October 2008 Expiration of the Society’s Alternative Training Pathway for ICD and CRT Device Implantation
The Heart Rhythm Society’s 2004 Clinical Competency Statement: Training pathways for the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices and its 2005 Addendum were developed to provide training guidance for non-electrophysiologists who wished to be privileged to implant ICD and CRT devices.
As published in the Addendum, and with the backing of the Heart Rhythm Society Board of Trustees, the Alternate Training Pathway expires this month, October 2008. The reasons for this decision are explained in a document from Society senior leadership detailing the rationale on the sunset of ATP (revised October 29, 2008, PDF, 38K). Those who were not able to complete all the requirements in the pathway by this October deadline should not use the pathway to gain privileges.
The Society strongly recommends that all physicians and credentialing bodies who have an interest in ICD and CRT device implantation follow the training guidance found in the ACC/ACP/AHA/HRS Recommendations for Training in Adult Cardiovascular Medicine Core Cardiology Training (COCATS) 3: Task Force 6 Training in Specialized Electrophysiology, Cardiac Pacing, and Arrhythmia Management (PDF, 83K).
The Heart Rhythm Society will send an explanatory letter (revised on October 29 2008; PDF, 54K), the COCATS Task Force 6 document, and the rationale to heart rhythm specialists, hospital administrators, credentialing bodies, cardiologists, and representatives from industry to detail the current recommended training curriculum in order to ensure optimal patient care and positive patient outcomes.
If you have any questions, please contact Donna Goldberg, Manager, Clinical Documents at dgoldberg@HRSonline.org or (202) 464-3467.
