ACC’s 2017 Cardiovascular Summit brought together hundreds of cardiovascular professionals from across the U.S., along with a wide array of experts in the field of cardiology, business practices and leadership, to discuss how best to achieve operational excellence, ensure cost efficiency and improve patient outcomes during a time of rapid and continual change in the health care system.

The two-and-a-half day meeting, held in Orlando, FL, featured small group workshops and interactive sessions on topics centered around four primary areas: National Aim Issues, Business of Medicine, Operational Excellence and Leadership, and Quality and Efficiency. Additionally, two pre-conference workshops focused on growing and empowering leaders and understanding “Cardiology Business Basics,” including contract negotiations and cardiovascular service line development.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) was one of the hottest topics of discussion at the meeting, with attendees coming away with an understanding of the law and how to prepare for its implementation. “Every single provider and practitioner will be impacted by MACRA and you need to be involved and understand,” said Kathryn Lund, RN, MBA, from Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta, GA.

Data ownership was another major theme, with attendees learning how to recognize essential data management and reporting systems, as well as how to use reporting system data to improve practice or individual performance. Workshops ranged from using ACC’s NCDR data for quality reporting to how to use patient-reported outcomes measures and patient relationship codes.

Quality improvement was also on the agenda, with tips on how to tackle unexplained variation in care, how to build effective care pathways and teams, and how to ensure patients are at the center of care. Additionally, ACC Accreditation Services staff and leaders were on hand to talk about ways accreditation can help improve quality outcomes and financial performance.

Check out coverage of the meeting on Twitter via @ACCCardioEd and #CVSummit.

Keywords: ACC Publications, Cardiology Magazine, Accreditation, Leadership, Medicare, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, Quality Improvement, Power, Psychological