration

Please contact the ACC Resource center at (800) 253-4636 ext. 5603 to register for the October 23 - 25, 2008 program. The October 16-18 program has reached maximum capacity.

Cancellations
Cancellation, substitution or transfer to another course is allowed only if written notification is received four weeks before a scheduled course. A full refund minus a $500 processing fee will be given for written notification received fewer than four weeks before the first day of the program. No refund will be given for no-shows.

In the unlikely event that the program is canceled, the College will refund the registration tuition in full but is not responsible for any travel or hotel costs you may incur.

ACCF reserves the right to cancel programs in the unlikely event of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, ACCF will refund registration tuition but cannot be held responsible for other costs or expenses, including cancellations/change penalties assessed by airlines, travel agencies or hotels.

Please Note
Smoking is prohibited in all ACCF meeting rooms.

Videotaping, audiotaping and still photography are prohibited in all ACCF meeting rooms.

We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability, advance notification of any special needs will help us serve you better.

Faculty and program are subject to change without notice. Views expressed in this program are those of the individual speaker and do not necessarily reflect views of the ACCF.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Major Program support provided by the following:

• GE Healthcare
• Philips Medical Systems
• SIEMENS Medical
• TeraRecon, Inc.
• Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation and Vital Images