February is American Heart Month, an opportunity to highlight the enormous impact that cardiovascular (CV) disease has on the US, as well as the changes that are transforming care for this disease.
Consider the following:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and one person dies every 33 seconds from CV disease.
- Heart disease costs the US nearly $1 billion per day.
- By 2035, the number of Americans with CV disease will rise to more than 130 million.
- This increased demand is expected to double the total cost of care for CV disease, with the price tag exceeding $1 trillion annually.
- Nearly half of all CV-related deaths occur without overt warning, giving rise to heart disease’s grim nickname as "the silent killer" and making CV disease prevention more important than ever.
But in the past 12 months alone:
- Studies have confirmed that anti-obesity drugs can reduce the risk of major adverse CV events by up to 20%.
- Advancements in AI have enabled new tools to provide early detection for CV disease, as well as to provide patient-specific treatment protocols for patients undergoing cardiac events.
- CMS has doubled the reimbursement for cardiac CT angiography (CCTA), providing the financial support necessary for organizations to reconsider screening protocols for patients and further expand access to care.
Needless to say, the pace of change in CV medicine is brisk, and organizations need to take stock of their current position to effectively respond. As we look forward to 2025 and beyond, here are three ways to ensure your cardiology program is ready for the changes ahead.
1. Reimagine Patient Access
Reexamine patient care pathways and apply new approaches and technologies to reduce excessive wait times, address specialist shortages, and improve patient experience. Increased utilization of CCTA, advancements in remote monitoring technologies, and the growing implementation of virtual cardiac rehab are just three solutions that can promote better access to CV care.
2. Elevate Physician Partnerships
Through one lens, the rapid pace of change in the CV landscape can seem daunting, with the risk of falling behind in providing the best care for patients. Viewed differently, it presents an opportunity for physicians to take a more active role in bringing new technologies and care methodologies to patients.
A well-designed partnership model between physicians and hospitals can enable physicians to champion change while health systems provide the financial and facility backing to support these shifts. Despite changes in prevention and treatment, CV medicine still relies heavily on inpatient facilities to provide the full continuum of care. Therefore, it is in the best interest of both physicians and hospital organizations to develop mutually beneficial partnership agreements to capitalize on the advancements in care that will redefine CV medicine in the years to come
3. Remember That You Can't Do Everything All at Once
A savvy strategy involves trade-offs. Embrace the changes that are occurring in the CV medicine space, but be pragmatic about implementing new technologies or treatment protocols. Establishing a long-term vision while maintaining the ability to be nimble is essential. Communicating this strategy to key stakeholders to build consensus on such an approach will help enable its success.
