Chief’s message:

Resilience and Path Forward: These are very trying times. As you all, I have read, seen, viewed the devastating reports from Italy and New York, where the systems, organizations, hospitals, and most notably the Healthcare Heroes have been overwhelmed by the pandemic, working in limited and trying times to help patients with the disease. The humanity and resolve to continue to support and fight for patients has been awe-inspiring. The messages, lessons, tips you all have sent are all welcome and we are listening and organizing these. We all will be called upon in different ways to pitch in, support, work in situations that will test us. I am confident in our group, and have heard the desire from many to contribute, to act, to matter in this time. Please re-charge, spend some time away from the news and internet. Soon there will be a time to demonstrate our collective ability to work together, trust each other, and act to preserve and care for our patients and each other.

To our past graduates and friends of Duke Heart – we hope you are staying well and appreciate all the support.

Highlights of the week:

Douglas Honored and Awarded by ACC

The American College of Cardiology has renamed an award in honor of Pamela S. Douglas and made her its 2020 recipient! The Pamela S. Douglas Distinguished Award for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion was officially announced this weekend during the virtual ACC Scientific Sessions. To learn more, please visit: https://dcri.org/acc-2020-pamela-douglas-award/.

The award and naming by the ACC for diversity and inclusion in honor of Pam Douglas is a recognition of her tremendous efforts over the years to help mentor, and build a culture of inclusions. Congratulations, Pam!

 

Three Duke Heart Faculty Named ACC Fellows

Congratulation to Camille Frazier-Mills, Adam DeVore and Nishant Shah. Each was named a fellow of the American College of Cardiology this weekend. Way to go!

ACC Goes Virtual

For all the latest information on virtual presentations this weekend and tomorrow, please check out the DCRI’s ACC page: https://dcri.org/dcri-acc/

 

Crawford to Receive Professionalism Award

Congratulations to Larry Crawford! He has been selected by the School of Medicine’s Office for Faculty and the award selection

committee as a recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Professionalism Award. The award is normally presented at the Spring Faculty Celebration held annually in May. Plans for this event are uncertain due to current events, but we look forward to formally celebrating with Larry when the time comes.

This is a wonderful achievement and well-deserved!

 

Shout-outs:

 

Kudos to Anthony Peters, Vishal Rao and Chris Wrobel:

Jason Katz wrote the following note to Anna Lisa Crowley this week:

“I was really excited to finally work in the CICU last week and was – as anticipated – very happy with the strong work and leadership exhibited by our fellows. Vishal, Chris, and Anthony were each fantastic. I loved how they each had their own unique style, but each were unwavering in their determination to provide the best care, the best teaching, and the best support for their colleagues, the nurses, the patients, the families, and the rest of the CICU staff. They were awesome! You should be very proud — I sure was!”

Thank you Chris, Anthony and Vishal for your leadership during this uncertain time and thank you to Jason Katz for providing this feedback. Way to go, everyone!

 

Hat tip to Plichta

Many thanks to Ryan Plichta for providing treats for cardiothoracic unit floor APPs on 7E and 3100/3300 last weekend. Not only did he help boost morale on a few of our busy units, but he helped support a local Durham restaurant that, like so many others across the country, are struggling right now. Great idea!!!

 

Kudos to Southpoint Staff

Kudos to the Southpoint front desk staff and their manager, Damien Lett, who have been fantastic in helping convert visit types, reschedule patients, scheduling follow-up and lab appointments. This has been a huge help to the team! Thank you Dora Hernandez-Granados, Bulmaro “Alex” Ayala, Loistene Alcaraz, Maria Cabello, Marisol Juarez Mosqueda and Samantha Lorenzo.

 

Duke Ambulatory APP/NC’s Meeting Goes Virtual

Our Duke Ambulatory APPs and nurse clinicians held their second virtual meeting this past week with 18 participants. Many thanks to Jennifer Hervey, MS-HIIM, BSN, RN, for letting us know and for sending the photo!

According to Allen Stephens, MHS, PA-C, a Duke Heart PA with Duke Cardiology of Southpoint, using Zoom during our time of social distancing “Was a great way for us to check in with one another, share best practices for telehealth visits and to address questions and concerns from the group. I think using video makes it easier for people to communicate than just by phone.” He shared the following tip:

• If using Zoom for a Duke meeting use the Duke Zoom website so that the meeting time can be longer than the 40 minutes included with the general basic zoom account. (Note, this will require you to create a log in on the Duke Zoom website)

COVID-19

You can quickly access the latest official DUHS information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response at the following locations:

• PDC intranet site
• Duke Health intranet site

Messages of thanks from Chancellor Eugene Washington and from Coach Mike Krzyzewski to healthcare providers were shared earlier this week. Check them out!

ICYMI: a useful video update on PPE from our Covid-19 Task Force.

Quick reminder that, as stated in recent email updates from DUHS leadership, media inquiries and stories related to Covid-19 must go through an approval process with the command center and DUHS Media Relations office. If you have questions about this, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart. Thanks!

Resources from Your Well-Being Team

Need to relax and recharge? Visit our page of Well-Being Resources, updated each Wednesday with new ideas on how to better care for ourselves and each other.

And remember the basics: Show gratitude for one another. Use huddles and meetings to share ideas on what’s helping your resilience. Take deep breaths and mindful minutes with your team. When you leave work, take a moment to think about three good things that happened in the day, and mentally transition from work to home. A new checklist is available to help you power down, rest and recharge. Many sites are posting this checklist in their work areas. We also encourage everyone (including those working remotely) to print out a copy for themselves, or share via PowerPoint.

If you have well-being ideas or resources that have helped you, or moments of gratitude and awe that you want to share with your colleagues, contact BeWell@Duke.edu.

 

National Doctors’ Day

This year, Duke Health is working to celebrate all caregivers on National Doctors’ Day through the #ThankYouDukeHealth campaign.

The first Doctor’s Day observance was March 30, 1933 in Winder, Georgia. Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, decided to set aside a day to honor physicians. On March 30, 1958, a Resolution Commemorating Doctors’ Day was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1990, legislation was introduced in the House and Senate to establish a national Doctor’s Day. Following overwhelming approval by the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, on October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed S.J. RES. #366 (which became Public Law 101-473) designating March 30th as “National Doctor’s Day.”

We are so blessed to have each of you as a member of our Duke Heart team.

Have a great week everyone and please stay safe!

Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Upcoming Grand Rounds:

• Cancelled through April
• May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai
• May 19: Mark Newman, University of Kentucky
• May 26: Svati Shah

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.

 

Duke Heart in the News:

 

March 20 — Adam DeVore

tctMD/the heart beat

Missed Opportunities: Many HF Patients Not Tested for CAD

https://www.tctmd.com/news/missed-opportunities-many-hf-patients-not-tested-cad

 

March 24 — Adam DeVore

Healio/Cardiology Today

In new-onset HF, rate of CAD testing lower than expected

https://bit.ly/3bzcjMP

Chief’s message: 

Red-Beans and Rice and COVID-19

After a long week on the internet and with news you might wonder what Red Beans and Rice have to do with COVID-19.  Red Beans and rice is one of the “test-kitchen” cooking attempts I have made over the last year for the Sunday family dinner that my kids actually enjoy (list is up to about 6-8 recipes). Our kids have been especially patient with all that the world has been throwing at them with home distant web-schooling, two parents in health care and associated conversations and concerns, and other adjustments.  So when they asked for red-beans and rice for dinner – was a welcome hour or so to get distracted from COVID-19.  I include some prep pictures with the them helping make the recipe.  Also a picture of the Bull in downtown Durham and some pictures a colleague took from a walk outside.There is a lot changing hour to hour, so it is nice to have moments where screens are off and we are spending time to reflect or on tasks that provide some outlet.  In this issue of the Pulse – you will also find photos and recognition of the life that goes one for our fellows and staff, and the continued accomplishments and commitment to our missions.

 

Regarding COVID-19 news – it is moving rapidly and our Health System and physician group is moving quickly to help care for the community and each other.

The article below by Atul Gawande that many of you have likely seen provides nice context on the things we can do to help our staff and health care workers as we care of patients.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/keeping-the-coronavirus-from-infecting-health-care-workers

The outpouring of support for Duke clinicians has been heartwarming. Thank you all for the teamwork and leadership this last week

Updates of the week:

COVID-19

Thank you for all you’re doing to keep our team and patients safe. The latest official information for Duke Health entities regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response is available at the following locations:

• PDC intranet site (NET ID required)
• Duke Health intranet site (NET ID required)
• Additional restrictions on hospital visitors go into effect Monday, March 23.

Consistency in messaging is imperative, so please refer to the resources there for the latest information and policy updates.

…And now some reasons to rejoice:

Duke Heart Grows Again!

Cardiology fellow Titus Ngeno and his wife, Claire, welcomed a daughter last weekend. Please join us in celebrating the arrival of Yanna Chepyator Ngeno last weekend! The family is doing well. We are so excited for you, Titus!

Wang to Receive Mentorship Award

We’ve learned that Tracy Wang will be awarded a School of Medicine Mentorship Award at the 2020 spring faculty

celebration. The event is currently scheduled for May 5 at the Doris Duke Center at Duke Gardens. Well deserved!

Alpha Omega Alpha’s Newest Members

We heard this week from Edward Buckley, Vice Dean for Education with the School of Medicine, that three of our future and current cardiology fellows have been elected to membership in the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). A big congratulations to Marat Fudim, Stephen Greene, and Dennis Narcisse!

AOA elects a small number of students, residents and fellows each year who exemplify the qualities of scholastic performance, leadership, fairness in dealing with colleagues, compassion for others, integrity of character, and service to the school and community at large.

In the notification letter, Buckley wrote, “As you know, membership in AOA is a distinction that accompanies a physician throughout his or her career. I am extremely proud of these individuals and their accomplishments.”

Way to go!!!!

 

Kudos to Rehorn

Mike Rehorn was awarded a gold star from Duke Graduate Medical Education for his care of a grateful patient.

The patient writes, “I was recently admitted to Duke for atrial flutter. Every single person I came in contact with was WONDERFUL. Everyone was so caring and helpful. They listened, took time with me and my family and answered questions…I had to let someone higher up know about some people in particular… [list included Dr. Rehorn]. Thank you for the standards set for amazing staff.”

 

Catherine Kuhn, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education writes, “I want to add a personal note of thanks and appreciation for being such a positive ambassador for Duke and your specialty.”

 

Nicely done, Mike! Thanks for representing Duke Heart!

Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Upcoming Grand Rounds:

• Cancelled through April
• May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai
• May 19: Mark Newman, University of Kentucky
• May 26: Svati Shah

 

Duke-J&J Nurse Leadership Program Accepting Applications

The Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 program year. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and their team members–committed to collaborating together on a health improvement initiative–are invited to participate in this program. The 10-month leadership development program trains APNs and their team members to be better equipped to meet the challenges of the evolving health care environment. Up to 35 health care teams will be selected to participate for the 2020-21 program year.

The application period will close May 11. Read more about the application process.

Informational webinar about the program will be held via Zoom 12-1 p.m. ET Thursday April 16.

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.

 

Duke Heart in the News:

 

March 11 — Adrian Hernandez

Nature.com

The FDA brings real-world data head to head with clinical trials

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0772-0

 

March 15 — Joseph Rogers

WUNC.org

Triangle Hospitals Prepping For Spike In COVID-19 Patients

https://www.wunc.org/post/triangle-hospitals-prepping-spike-covid-19-patients

 

March 16 — Jason Katz

MedpageToday

The COVID-19 Silver Lining

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85444

 

March 16 — Renato Lopes

tctMD/the heart beat

More Support for DOAC-Based Double Therapy After PCI for A-fib Patients

https://bit.ly/2QBpXHd

 

March 16 — Jonathan Piccini and Sean Pokorney

Healio/Cardiology Today

Oral anticoagulation may be harmful in AF, end-stage renal disease

https://bit.ly/2UpKjV8

 

March 17 — Robert Califf

The Washington Post

Coronavirus/Latest News: Pence asks construction companies to donate masks to hospitals

https://wapo.st/2Wx6SK5

 

March 17 — Sreekanth Vemulapalli

Medscape

Hospital PCI Volume Not Tied to TAVR Outcomes

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926782

 

March 18 — Jonathan Piccini

Medscape

Benefit of Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Diminished in End-Stage Kidney Disease

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926873

 

March 18 — Manesh Patel

HCP Live

Manesh Patel, MD: Prescribing DOACs In Real-World Settings

https://www.mdmag.com/medical-news/manesh-patel-md-prescribing-doacs-in-realworld-settings

 

March 18 — Joseph Rogers

WRAL.com

Duke, UNC hospitals to use tents to keep virus patients separate

https://www.wral.com/duke-unc-hospitals-to-use-tents-to-keep-virus-patients-separate/19017941/

 

March 18 — Christopher Granger

HCP Live

Increasing Implementation and Clinical Use of NOAC Therapy

https://www.mdmag.com/peer-exchange/noac-anticoagulation/increasing-implementation-and-clinical-use-of-noac-therapy

 

March 19 — W. Schuyler Jones

Medpage Today

ADAPTABLE: The Future of Big Clinical Trial Design?

https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/clinicaltrials/85511

 

March 20 — Renato Lopes

Medscape

Less Bleeding With Dual Than Triple Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation After PCI

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/927034

 

March 20 — Joseph Rogers

WRAL

Duke, UNC hospitals to use tents to keep virus patients separate

https://www.wral.com/duke-unc-hospitals-to-use-tents-to-keep-virus-patients-separate/19017941/

Chief’s message: Quickly Changing Times.

What a difference a week makes?  Last Saturday we had the Duke vs. UNC game and a sense that the COVID-19 virus would require some changes in our life and practice of medicine, but an amazing amount of change has occurred in one week.  The NBA followed by the NCAA and all major league sporting events have been cancelled.  All organized events with 50 people are cancelled and many Universities have sent students home, state schools are shutting down, and we are coming to terms with a new life.  We have started to quickly learn terms like social distancing, flattening the curve of the spread, and mitigating the accumulated risk to our population, patients, and our team.  Potentially the hardest for many of us in healthcare is balancing the need and want to help care for patients and to support efforts against the pandemic while determining the most efficient way and safest way to do this.  Additionally, we are also advising non-medical family and friends and sometimes describing the world we live in to our children.  So take the time this Sunday to spend a moment with those that you care about and think about ways in which we can all lean in to help our community and country fight this pandemic.  For many it will be coming up with a routine that allows some sense of normalcy while you spend time at home with family, food, and activity.  For our members on the Duke Heart Care teams, administrative and support staff, thank you all for the offers to support, the willingness to immediately organize and volunteer to step in for others, and most of all for caring for our patients and each other.  In the upcoming weeks we will have some trying times to get through, but as I often humbly say, I would not choose any other cardiovascular group in the world that I would want to be a part of to take care of patients, teach the next generation, and learn and shape the future of CV research.  There is some hope in our local and national communities around the concerted efforts of Duke Health, the PDC, and NC public Health groups.  See the figures included that show the case counts in the US similar to Italy but the case fatality rate to date closer to South Korea.  Additionally, we know as of 5 pm Sunday that the number of cases in NC is 32. According to NC Department of HHS, the state is operating as if it has community spread, but as of today all of the positive cases in North Carolina can be traced to a known positive contact. Below you will find some COVID-19 Resources and updates on the Duke Heart Activities this week.

COVID-19 Resources

All the latest official information regarding coronavirus/COVID-19 response for Duke Health entities is available on the Duke Health intranet site (NET ID required). Consistency in messaging is imperative, so please refer to the resources there for the latest information and policy updates.

• The COVID-19 Leadership Taskforce is sending periodic emails with summaries of the latest updates. They’re short and informative – be on the lookout.
• Additional restrictions on hospital and clinic visitors go into effect Monday, March 16.
• You should receive a Learning Management System e-mail notification with a link to an important workforce capabilities questionnaire. Please complete ASAP.
• Zoom video conferencing service is now available to anyone at Duke who needs access. (There are important restrictions regarding meetings that may include PHI, so review before using.)
• Check out this handy tech resource list (NET ID required) offered by our colleagues with DHTS. It includes a particularly useful Technology Guide for Working Remotely.

Information for patients appears on DukeHealth.org; alerts are being shared via Duke MyChart and email. Information specific to Duke University’s coronavirus response can be found here.

 

Managing in Uncertain Times

An article in this week’s Leadership Café had some great tips for self-care. So we’ll pause for a mental health break with Michael Nanna’s new puppy, a shot of Bosco and… an Oak Island sunset.  Social isolation with pets, walks and sometime to catch up with others via phone are all good ways to be well.

 

Good Catch, Mitchell!

Please insert 1 photo of Mitchell here

Erica Mitchell with the heart transplant team received a “good catch award” on Thursday. She recognized that ordered labs were not done on transplant evaluation cases. Turned out there was an error in an order set. This has now been fixed and patients receive the appropriate care. Great job and congratulations, Erica! Many thanks to Murat Fudim for the head’s up!

ACC.20/WCC Goes Virtual

The free ACC.20/WCC Virtual Experience will take place Saturday, March 28 – Monday, March 30 and will offer three days of science and learning, with “live” access to 23 educations sessions that include Late-Breaking Clinical Trials, Featured Clinical Research, Young Investigator Awards and keynotes. If you were notified that you’ve been selected as a virtual presenter, please let either Jennifer Rumbach or Tracey Koepke know. Thank you!

 

Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:

Cardiology Grand Rounds

Upcoming Grand Rounds:

• Cancelled through April
• May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai
• May 19: Mark Newman, University of Kentucky
• May 26: Svati Shah

 

Duke-J&J Nurse Leadership Program Accepting Applications

The Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 program year. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and their team members–committed to collaborating together on a health improvement initiative–are invited to participate in this program. The 10-month leadership development program trains APNs and their team members to be better equipped to meet the challenges of the evolving health care environment. Up to 35 health care teams will be selected to participate for the 2020-21 program year.

The application period will close May 11. Read more about the application process.

Informational webinars about the program will be held via Zoom 12-1 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 10 and 12-1 p.m. ET Thursday April 16.

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.

 

Duke Heart in the News:

 

March 9 — Jonathan Piccini

belmarrahealth.com

People with Atrial Fibrillation Who Get Regular Exercise May Live Longer Life

People with Atrial Fibrillation Who Get Regular Exercise May Live Longer Life

 

March 10 — Jonathan Piccini and Christopher Granger

The Washington Post

Even with atrial fibrillation, exercise linked to longer life

https://wapo.st/3cZQYxF

 

March 10 — Christopher Granger

Medscape

Further Support for Limiting Antiplatelets in AFib: GARFIELD-AF

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926546

 

March 11 — Manesh Patel

Medscape

Apixaban Preferable to Rivaroxaban in AF?

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/926600

 

March 12 — John Alexander and Michel Zeitouni

tctMD/the heart beat

New ARISTOTLE Data ‘Reassuring’ on Lower Apixaban Dose

https://www.tctmd.com/news/new-aristotle-data-reassuring-lower-apixaban-dose

Chief’s message:

Small distractions. The Duke – UNC this weekend with many in attendance or watching the yearly rival on TV provided just such a distraction from the ongoing changing world.  We will need more of these to provide respite as we continue to work on ways to stay focused on the ever changing world around us with clinical care and possible viral pandemic.  Find photos from the game this weekend – including some with colleagues and friends as we found Carlos Boozer and Chris Duhon (both ex players and NCAA champions).  Hopefully more good games to come in March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another week of COVID-19 preparations by the health system and all of our faculty and fellows.  We know that keeping social distances, washing hands, screening for travel right now, and working with our hospital and PDC leadership to ensure we follow plans will be our main way forward.  Below you will find the updates from the Duke Health System

 

 

Updates from the week:

COVID-19 Updates

Centralized resources and information regarding Duke University Health System preparedness for COVID-19 is available on the Duke Health intranet site (NET ID required). Consistency in messaging is imperative, so please refer to these resources for the latest official information and policy updates.

Information for patients has been posted to DukeHealth.org (note the COVID-19 button under “What’s New” on the home page) and will be updated regularly; alerts and updates for patients are being shared via Duke MyChart and emails are being sent directly to patients considered most at risk. Information specific to Duke University’s coronavirus response can be found here.

U.S. News/Best Hospitals Voting is Open

Voting is open in Doximity for U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals”. Please visit your Doximity account and enter your vote. Thank you!

Owensby, Fitzhugh Earn ACS Designation

The Duke Heart Cardiac Diagnostic Unit is proud to announce that two of our sonographers, Jon Owensby and Robert “Curtis” Fitzhugh, successfully passed the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) examination. ACS sonographers practice at an advanced level in the echocardiography laboratory improving lab quality and efficiency; performing advanced echocardiograms and mentoring fellows, students, residents and staff; developing and implementing educational plans; facilitating continuous quality improvement, and coordinating cardiac ultrasound research.

Jon and Curtis join the ranks of Danny Rivera, Jian Zhang, Alicia Armour, Hillary Hrabak, Batina Kight, Mike Foster, Ashlee Davis, Josh Lander, John Toptine and David Adams as sonographers who have all achieved the ACS certification during their time at Duke.

The regular advancement in learning and achievement demonstrated by our sonography team is one of the reasons Duke is able to provide the highest levels of care to our patients.

Great job and congratulations!

Purposeful Rounding Pilot Go Live: Unit 3300

Duke Heart Unit 3300 was selected to participate in the second cohort of the Duke University Hospital Responsiveness- Purposeful Hourly Rounding Project. Key components of the project focused on hardwiring standard work related to purposeful hourly rounding of HUC’s, RN’s, and NCA’s. This involved a multidisciplinary team consisting of Performance Improvement team members, unit champions, and Tracy Gosselin. Goals of the initiative are for staff to proactively manage and control their day, positive patient outcomes, decrease call bell use, increase quality time with patients, decrease harm, and increase patient education and charting time.

Staff were coached on utilization of proactive communication and bundling of care during purposeful hourly rounds as well as establishing patient expectations. The initiative kicked off on February 26. Dedicated time will be spent monitoring weekly Press Ganey responsiveness data, staff observations of purposeful rounding, and assessing the need for additional support.

Good Catch, Sowinski!

Many thanks to Katelyn Sowinski, one of our amazing nurses on Unit 3300. She noticed that a patient did not have a central line for their prescribed medication. Our Duke Heart Leadership team wrote: It is an honor for the Duke Heart leadership team to recognize and thank you personally for your “Good Catch” award for identification of a medication safety issue for a Duke Heart patient. Your dedication and commitment to your team and Duke Heart patients and families enables us as an organization to deliver on our Core Value and strive towards Zero Harm. Please take time to celebrate your personal and professional accomplishments today.”

Thank you again for all you do each and every day to make Duke Heart a great place for our patients, their loved ones, and each of our staff!

 

Triangle Heart Ball 2020

The American Heart Association’s 35^th Triangle Heart Ball was held on Feb. 28 at the Raleigh Convention Center. It’s one of the largest fundraisers of the year for our local AHA affiliate. The event raised over $1 million for research, public education and more. The impact was felt in the room when a 23-year-old stroke survivor shared his story. His stroke at age 18 left him with aphasia, but he continues to work towards his goal of getting his college degree. Shown here, L-R are: Kasey Williams, Elizabeth Watts, Laura Dickerson, Charlotte Reikofski and Amanda Rooney.

Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:

Cardiology Grand Rounds

This week we welcome Arun Ganesh, Albert Sun, and Marat Fudim. The title of their talk is Management of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia in the Critically Ill Patient. Please join us on Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m., DN 2002.

Upcoming Grand Rounds:

• March 17: Mark Lindsay, Massachusetts General Hospital
• March 24: Carolyn Lam, Duke-NUS
• March 31: Cardiology Faculty Meeting
• April 14: Ryan Tedford, MUSC
• May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai

 

Duke-J&J Nurse Leadership Program Accepting Applications

The Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 program year. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and their team members–committed to collaborating together on a health improvement initiative–are invited to participate in this program. The 10-month leadership development program trains APNs and their team members to be better equipped to meet the challenges of the evolving health care environment. Up to 35 health care teams will be selected to participate for the 2020-21 program year.

The application period will close May 11. Read more about the application process.

Informational webinars about the program will be held 12-1 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 10 and 12-1 p.m. ET Thursday April 16.

 

Update: ACC DCRI/Duke Heart Annual Reception

We are looking forward to seeing the Duke team at the upcoming ACC Scientific Sessions in Chicago! The location of the DCRI/Duke Heart annual reception has changed. It will be held in the Regency A Ballroom. Please make sure you update your calendar! Also, gentle reminder, this is a Duke-only event.

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.

 

Duke Heart in the News:

March 4 — Chris Granger, Robert Califf and Manesh Patel

MDmag.com

Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Transition to NOACs

http://bit.ly/39uN8up

March 5 – Chris Granger and Jonathan Piccini

Reuters Health

Even with atrial fibrillation, exercise linked to longer life

https://reut.rs/32TK5JN

This story also appeared in The New York Times, London Free Press and KFGO (Fargo, ND)

Chief’s message:

It’s increasingly difficult to keep things in perspective as the world rapidly changes around us.  The Coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 news and daily information from the CDC, WHO and local authorities keeps our utmost attention.  Yet we are all working to balance and continue our ongoing care for patients and each other.  The latest information from a scientific perspective can be found @ JAMA Current.

The JAMA resource center has interviews with CDC, NIH, and Chinese officials including an interactive map.  The case reports of the first 72,314 cases from China can also be found here.   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert

Over the upcoming days, weeks, and likely months we will all be following and working together to help manage and provide care/support to those in need.

As with all crises, we balance this with our ongoing lives which we attempt to keep moving as much as possible.  This week for Duke Heart our highlights included the AHA Heart Ball, discoveries and publications, expanding and partnering around EP lead extraction management, and continued recognition of several of our faculty and fellows.  Thanks to all of the members of the Duke Heart group that work to help us carry out our missions.

Highlights of the week:

U.S. News/Best Hospitals Voting is Open

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Lead Extraction Program Expands to Wake Med/HCP+

Congratulations go out to the Duke Electrophysiology (EP) team for the expansion of their lead extraction program to include patients at Wake Med. As part of our HeartCarePlus+ partnership, Sean Pokorney is conducting laser lead extractions at Wake Med with Judson Williams, executive medical director of the Wake Med Heart & Vascular program and an adjunct faculty member in Duke’s Department of Surgery; Williams completed his cardiothoracic surgery training here at Duke.

Pokorney is providing his expertise in lead extraction as well as Duke’s model of care, which utilizes a combined lead extraction team with an EP, a cardiothoracic surgeon and a cardiac anesthesiologist working alongside a highly skilled support team of APPs and imaging technicians. Pokorney’s team performed their first laser lead extraction at Wake Med on Feb. 21 and is currently the only team in Wake County using a laser during lead extractions and the only one using the combined team approach.

Duke EP is a regional referral center for lead extractions. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this patient population, these are patients with implanted pacemakers or defibrillators who have an electrical lead that has either become infected or who require one or more leads to be removed for other medical reasons. Patients with lead infections must be treated. Often, patients with lead infections will receive antibiotics, but this isn’t a viable long-term solution as it will not cure the underlying problem and patients will need repeated courses of antibiotic therapy. Without extraction, patients with infections have a significant one-year mortality rate compared to those who do have the lead removed.

Removal of the leads is complicated process. Scar tissue commonly develops around leads, making them difficult to remove without causing tears or punctures to the delicate heart tissue – complications of which can be catastrophic — which is why the skill level of practitioners is critically important. Lead extractions done by highly skilled EPs have become very safe with good outcomes.

There are approximately 30,000 pacemaker lead infections annually in the U.S. and an estimated 12,000 lead extractions done per year. Duke has one of the highest volume lead extraction programs in the world. In 2019, Duke’s EP team performed 120 lead extractions, its highest volume to date. With high patient volumes and the strongest safety protocols in place, Duke’s program offers access to the most technically skilled electrophysiologists in the U.S., partnering with highly experienced cardiothoracic surgeons and anesthesiologists who are ready for any type of complication that could arise.

The Duke team has been performing both laser and mechanical approaches to lead extraction and is highly skilled in both methods. The team plans to expand again soon when Rob Lewis begins taking on cases later this year with a combined team at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Richard Palma Joins Duke Heart

We are pleased to welcome Richard Palma, BS, RDCS, RCS, ACS, FSDMS, FASE, to the Duke Heart team. Palma joined us in January as director and clinical coordinator of the Duke Cardiac Ultrasound Certificate Program (see below).

Palma comes to Duke from St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center in Hartford, CT where he served as the director and clinical coordinator of the School of Cardiac Ultrasound at the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute.

He brings a wealth of experience to Duke not only as a cardiac imaging specialist, but as a program director with the skills to build a program from scratch, having built the program at St. Francis.

He has worked in the field of cardiac imaging since 1990 and was one of the first in the U.S. to earn the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) credential and one of the first to become a fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography. In 2011, he received the Distinguished Educator award from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS); he was induced as a fellow of the SDMS in 2016.

An author or co-author of numerous papers and educational materials, Palma lectures nationally and internationally on adult echocardiography and contrast.

He holds a BS in Education from Northeastern University with a concentration in cardiovascular health and exercise. He and his wife, Terri, reside in Durham. Terri is a physical therapist here at Duke. They have three adult children: Chloe, a physician assistant; Lucas, a manager at Oracle, and Sydney, who is in her third year of nursing school in Philadelphia.

Please offer him a warm welcome when you see him!

 

Duke Heart Launches Cardiac Ultrasound Certificate Program

We are excited to announce that Duke Heart is partnering with the Duke University School of Medicine to offer a Cardiac Ultrasound Certificate Program. The program will be led by Anita Kelsey, medical director and Richard Palma, director.

The one-year, full-time, allied health certificate program will train post-Bachelors students to become knowledgeable cardiovascular professionals who perform adult cardiac ultrasound procedures.

The program will matriculate its first class of eight students this year in September. Applications are now available online and will be accepted through June 1. To learn more, please visit: https://medicine.duke.edu/divisions/cardiology/education-and-training/duke-cardiac-ultrasound-certificate-program.

ICYMI

Terrific write-up on Svati Shah late last week (see News, below, or click here). Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, authored the piece which appeared on Thrive Global.

CRT 2020

Duke was well represented at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2020 interventional conference held Feb. 22-25 at Gaylord National Convention Center, National Harbor, MD.

Shown here are Marc Samsky, Rajesh Swaminathan, Tracy Wang, Mitch Krucoff, David Kong and Sunil Rao.

Thanks to Sunil for the photo!

 

Out & About

Marat Fudim was able to have dinner and attend a Duke men’s basketball game last weekend with none other than Richard Schatz, interventional cardiologist at Scripps Clinic. Schatz is the 2019 recipient of the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize, presented by the National Academy of Engineering and Ohio University for his seminal role in the development of heart stents. Fudim said they both enjoyed the game, adding, “how could one not with those seats?”

Good Catch, Hutter!

The Duke Heart leadership team recognized Kimberly Hutter of 7 East with a Good Catch award. Hutter identified a medication safety issue for a Duke Heart patient.

The team wrote, “Your dedication and commitment to your team and Duke Heart patients and families enables us as an organization to deliver on our Core Value and strive towards Zero Harm. Please take time to celebrate your personal and professional accomplishments today.

Thank you again for all you do each and every day to make Duke Heart a great place for our patients, their loved ones, and each of our staff!”

Way to go, Kimberly!

Heart Stepdown Units Celebrate Quality Milestones

Special recognition to the 3100 and 7300 on reaching significant quality milestones!

Congratulations to team 3100 for 814 days since their last Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection! We appreciate the measures staff, Hospital Acquired Infection Champions (Taylor Smith, Missy Sturdivant, Tyler Adcock), and 3100 nursing leadership (Heather McKinney, Beth McChesney, Sarah Tucker) have implemented to provide quality care to our patients. Shown here are members of 3100. Nice job! Keep up the great work!

Congratulations to the 7300 team for 372 days since their last Pressure Injury and 309 days since their last Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection!  We appreciate measures staff, Skin Care Champions (Danielle Rogers, Erin Reilly, Leah Shannon), Kelly Smith (WOC), Hospital Acquired Infection Champions (Emily Towery, Salome Williams, Tiffany Gibson), and 7300 nursing leadership (Monica Harper, Abby Ratliff, Leah Shannon) have implemented to provide quality care to our patients. Shown here are members of 7300. Way to go!

ACC Scientific Sessions

Are you presenting at the ACC 2020 Scientific Sessions in Chicago? Please drop a note to Tracey Koepke, director of communications so that she can track your work. If you are on a late-breaker and you think there may be some press coverage, give her a head’s up. Thanks!

 

Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:

Cardiology Grand Rounds

This week we welcome Duke cardiology fellow Anthony Carnicelli who will present Clinical Reasoning Conference. Please join us on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:15 a.m., DN 2003.

Upcoming Grand Rounds:

• March 10: Heart Center Grand Rounds
• March 17: Faculty Meeting at 5 p.m.
• March 24: Carolyn Lam, Duke-NUS
• April 14: Ryan Tedford, MUSC
• May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai

Update: ACC DCRI/Duke Heart Annual Reception

We are looking forward to seeing the Duke team at the upcoming ACC Scientific Sessions in Chicago! The location of the DCRI/Duke Heart annual reception has changed. It will be held in the Regency A Ballroom. Please make sure you update your calendar! Also, gentle reminder, this is a Duke-only event.

 

Have news to share?

If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.

 

Duke Heart in the News:

 

February 21 — Manesh Patel

ABCNews.com

FDA approves drug that lowers cholesterol in a new way

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/fda-approves-drug-lowers-cholesterol-69132201

 

February 24 — Tazeen Jafar (Duke Global Health Institute)

Futurity

Community Health Worker Home Visits Cut Blood Pressure

http://bit.ly/3ab0rjF

 

February 25 — Renato Lopes

Healio/Cardiology Today

SECURE-PCI: Atorvastatin loading in planned PCI fails to reduce 12-month MACE

http://bit.ly/3cdWX1p

 

February 25 — Sunil Rao

tctMD/the heart beat

PCI-Related MIs Not Linked to Mortality at 1 Year: Onyx ONE

https://www.tctmd.com/news/pci-related-mis-not-linked-mortality-1-year-onyx-one

 

February 26 — Duke is mentioned

Heart.org

After heart attack, mini-stroke and stroke, survivor has some advice

http://bit.ly/3cheaHg

 

February 27 — DCRI is mentioned

tctMD/the heart beat

Positive Early Data for TAVR in Low-Risk Patients With Bicuspid Valves

https://www.tctmd.com/news/positive-early-data-tavr-low-risk-patients-bicuspid-valves

 

February 28 — Svati Shah

Thrive Global

Her parents taught her grit, caring for others. She’s using those traits to fight heart disease.

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/her-parents-taught-her-grit-caring-for-others-shes-using-those-traits-to-fight-hear