NCDR^® News & Views

In this Issue...

• NCDR Collections Launched on Cardiosource

• IMPACT Registry™ Announced

• IC3 Program™ Update

• 9th NCDR Annual Meeting Summary

• Registry StatisticsCDR Abstracts and Presentations at ACC.08

Three NCDR Collections Launched on Cardiosource.com
During the 9th NCDR Annual Meeting in Chicago, NCDR launched the NCDR Collections on Cardiosource®. Under the direction of Associate Editor Dr. Karen Alexander, the NCDR web pages integrate research and clinical information, such as guidelines and other clinical documents from multiple credible sources, using NCDR as a foundation for the content. The goal of the collections is to provide relevant contemporary content for all NCDR registries.

Each registry has its own page at www.cardiosource.com, located one click from the top NCDR web page. Registry-specific pages include:
(1) Recent publications with analysis and commentary by experts;
(2) Cardiosource Video Network (CVN) stories such as meeting highlights;
(3) Specific tools or nomograms for the registry-specific disease state; and
(4) QI case studies demonstrating the use of data or completion of data collection forms.

The first phase of the launch includes:

The NCDR Collection is available as an additional benefit to NCDR participants and Cardiosource users due to the NCDR partnership with Cardiosource. FAQs: http://www.cardiosource.com/ncdr/FAQsNCDRIntegration.pdf 

The ACTION Registry® Collection is framed in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Links include recent publications related to the care of patients with AMI, specific ACTION Registry research articles and presentations, practical dosing and order guides, as well as the updated NSTEMI and STEMI guidelines. In addition, a "Quality Tools" button is located at the top of the page to provide links to frequently used clinical calculators or nomograms.

The goal of the ICD Registry™ Collection is to provide relevant content in the management of sudden cardiac death and ICD utilization. The collection includes links to pivotal ICD trials, important current ICD research articles, guidelines for device management and physician training, and device performance and advisory issues. An "ICD Devices" button assists the user in finding pertinent information regarding patient protection and product performance.

By summer 2008, the NCDR web pages will expand to include the CARE Registry® and the CathPCI Registry® as the second phase of the launch.

IMPACT Registry™ Announced
The American College of Cardiology® and The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) have begun work on a new, national, clinical data registry called the IMPACT Registry (IMproving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatment). Under the auspices of NCDR, the IMPACT Registry will assess the prevalence, demographics, management, and outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease who are undergoing diagnostic catheterization and catheter-based interventions. The collection and analysis of this data will facilitate performance measurement, benchmarking, and quality improvement initiatives; and will provide significant contributions to the knowledge base and outcomes associated with congenital heart disease.

IMPACT Registry Steering Committee Chair: Gerard Martin, MD
IMPACT Registry Workgroup Chair: Frank Ing, MD
NCDR Management Board Member Liaison: Chuck McKay, MD

Look for more information on the IMPACT Registry coming soon!

9^th NCDR Annual Meeting Focuses on Quality Improvement
The 9^th NCDR Annual Meeting was held March 27-28, 2008, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Titled "NCDR Quality Journey 2008: From Data Collection to Quality Improvement," the program provided participants with registry-specific training and case studies to improve their data collection efforts, as well as guidance in interpreting their benchmark reports and using them to drive improvement at their facilities. Several NCDR participants shared lessons learned from successful improvement efforts they led in their facilities. The meeting was attended by over 600 persons, including 45 faculty persons, over 20 contributing NCDR staff members, and 5 exhibiting software vendors; held 35 sessions; and proudly displayed 16 storyboards prepared by NCDR registry participants.

IC3 Program™ Update
Innovative pilot using IC³ Program slated for Virginia
ACC and Centra Health are collaborating on a national demonstration project using the new IC3 Program. Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and ACC Governor and Quality Strategic Directions Committee Chair Dr. John Brush participated in the kick-off event at Lynchburg General Hospital in March. News clip from WSLS 10 and Lynchburg News and Advance article

Centra Health will be the first health care provider to submit both inpatient and outpatient data to NCDR for an entire community, allowing examination of the continuity of patient care between hospital and office-based practice settings.

Results from the pilot will serve as a model for other physician practices to use in improving cardiovascular care, and will further demonstrate the advantages of bringing together NCDR and the latest in health IT to improve the quality of care.

NCDR Enrollment and Patient Records as of April 25, 2008
ACTION Registry®
CathPCI Registry®
CARE Registry®
ICD Registry™