Gacioch thinks that defensive medicine also plays a role. The fear of potential lawsuits is a constant worry for physicians, especially interventional cardiologists. “Everybody in medicine is sort of defensive,” Gacioch says. “You’re always trying to do the best you can do, but I think everybody is baseline defensive. And I don’t think this is good for anyone but lawyers.”

White believes that reform and greater oversight are necessary. “Physicians have to regulate physicians,” says White. According to him, any change in the field—whether it is stricter guidelines in physician societies or new legislation, as the state of Maryland is currently pursuing—must be physician-driven to ensure that the patients’ best interest are still served.

Boden believes that while the past few years have been rocky for interventional cardiology, the results have been positive. “I think trends and patterns are beginning to change, especially with intensifying scrutiny at the national level,” says Boden. “We need to make sure that we’re doing what’s right for patients.”

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