ALSO NOTED: Heart disease deaths plummeting; Missouri providers get used to ratings; and much more...

> Cardiac deaths are dropping, thanks largely to better treatments and reductions in risk factors. Article

> In Saint Louis, doctors and hospitals are gradually getting used to the idea of having outsiders rate the quality of care they provide. Article

> The dean of a Tennessee nursing school argues that nurse retention is just as important as recruitment in staving off pending shortages. Article

> Connecticut's governor may veto the state's health reform bill unless legislators come up with the budget to pay for proposed changes. Article

And Finally...  Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to step away from the dog. Article