Echocardiograms may be useful in predicting which COVID-19 patients have the highest risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to recent findings published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 

Patrick McCarthy, MD, executive director of Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and chief of cardiac surgery at Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine, shared how the system is incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into cardiology care during a recent episode of the Becker's Healthcare cardiology podcast.

Since the start of 2021, U.S. hospitals and health systems have performed many novel cardiology procedures.

Cardiologists from University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Cleveland Medical Center will now serve the health system's Parma (Ohio) Medical Center as part of the hospital's $27.5 million surgery department upgrades, Cleveland.com reported July 7. 

For meaningful departmental growth to occur, the team first needs to be familiar with all of the services and resources offered, says Anand Singh, vice president of cardiothoracic surgery strategy for the Northern region of West Orange, N.J.-based RWJ Barnabas Health and Saint Barnabas Medical Center cardiovascular services in Livingston, N.J. 

Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger will launch a sports cardiology program in August, according to Martin Matsumura, MD, the health system's chief of cardiology. 

A Michigan woman who had a widowmaker heart attack — a type of heart attack just 12 percent of people survive — said her Apple Watch alerted her to an elevated heart rate, local ABC affiliate WZZM 13 reported July 5.

Nancy Sweitzer, MD, PhD, director of the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona Health Services in Tucson, discussed the importance of understanding diversity and disparities in cardiovascular disciplines during a recent episode of the Becker's Healthcare cardiology podcast.

Below are six cardiologists who recently joined new practices, stepped into new roles or announced their departures.

Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, will take the helm as the American Heart Association's 85th president for its 2021-22 fiscal year, effective July 1. 

A story about the CDC asking clinicians to report all cases of heart inflammation after COVID-19 vaccination was Becker's most-read cardiology story in June. 

Four medical societies on June 30 shared new guidelines that aim to reduce blood loss during heart surgeries and improve patient outcomes.

University of MIchigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, part of Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine, is among the first in the U.S. to perform a catheter-based pulmonary valve replacement on a congenital heart disease patient.

Shifts to outpatient care are one of the greatest challenges cardiology departments at hospitals are navigating today, says Connie Boyd, cardiovascular service line director at Santa Barbara (Calif.) Cottage Hospital.

Nuvance Health has named Richard Kaplon, MD, chief of cardiac surgery at Danbury (Conn.) Hospital, the health system said June 28.

St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare has performed the world's first structural heart procedure using 4D hologram technology, the health system said June 23. 

An observational study involving more than 200,000 participants suggests heart failure patients have an increased risk of later developing any type of cancer, compared to those without the condition, according to findings presented June 28 at the European Society of Cardiology's 2021 heart failure congress. 

The University of California San Diego has received a $3.25 million donation from philanthropists Steven Strauss and Lise Wilson to establish the city's first cardiomyopathy center. 

Since April, the CDC has been following reports of people experiencing heart inflammation after receiving Pfizer or Moderna's mRNA vaccines, occurring mostly among adolescent and young adult vaccine recipients. 

To achieve department growth, there first must be a high performing team, says Travis Christman, MSN, clinical director of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospitals in Eau Claire, Wis.