Heart Rhythm Daily - Day 3, 2008 - (Page 4)

The Heart Rhythm Society gratefully acknowledges the generous support for Heart Rhythm 2008 Scientific Sessions M A Y 1 7, 2 0 0 8 4 S AT U R DAY The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners expands internationally The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE), formerly NASPExAM, issued the standardized cardiac pacing exam for Japanese allied professionals in January 2008. It marked the ﬁrst time the IBHRE exam, considered the highest benchmark of professional competency in cardiac pacing, deﬁbrillation and electrophysiology, was tailored to meet the needs of a global health care system outside of the United States. “With the ICD growth rate around 50 percent and no signs of decreasing, the importance of credentialing professionals is all the more urgent,” said Charles J. Love, MD, FHRS, CCDS, President of the IBHRE Board of Directors. “Newer devices are highly complex and require a much greater level of technical knowledge and expertise to implant and maintain.” IBHRE partnered with the Japanese Hear t Rhy thm Society (JHRS) to develop the “Certiﬁcation Examination for Competency in Cardiac Rhythm Device Therapy for the Allied Professional.” The partnership, and subsequent exam, was developed as a response to a cardiac arrhythmia competency mandate issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health. More than 600 cardiac care professionals took the ﬁ rst-of-its-kind examination in the form of computer-based testing, resulting in an overall pass rate of 66 percent. While U.S.-based pacing exams for allied professionals average a 75 percent pass rate, the Japan-based exam pass rate is notable given this was the ﬁ rst round of the exam. “We are very pleased with the pass rate of this ﬁrst exam,” said Love. “We believe the gap will narrow signiﬁcantly between U.S. and Japanese pass rates now that the expectations are known by the candidates. This was a very successful ﬁ rst round of the exam and we look forward to hosting the second round in January of 2009. I applaud the efforts of all those who took the time and effort to challenge the examination and to become certiﬁed in cardiac rhythm device therapy.” It is the intent of IBHRE to work closely with similar organizations in the coming years to develop a psychometrically valid and defensible examination for distinguishing skilled healthcare professionals in the ﬁeld of cardiac arrhythmias around the globe. Since its inception in 1985, the IBHRE certification exam has methodically measured competence and the specialized knowledge necessary to provide a quality level of care for the cardiac arrhythmia patient. Today, IBHRE exams still remain the most prestigious in its discipline. “In our commitment to raise the level of professionalism and academic credibility in the ﬁeld of cardiac rhythm management, IBHRE looks forward to continuing to expand internationally and offering services to help meet the needs of other healthcare systems,” said Sheri Sesay-Tuffour, Executive Director of IBHRE. Opening Plenary Elizabeth Nabel, MD, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, discussed the issues she believes will affect the future of medical practice and patient care during Wednesday afternoon’s opening plenary session. Dr. Nabel has been director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute since 2005, where she oversees an extensive portfolio of research projects aimed at preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases of the heart, lungs, and blood. She is a cardiologist with extensive clinical experience and a distinguished researcher well known for her accomplishments in vascular biology and molecular cardiology.

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Contents President's Reception IBHRE Expansion SCA 360 Degrees

Heart Rhythm Daily - Day 3, 2008

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