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This post was authored by Robert Campbell, MD, FACC, Adult Congenital Pediatric Cardiology representative to the 2015 Cardiovascular Summit planning committee.

Change is everywhere. Nobody minds change, but everybody minds being changed. You can lead, follow, or get out of the way. We’ve all heard these sayings, and they have never been more pertinent in the field of medicine. From my perspective, adult cardiology benefits from many evidence-based physician performance guidelines; this data can be used to document quality. However, many adult cardiologists, previously in private practice, now find themselves in new alignments and employment arrangements with hospitals. Medicare issues are formidable. In contrast, pediatric cardiologists have less evidence-based physician performance data with which to prove outcomes, best practice standards, quality and value. Generally, pediatric cardiology programs are based at children’s hospitals and/or academic centers. Medicaid, while similar in some ways to Medicare, is state funded thus different from center to center.

Both adult cardiology and pediatric cardiology/adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are faced with the new reality of health care reform, which expects enhanced quality at the same time with decreased costs. We now have to prove our value.  Predictions are that we will soon move from our fee-for-service world to value-based payment. This will be a transformation for all providers.

Leading change will require a highly functional team. I recently had the opportunity to write about the role of dyad leadership to drive change. Dyad leadership refers to the integrated relationship between clinician and administrative leaders, their respective individual roles, and mutual accountability for final outcome. Further detail can be found in the ACC Council on Clinical Practice Whitepaper, entitled Developing and Managing a Successful Cardiovascular Service Line.

The ACC will host the 2015 Cardiovascular Summit:  Solutions for Thriving in a Time of Change on Jan. 22 – 24, 2015 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek/Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, FL. The Cardiovascular Summit focuses around business and leadership. The preliminary topics for general sessions will focus around Operations and Leadership: Management Strategies for Brutal Times; Managing to a New Financial Reality: the Unyielding Truth; and Quality: How to do Things Right, How to do the Right Things.

On Friday, Jan. 23 there will be a separate all day congenital heart disease (CHD) breakout session. Preliminary topics include anticipated changes in health care finance; keeping the cardiac service line intact, strong and profitable; reengineering pediatric/CHD cardiology; and ACHD programs: models of comprehensive services.  We also have proposed a session on leadership development and succession planning. Attendees will receive an update from the task forces evaluating the Medaxiom administrative database for CHD programs; development of service line dashboards; ICD-10 application; physician citizenship; and relative value units/educational value units. The Cardiovascular Summit provides a forum for education about business and leadership issues applicable to cardiology programs, including pediatric and ACHD programs. The CHD sessions are intended to direct the conversation in a more CHD-centric focus. It also offers a time for socializing and collaboration and free exchange of ideas, opportunities and challenges.

Sometimes it seems like patient care is the easy and fun part. However, leadership, organization, operational issues, legislation and reimbursement are all important aspects of comprehensive cardiac care, for adults, ACHD and pediatric CHD programs.

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