Up to half of heart disease risk can be genetic; strategic alliance looks to improve health care; 2025 Leapfrog Group survey updates – Morning Medical Update

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As much as half of someone’s risk for heart disease can be genetic

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of coronary artery disease (CAD), published in Nature Medicine, determined that as much as half of someone’s risk for heart disease can come from their family genes. The American Heart Association (AHA) acknowledges knowing family health history as an important step in reducing risk of heart attack or stroke.

“In coming weeks as people gather for family festivities, there will be lots of trips down memory lane and stories shared from past generations. As you’re reminiscing, it’s a good time to find out more about your family health history… Knowing that you have a history of cardiovascular disease among your relatives is important, because it can mean you are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke,” Keith Churchwell, MD, FAHA, volunteer president of AHA, said in an AHA release. “Once you recognize you may be at increased risk, you can take some important steps to stay healthy.”
Strategic alliance aiming to advance patient safety and health care quality

The Joint Commission and the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) have announced plans to work together for the advancement of global patient safety and health care quality. Their four-step plan to transform health care includes uniting to a universal set of Quality competencies, skilling health care professionals, co-developing best-in-class training and education and aligning critical missions and approaches.

“Our shared missions to improve health care safety, Quality and equity for all create a powerful synergy enabling and affirming the highest standards of health care delivery,” Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission Enterprise said in an organizational release. “The alliance creates something greater than the sum of its parts and we are excited to begin this important work.”

The Leapfrog Group invites comments on proposed changes to 2025 Leapfrog Hospital and ASC surveys

Researchers from The Leapfrog Group have assembled their annual list of proposed changes for next year’s Leapfrog Hospital and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Surveys, after reviewing the literature to ensure they are up to date. The lists of proposed changes are now available for public comments, which will then be reviewed and used to refine the survey before it is finalized. Comments for the 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Survey proposed changes can be submitted here and comments for the 2025 Leapfrog ASC Survey proposed changes can be submitted here.