2009 DOM Annual Report - Department of Medicine - University of ...

Department of Medicineelective time is provided to allow fellows to pursue individual interests.In addition to our continued development of the fellowship program,the CVI participates in the development of our future physiciansthrough the education of medical students and residents.HIGH IMPACT PUBLICATIONSLeading our molecular imaging effort, Dr. Villanueva had a series ofarticles published in Circulation. For example (Circulation, 115:345-352, 2007), her group showed that microbubbles designed to adhereto endothelial selectins identified newly ischemic myocardiumoffering a new approach to more timely and precisely diagnose acutecoronary syndromes. Genetics is another area of strength in theInstitute, and along this theme Dr. London and colleagues used therare Brugada syndrome as a method to understand the genetic andpathogenetic basis of ventricular fibrillation. They found that a GPD1-L is a novel gene that may affect trafficking of the cardiac Na+ channelto the cell surface.QUALITYIn addition to our premium research and clinical work, quality remainsa top priority, and several quality initiatives were undertaken. TheCVI was selected to participate in the Highmark Pilot Program for theNational Council of Quality Assurance (NCQA) Physician Recognition inHeart Stroke. By achieving NCQA recognition, the CVI physicians andfaculty demonstrated to their professional peers, group purchasersof health care, and the general public that they provide the highestquality care.The CVI continued to focus on the improvements in the door-toballoontime. The door-to-balloon quality improvement initiativewas a tremendous success, with a decreased door-to-balloon timefor percutaneous coronary intervention (average time 110 minutes infiscal year 2006 to 75 minutes in fiscal year 2007) and an increase inpercent of subjects under 90 minutes (29.1% to 74.2%). In addition,the CVI continued the Acute MI initiative and Congestive Heart Failure(CHF) initiatives to focus on the CORE measures that are now beingtracked and reported for all hospitals by CMS (e.g. , aspirin (ASA) within24 hours of admission, beta blocker use, smoking cessation, time tointervention for acute myocardial infarction (MI), ejection fraction (EF)assessment, cardiac medication (ACE/ARB) use for CHF).10 Better medicine through research and education.