Healthgrades released its Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards and Best Hospitals for Specialty Care report Oct. 20, recognizing several facilities for top-line care.

  The American Heart Association published a report Oct. 20 examining diversity in cardiology, specifically on Black cardiologists.

ASCs are increasingly implementing cardiovascular procedures. Technological and clinical advancements, regulatory changes and potential cost savings are driving this migration. However, ASCs looking to implement these procedures must ensure they are prepared and consider the several financial and operational factors needed for success.

Six cardiology-focused ASCs and outpatient facilities opened or announced since mid-August:

Waco-based Heart of Texas Surgery Center recently performed two heart procedures in an ASC, according to administrator Debbie Smith.

African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans make up only 8 percent of practicing cardiologists, according to research from Boston University.

Doylestown (Pa.) Hospital finished a $54 million, 100,000-square-foot addition, according to Healthcare Construction and Operations.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health opened its outpatient cardiovascular and cancer outpatient facility in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 12.

The American College of Cardiology recognized Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health with an NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, according to a Sept. 30 press release.

The American College of Cardiology partnered with Butterfly Network to launch a clinical trial testing the Butterfly iQ+, a single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system that connects to mobile devices.

Salisbury, Md.-based TidalHealth Peninsula Regional successfully implanted the MitraClip during two procedures, the Salisbury Independent reports.

Increasingly, cardiovascular procedures are moving into the outpatient setting, spurred by technological advancements, regulatory changes, potential cost savings and patient preference. But outpatient settings, such as ASCs, hospital outpatient departments and office-based laboratories looking to add these procedures to their offerings must take note of certain financial, operational and regulatory considerations.

On Sept. 29, Kelly Tucker, MD, became the world's first physician to implant the AngelMed Guardian System.

New York City-based pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb and Brisbane, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical company MyoKardia announced a multibillion-dollar merger, according to an Oct. 5 press release.

New York City-based NYU Langone is one of a few surgery centers in the U.S. that performs robot-assisted surgery for cardiac tumors.

ASCs have a massive opportunity to improve their cash flow, growth rate and net worth by integrating cardiology procedures, according to three experts from National Medical Billing Services.

Houston-based Texas Heart Institute opened a clinical practice Oct. 1 that will focus on cardiovascular clinical care, the Houston Business Journal reports.

Cardiology Associates of Schenectady (N.Y.) will join Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners Medical Associates, effective Jan. 1, the Albany Business Review reports.

Changing federal and state rules are driving a rapid migration of cardiology procedures to the outpatient setting, according to ECG Management Consultants Principal Naya Kehayes and Associate Principal Sean Hartzell.

Tucson, Ariz.-based Northwest Medical Center's robotic heart surgery program was profiled by local NBC affiliate KVOA.com.