Deliverable: Transcripts

Objectives:

• Investigate factors fueling a recent slump in the US implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) market
• Examine trends in patient management and referrals for implantable cardiac devices
• Examine physician practice patterns and the underpenetration of the US ICD market
• Gauge the impact of new cardiac monitoring technologies
• Examine the process by which physicians identify (or fail to identify) ICD treatment opportunities for primary prevention patients.
• Determine referring physician perspectives on the future ICD use

Products Highlighted:

• InSync Sentry™ CRT-D and Optivol Fluid Status Monitoring (Medtronic)

Companies Highlighted:

• Guidant
• Medtronic
• Merck

Topics:

• Respondents’ patient populations
• ACC/AHA guidelines and ICD use
• ACC/AHA guidelines and CRT/CRT-D use
• Patient selection and risk stratification
• Brand awareness and preferences
• Reimbursement

Screening Criteria:

• 10-12 physicians
• Mix of cardiologists with and without an electrophysiologist (EP) in his/her practice
• Physicians work within a high-volume practice with hospital privileges
• Physicians currently manage a high volume of patients with ICDs
• Cardiologists have referred patients to an EP for ICD implantation within the last 3-6 months
• Mix of cardiologists with high and low referral volumes
• Physicians are U.S. based, regionally diverse