Special Education Series: Cardiology In The Time of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing doctors and health care teams around the globe to adapt to a health care environment that is changing by the hour. Physicians and hospitals are shifting priorities to prepare for and accommodate severely ill patients. As the disease spreads and new evidence emerges, we must be able to adapt our facilities and identify the risk factors for the development of cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19.

In response to the evolving pandemic, the Texas Heart Institute (THI) is dedicating its education series, Innovative Technologies & Techniques, to providing information to those in the medical community who are taking care of cardiovascular patients with and without COVID-19. The special series, Cardiology in the Time of COVID-19, will include discussions of current COVID-19 and cardiovascular care literature and will provide an online educational forum for discussing emerging topics related to preparing for and taking care of all patients being treated for COVID-19.

In each episode, THI medical directors and leadership will interview experts in their respective fields to provide early perspectives on relevant topics. The initial topics of discussion will explore strategies to consider when preparing facilities and staff for case surge and innovative practices for overcoming social distancing challenges to providing cardiac care during this unprecedented time. Importantly, because best practices are in flux and are evolving as we learn more about how this virus manifests, we will continually update and make available these web-based vignettes, for the educational benefit of our global medical community.

The first episode invites interventional cardiologist, Dr. Mohammed Madjid and THI Research Associate Payam Safavi-Naeini to discuss the review published in JAMA Cardiology on March 27, entitled “Potential Effects of Coronaviruses on the Cardiovascular System: A Review.” Dr. Madjid and series hosts Drs. Zvonimir Krajcer and Stephanie Coulter will also provide early perspectives on relevant issues related to the management of cardiac patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.