Training and Credentialing of Cardiologists in Peripheral Intervention.

Abstract

For the well-being of our patients with coronary atherosclerosis, it is important that cardiologists become more familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of noncardiac atherosclerotic lesions commonly associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Cardiologists receive instruction in peripheral vascular disorders during fellowship training, and this includes training in the performance of noncardiac angiography. Interventional cardiologists possess the technical skills to perform peripheral vascular interventions and the clinical skills to care for patients who undergo these interventions, but they generally lack the fund of knowledge needed to provide comprehensive care. Newly revised criteria for the certification of cardiologists in peripheral vascular intervention were recently published by the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Intervention. A novel element of these revised guidelines is a tiered approach that includes limited certification for renal and iliac intervention, or unrestricted certification for physicians who meet more rigid criteria. The limited certification criteria are designed to facilitate entry into the field by practicing cardiologists who wish to expand their clinical skills for the benefit of patients with peripheral vascular disease.