Minutes of ASE Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease (PCHD ...

IT Committee
Dr. Andrew Powell reports that the ASE Information Technology Committee focused on several projects
this year. EchoShare is a proposal to create a regional information system for the sharing of
echocardiographic images in a health information exchange model. This may lead to improved patient
care and outcomes by facilitating comparison to prior studies and reduce studies done unnecessarily
because technically adequate echocardiograms were not available for review. Echo ToolBoxTM is a Webbased
application to help labs meet ICAEL standards and efficiently undergo the accreditation process.
Input was also provided toward creating an “appropriateness point-of-order echo guidance” tool to
replace precertification of echocardiograms by private payers and promote more appropriate ordering of
echocardiographic studies. The Committee continued to maintain and improve the ASE Website. The
perspective and needs of pediatric echocardiographers and sonographers were highlighted throughout
the year.
Advocacy Committee
A report that Dr. Ben Byrd gave to the Executive Committee was reviewed. It was noted that there have
been few pediatric issues in advocacy this year, and that the calls are too early for participation from the
west coast. Precertification of echocardiography is an important issue and will affect everyone in private
practice.
ASE Committee Representation: The council would like to add Dr. Charles Williams as a second
representative to the Research Committee. Drs Carolyn Altman and Leo Lopez would like to volunteer for
the Education Committee. Staff will submit their names to Dr. Kaul for his consideration.
OLD BUSINESS
Scientific Sessions Program Update: Dr. Lopez noted that joint sessions with EAE are being offered, and
that Dr. Richard Van Praagh will be interviewed by Dr. Parness on Monday. The August program planning
meeting is the council’s opportunity to make recommendations for 2011. Dr. Mark Lewin is the council
representative on the Program Committee; Dr. Susan Wiegers is the chair. It was noted that the council
would be happy to be involved in planning sessions on adult congenital heart disease, and that an extra
day for an adult congenital symposium might be worth considering. A joint conference with SMFM might
also be a possibility. In San Diego, there were two joint sessions with SMFM: “Frontiers in Fetal
Cardiology” had 220 attendees, and “The Perinatologist-Pediatric Cardiologist Relationship” had 159
attendees.
Drs Lewin and Border will discuss this with the SS planning group.
Survey on FTE time for pediatric studies: There was discussion about this project, for which a number of
conference calls have been held. Purpose is to define how RVUs are used in pediatric cardiology labs by
collecting data on how FTE are defined, and the number of physicians, sonographers and machines used
per study. Data might be available from ICAEL. The council will send a letter to the ASE Executive
Committee to request formation of a task force to finish the RVU survey. A data collection element might
be added, and data collected annually. Data could be shared with contributors.
Normative Database: Dr. Lopez noted that the pediatric quantification guideline and poster are finished
and are being distributed. There is a need for geographically and racially diverse Z scores. These need to
be gender and race specific, and there must be a way to analyze and evaluate the data and include both
2D and 3D. Gail Pearson at NIH has asked for a summary so that she can provide guidance on seeking
funding. A committee, led by Dr. Lopez, will be formed to work on this, Drs. Lai, Frommelt, Ensing, Border,
and Altman expressed their interest in participating. Kathy Kendall (Dr. Ayres’ sonographer), The names of
Steve Colan, Rick Humes (Detroit), and Craig Sable (DC Children’s) were also brought up as potential
nominees to the committee.