The Nominating Committee led by Past President Christopher M. O'Connor, MD, FHFSA is Hard at Work.
 

I am pleased to announce once again the update of the HFSA community on activities over the past month. The tremendous influx of applications to serve on HFSA committees is a very positive sign of the vitality of HFSA. Every effort will be made to match our talented members with open committee positions. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of open positions, not all will be selected for a committee position. HFSA plans to announce additional evolving opportunities to help HFSA in other roles and each applicant will be recorded in a directory being developed. This will allow HFSA leaders and staff to readily identify members to serve in key positions. Examples include ad hoc task forces, representing HFSA at meetings e.g. CMS, or serving as a reviewer for a policy or guideline document.

Perhaps most important is to acknowledge that when you apply for a position our expectations are that you have the time to commit to HFSA and will fulfill your responsibilities. Remember it is a “two-way street” meaning the member gains value by serving HFSA, interacting with peers and staff and truly making a contribution, and HFSA benefits from your talent, knowledge, and enthusiasm. The Board of Directors determines the strategy and “compass” for HFSA, but the committees do the work that drives HFSA forward.

Maintenance of Certification

MOC or Maintenance of Certification is well known to most physician members of HFSA and part of the process for ongoing ABIM board certification. The processes for MOC have been actively debated and discussed within the medical community. In March the ACC and ABIM announced a new “Collaborative Maintenance Pathway,” and that subspecialty societies including HFSA, HRS, and SCAI would collaborate in the development of Self-Assessment Programs (SAP) as the core tool to be used in a new alternative pathway to maintain ABIM certification. The philosophy is that learning should be continuous rather that focused every 10 years and focused on a single examination.

HFSA has identified and appointed a co-editor that will collaborate with the ACC appointed co-editor to construct the HF SAP. I am pleased to announce that Mark Drazner, MD, FHFSA has agreed to serve as the HFSA co-editor. Join me in congratulating Mark and please be ready to contribute to this project when Mark reaches out!

GDMT: Guideline Directed Medical Therapy

All heart failure experts are aware that outstanding, lifesaving medications have been developed and are recommended by the guidelines for patients with HF and reduced EF. We have unfortunately learned from the CHAMP-HF registry and numerous publications that many HF patients with HFrEF do not take all GDMT and when received, the medications are often not at target doses. This is an important opportunity and obligation for HFSA to solve this problem of implementation. HFSA leadership has begun a dialogue on the topic and will receive guidance from the Board of Directors at our May meeting. GDMT is essential for our patients and an important first step before considering additional adjunctive treatments. I will be providing important updates soon.

23rd Annual Scientific Meeting

Planning for the 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting is going well. Plans for a very exciting opening plenary session are being confirmed. Each HFSA member is asked to recruit at least one new member and encourage them to attend. After attending one meeting we are hooked! Based on a record-breaking number of abstracts submitted we are expecting a fabulous meeting in the grand city of Philadelphia.

Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program HRRP

Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program HRRP has been a focus area for HFSA and ACC. Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FHFSA, FAHA, FACC moderated a meeting that included key stakeholders in November 2018. I recently sent a letter to CMS on behalf of the HFSA emphasizing the importance of this topic to our members and our patients. Dr. Bozkurt and others recently met again, and the dialogue is continuing and active. Certainly more to come on this topic in the next few months ahead.

Publication and Scientific Statement Committee

Recently the board approved the consolidation of two committees to form a single Publication and Scientific Statement committee. Committee members now are fused into one committee and with time, the number of committee members will be right-sized. This committee has been very active tackling numerous projects and assignments. The committee recently completed the five-year review of the Journal of Cardiac Failure editor. Based on the recommendation of the committee the board has approved Paul Hauptman, MD, FHFSA for an additional five-year term as Editor in Chief. We are fortunate to have HFSA Past President Marvin Konstam, MD, FHFSA as chair of the new committee. Dr Konstam’s wisdom and experience are a huge asset. Akshay Desai’s, MD, MPH, FHFSA leadership of the former Scientific Statements Committee was much appreciated.

Upcoming deadlines...

• Annual Meeting Abstracts are now closed for submissions. We received over 500, which was an increase of nearly 40% since 2018.
• Submissions are being accepted for the following:
  • Late Breaking Clinical Trials – deadline June 24
  • Clinical Trial Row – deadline July 13
  • Emerging Therapies Row – deadline July 13
  • Nursing Awards – nominations are due May 15 and we could use some more. Find more information on awards and grants.
• The 2019 Comprehensive Heart Failure Review Course & Update date and location have been announced! It will be held October 24-27, 2019 in Tampa, Florida.

I am looking forward to the May Future Leaders in Heart Failure Symposium and our board meeting in Washington, DC.  I will have much to report next month.