Clinical Quality Measure NQF #0084 "Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation" CMS suggests that cardiologists participating in the EHR Incentive Program not select 'Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation' as one of their clinical quality measures (CQMs) for meaningful use, as this metric is specific to warfarin and will NOT include patients appropriately placed on dabigatran or rivoroxaban, potentially diluting the cardiologists attainment of this quality parameter.  Arizona Chapter Plays Critical Role in Stunning Improvements in D2B Times in the U.S. Cooperation and coordination between American College of Cardiology physicians and cardiovascular teams are reaping benefits for Arizona patients, in a study released recently.  For patients suffering heart attacks, the faster they reach the hospital door, and undergo balloon opening of the artery, the better the results.   In this study, median door-to-balloon (D2B) times for heart attack patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (opening of blocked artery) following an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) have declined from 94 minutes in 2005 to 64 minutes in 2010, a study published on August 22 in Circulation reports. The improvements represent a more than 30 percent decline in D2B times. The percent of patients with D2B times less than 90 minutes increased from 44.2 percent to 91.4 percent from 2005 to 2010, as did the percent of patients with D2B times less than 75 minutes (23.3 percent to 70.4 percent). The study uses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data from Jan. 1, 2005, to Sept. 30, 2010. Click here for the whole story.  Check out the many ACC Quality Initiatives designed to help you and benefit patients.  It's easy and fast to get involved! AMA Health Insurer Code of Conduct Principles Click here to pledge your support of these standards for health insurers' administrative and clinical processes.  Click here for a list of organizations also in support of these principles.