ACOR and AHA Redefine High Blood Pressure

 

Blood Pressure
Image: heart.org

For the past 15 years, Dr. Rajan Bhatt has practiced cardiac medicine at Scottsdale, Arizona’s Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center. Committed to the advancement of his field, Dr. Rajan Bhatt is a fellow of the American College of Radiology.

In partnership with the American Heart Association, the American College of Radiology has issued a new set of guidelines that redefines the range of blood pressures that are considered to be “high” and require intervention. According to the new guidelines, a blood pressure of 130/80 is considered to be high, which replaces the former threshold of 140/90. Under these new measurements, approximately half of American adults would fall into the “high” blood pressure category. The biggest demographic that will see an increase is men under the age of 45, as the rate of high blood pressure among that group will triple under the new guidelines. Women under 45 will see the rate of high blood pressure double among them, as well.

ASE’s Echovation Challenge Promotes Advancements in Echocardiography

 

Echovation Challenge
Image: asecho.org

Dr. Rajan Bhatt, a cardiologist at Spectrum Dermatology & Vein Center, has published numerous articles over his more than 10-year career. His work has been recognized through nearly a dozen honors and awards, and he has given several presentations around the country. Also active in the professional community, Dr. Rajan Bhatt belongs to the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

As part of its efforts to promote excellence in cardiovascular ultrasound, ASE maintains the Echovation Challenge. This challenge was first created in 2015 during one of the ASE’s Strategic Planning Retreats. During the retreat, the board of directors realized that the organization must foster more collaboration and innovation in the field and decided that an innovation competition would be the most compelling way to encourage this.

Their ideas culminated in the creation of the Echovation Challenge, which launched in fall 2015. During the organization’s 2016 Scientific Sessions in Seattle, the challenge held a live finals event to showcase innovations that were either in development or already adopted in echocardiography labs around the world.

The Echovation Challenge was held again in 2017 with a theme of “Streamlining Diagnostics for Augmented Medical Decision Making.” Nearly two dozen projects were recognized during the Echovation Challenge 2017, and five teams were selected to present their projects at ASE 2017.