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This consensus statement emerges from collaborative efforts among leading figures in critical care cardiology throughout the United States, who met to share their collective expertise on issues faced by those active in or pursuing contemporary critical care cardiology education. The panel applied fundamentals of adult education and curriculum design, reviewed requisite training necessary to provide high-quality care to critically ill patients with cardiac pathology, and devoted attention to a purposeful approach emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in developing this nascent field. The resulting paper offers a comprehensive guide for current trainees, with insights about the present landscape of critical care cardiology while highlighting issues that need to be addressed for continued advancement. By delineating future directions with careful consideration and intentionality, this Expert Panel aims to facilitate the continued growth and maturation of critical care cardiology education and practice. • CCC is a burgeoning specialty that requires advanced training. • Critical care training for a critical care cardiologist should be no fewer than 12 months. • Standardization of training goals and competencies are next steps for developing the CCC field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are a high-risk population for readmission within 30-days. During the hospitalization, they are at high risk for major bleeding events, heart failure exacerbation, and arrhythmias. We investigated the diagnosis for patients readmitted within 30 days and sought to assess variables that could predict 30-day readmissions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients admitted for AMI and underwent primary cutaneous interventio n (PCI) at a single tertiary center between 2011 and 2014. Subjects were followed for 30 days to assess occurrence and cause of readmission within that period. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors predicting 30-day readmission. Results: A total of 3,858 subjects were included in this analysis, among which 348 (9.5%) patients were readmitted within 30-days. 62% of all readmissions were cardiac related. A variety of other non-cardiac causes for readmission were identified and the most common etiologies were gastrointestinal (23%), infectious (13%), musculoskeletal (7.5%) and respiratory (5.2%). Those who were readmitted for all causes were more likely to be older, females, diabetic, anemic, have a history of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), a femoral arterial access during PCI, and a delay in their presentation more than 24 hours. After adjusting for demographic factors, comorbidities and medications, factors that predict 30-day readmission were only prior CABG and a delay in the initial presentation for more than 24 hours, while receiving aspirin and beta blockers were significantly associated with lower odds of readmission. Finally, 30-day readmission post-discharge was associated with more than twice the risk of mortality at 30 days and one year, adjusting for multiple confounders. Conclusions: Early readmission after discharge with diagnosis for an AMI is due to both cardiac and non-cardiac causes and affects long-term mortality. Efforts should be made to identify and closely monitor patients who are at risk of readmission following their initial presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]