Congress Learns About Cardio Connection.

Congress Learns About Cardio Connection

During the recent Internet Caucus hearings, Congress learned about some of the positive healthcare benefits of the Internet. They saw a demonstration of a new Web-based cardiovascular risk predictor, by APACHE Medical Systems, McLean, VA, and the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group (NNE). The latter group has been collecting cardiovascular outcomes data for years. Now, NNE's risk-assessment models and outcomes database is available to cardiac specialists as an Internet-based clinical decision support software program.

The system, called CV Risk Predictor, can help heart-care specialists predict a patient's risk of death or serious complications, before the election to undergo invasive procedures such as angioplasty, bypass surgery or valve replacement surgery. During a consultation, physicians can enter patient data and risk factors, then get instant five-year mortality curves and other predictor information to aid in clinical judgments.

Also unveiled at the HIMSS Conference in Dallas in April, the Internet application is being pilot-tested now by physicians around the nation. For more information, contact APACHE Medical Systems at www.apa.com, or circle 213.