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2008
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January 18, 2008: With the first IBHRE exam held in Japan, the Heart
Rhythm Society issued a press release to US trade organizations and
Japanese media. The first placement of the press release appeared in
Diagnostic & Invasive Cardiology. Click here to read the full press
release.
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April 4, 2008: With 638 candidates
participating in the first round, the debut of the Japan exam was a
great success. The Japanese Heart Rhythm Society and the Japanese
Cardiac Rhythm Device Center was instrumental in advancing a strategic
partnership while meeting the needs of the Japanese healthcare system.
Click here to read the full press release.
January
18, 2008:
First Standardized Cardiac Pacing Exam for Japanese Allied Professionals
International Board sees partnership as model for future global
testing
Washington, DC, January 18, 2008 -- The International Board of Heart
Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) this weekend issues the first standardized
cardiac pacing exam for Japanese allied professionals. This marks the
first time the IBHRE exam, considered the highest benchmark of
professional competency in cardiac pacing, defibrillation and
electrophysiology, will be tailored to the needs of a global health care
system outside of the U.S.
“With the ICD growth rate around 50 percent and no signs of decreasing,
the importance of credentialing Japanese professionals is all the more
urgent,” said Charles J. Love, MD, FACC, FAHA, 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.”
Formerly known as NASPExAM, IBHRE was founded in 1985 to provide an
examination in the fields of cardiac pacing and implantable
cardioversion defibrillation.
Originally created for physicians and surgeons, the exam was later
developed for allied professionals to raise the level of professionalism
and academic credibility in cardiac pacing.
The knowledge base of the exam, which includes device functions, is for
the most part a global standard. Patient management questions, however,
and an understanding of the clinical culture and medicines used in Japan
were considered when tailoring the exam. Translation was also taken into
account as word usage and meanings may differ. IBHRE hopes its
partnership with Japan Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) will serve as the
model for future exam tailoring and administration in countries such as
China, Russia, and India.
“Given the growing number of heart rhythm patients around the world and
the variations of health care systems globally, the need for
certification and credentialing is of utmost importance to enhance
positive patient care,” said Love.
The Japanese Ministry of Health has mandated that in addition to allied
professionals, sales representatives, technical advisors and anyone else
having contact with patients from the medical device industry must be
certified. This mandate is meant to ensure a meaningful standard of
knowledge for those involved in assisting physicians and other health
care workers in the implantation and management of pacemakers and ICDs.
More than
7,000 individuals in the U.S. have taken the IBHRE exam to date. A full
644 allied professionals in Japan are already signed up to take the
first of its kind computer-based test. Results will be announced in
March 2008.
About IBHRE
An affiliate, independent body of the Heart Rhythm Society,
IBHRE is enriched by cardiac arrhythmia health care professionals who
strive for excellence and optimal health care by passing this
distinguished exam. Participation in the exam is consistent with the
Heart Rhythm Society’s overall purpose to improve the care of patients
by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and
standards. Working together to standardize the profession, IBHRE and the
Heart Rhythm Society provide the most current testing and professional
development tools with advances in heart rhythm management to enhance
knowledge and delivery of health care to patients.
www.IBHRE.org
About the Heart Rhythm Society
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in
science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and
patients, and the primary information resource on heart rhythm
disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting
research, education and optimal health care policies and standards.
Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, DC, it has a membership of
over 4,400 heart rhythm professionals in more than 67 countries around
the world.
www.HRSonline.org
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April 4,
2008:
Results Announced for First Cardiac Pacing Exam for Japanese Allied
Professionals
Initial Japan-based Exam Scores Comparable to Those in U.S.
Washington, DC, April 4, 2008 – Results released today from the first
standardized cardiac pacing examination for Japanese allied
professionals show a notable pass rate amongst candidates. The exam,
administered by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE)
and designed to test professional competency in cardiac pacing,
defibrillation and electrophysiology, is the first standardized cardiac
pacing examination tailored to the needs of a health care system outside
of the U.S.
In the
debut of the Japan-based exam, 638 candidates participated in the first
round, 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 first round
of the exam. Japanese exam candidates represent a wide cross section of
professionals from more than 85 companies including Medtronic Japan,
Biotronik Japan, GM Medical, Boston Scientific Japan and St. Jude
Medical.
“We are
very pleased with the pass rate of this first round exam,” said Charles
J. Love, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FHRS, CCDS, and President of the IBHRE Board
of Directors. “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 first round of the exam and we
look forward to hosting the second round in January of 2009. I applaud
the efforts of all of those who took the time and effort to challenge
the examination and to become certified in cardiac rhythm device
therapy.”
The
knowledge base of the exam, which includes device functions, is a global
standard. Patient management questions, however, and an understanding of
the clinical culture and medicines used in Japan were considered when
tailoring the examination. Close collaboration with the Japanese Heart
Rhythm Society to tailor the exam for Japan’s specific needs resulted in
an examination appropriate for this group of candidates. It also
provides a model that can be used to offer the exam in other countries.
“With the
ICD growth rate around 50 percent and no signs of decreasing, the
importance of credentialing Japanese professionals is all the more
urgent,” said Love. “Given the growing number of heart rhythm patients
around the world and the variations of health care systems globally, the
need for certification and credentialing is of utmost importance to
achieve optimal patient care.”
The
Japanese Ministry of Health has mandated that allied professionals,
sales representatives, technical advisors and anyone else having contact
with patients from the medical device industry be “certified”. This
mandate is meant to ensure a meaningful standard of knowledge for those
involved in assisting physicians and other health care workers in the
implantation and management of pacemakers and ICDs.
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