This year, ACC's PINNACLE Registry is celebrating 10 years of quality improvement. As the largest outpatient registry in cardiology, the PINNACLE Registry was the first to examine physician care processes and patient outcomes in coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Launched in 2008, the PINNACLE Registry has provided real-world insights into the effects of new guidelines and drugs, like novel oral anticoagulants and statins on patient care. Internationally, PINNACLE's data collection has been the foundation for a project in India that is helping cardiologists develop quality interventions aimed at improving care for patients with common cardiovascular diseases. The PINNACLE Registry also has been a model for addressing the myriad challenges facing cardiovascular practices, including the emergence of efficiency- and value-based reimbursement models.

Over the past decade, the registry has helped practices meet federal quality reporting requirements under the Physician Quality Reporting System, Electronic Health Record Incentive Program and, most recently, the Quality Payment Program.

ACC Board of Trustee member Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, FACC, has used PINNACLE for several years. "The PINNACLE Registry helps us take performance measures and put them into action. Quarterly benchmark reports help identify areas for improvement and made it much easier to submit data for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System," Itchhaporia says.

Today, the PINNACLE Registry continues to provide a unique opportunity for cardiovascular practices to enable practice innovation and clinical excellence. Look for the latest research from the PINNACLE Registry during several sessions at ACC.18. For more information on the PINNACLE Registry, visit CVQuality.ACC.org.

Keywords: ACC18, ACC Annual Scientific Session, National Cardiovascular Data Registries, PINNACLE Registry, Atrial Fibrillation, Quality Improvement, Outpatients, Benchmarking, Registries, Cardiovascular Diseases, Patient Care, Hypertension, Electronic Health Records

< Back to Listings