American College of Cardiology

What is the “value” of membership in the American College of Cardiology?

The value of membership in the ACC can be found in the recognition it provides you among professional peers and patients as a cardiovascular professional dedicated to the highest quality of care. Your membership provides you with access to the most up-to-date clinical information, and opportunities for networking, leadership, involvement, and “giving back” to the discipline.

While many organizations attract individuals through their purpose and principles, ACC’s members, and the patients they care for, are the motivation and the drivers for all that the College achieves. The founders and leaders of the ACC created a mission statement and a set of core values that serve as the foundation and guiding principles for the work of the College. By personal choice, training and daily pursuit, ACC members make these precepts relevant and hold the College accountable to them.

What is the mission of the American College of Cardiology?

The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to advocate for quality cardiovascular care—through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines—and to influence health care policy.

What are the core values of the American College of Cardiology?

Professionalism: The interests of patients are primary.
Knowledge: The College must promote growth, dissemination and application of knowledge about cardiovascular medicine.
Value of the cardiovascular specialist: The cardiovascular profession makes a distinct contribution to medical care that should be recognized and enhanced.
Integrity: Honesty, compliance with legal requirements, and ethical behavior are essential in all activities.
Member driven: The College and its major activities must be led by active members and must promote volunteerism.
Inclusiveness: The College involves a broad range of volunteers that reflects the composition of its membership.

What is the ACC Code of Ethics?

Members hold themselves accountable as cardiovascular healthcare professionals and have articulated their commitment in the College’s Code of Ethics.

What are the ACC’s member benefits?

Direct membership benefits include the:

Journals of the American College of Cardiology: Members receive the JACC journals including JACC, JACC Cardiovascular Interventions, and JACC Cardiovascular Imaging with their membership dues.

Cardiology: This magazine, written for, about and by cardiovascular professionals, is provided free with membership dues. Cardiology covers professional news, trends and science, and provides members with insight to what is happening in cardiac care.

Cardiosource.com: Members receive access to Cardiosource.com, a premier online resource for clinical cardiovascular information and news.

ACC Annual Scientific Sessions and i2 Summit: Members receive discounted registration for the ACC Annual Scientific Sessions and i2 Summit, next in Atlanta, March 14-16, 2010.

Educational programs and products: Members qualify for discounted registration to ACC’s education programs and discounted prices on all of the College’s educational products.

Chapters: Local chapters offer members networking, education, and the opportunity to make a difference in their communities. U.S. state and selected country chapters offer leadership in cardiovascular medicine where members work and on behalf of patients members serve directly.

Member Sections: The ACC has communities within the College dedicated to advancing the priorities of members with a specific specialty or interest. These sections are a unique blend of forum and network, connecting members with shared interests and objectives. Sections include the Interventional Scientific, Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology and Women in Cardiology member sections. An International Council and Section provides a forum for those members residing outside the U.S.

Councils: The ACC also has several councils, including those on Imaging and Thoracic Surgery to meet the needs of its members.

Does the ACC have more than just physician members?

Yes, the ACC has memberships available for other members of the cardiovascular care team including nurses and pharmacists, as well as for practice administrators.

Cardiac Care Associates: The ACC provides a home for members of the cardiovascular care team including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, physician assistants and practicing clinical pharmacists. The Cardiovascular Team Council and Section acts as a forum for advancing the interests of those members.
Additionally, the ACC has established the Associate of the American College of Cardiology (A.A.C.C.) designation to recognize Cardiac Care Associates who have achieved their relevant national boards, are engaged in CV care, and are pursuing specialized training.

Practice Administrators: The ACC offers advocacy and up-to-date information regarding the management of a cardiology practice. This key membership constituency is committed to the advancement of quality care through efficient, effective, and patient-centered administration of the cardiovascular care enterprise.

Why is it important to join and support the ACC?

The ACC, its Chapters, and its member communities offer you the power of a national collective committed to quality cardiovascular care. Leadership opportunities through committees, sections, and councils allow you to participate in key forums and on critical issues that directly affect your profession. As a cardiovascular specialist you have a stake in patient care and a place in the national debate on healthcare.

On your behalf, the ACC monitors, advocates and participates where it can influence cardiovascular research, training, accreditation, board certification, licensure, medical practice, reimbursement and career opportunities across the entire spectrum of the specialty and throughout its career stages.

How does ACC help me professionally?

Physician members of the ACC who have achieved their primary and subspecialty cardiovascular board certifications affiliate with the College as Fellows of the American College of Cardiology (F.A.C.C.). The widely recognized and esteemed F.A.C.C. designation demonstrates a member’s standing in the community of cardiovascular and other medical specialties. Other physician members of the College who have not yet achieved their boards benefit from affiliation with the College, giving them access to the latest information in the field and educational programs and products. Outstanding cardiovascular researchers and academics also join the College and benefit from its activities.

Other members of the cardiovascular care team, including nurses, physician assistants, clinical pharmacists, and practice administrators also show their commitment to quality healthcare delivery through their membership in the ACC and take advantage of the College’s extensive professional, clinical, and practical resources.

How does my ACC membership benefit my patients?

Aside from advancing the cardiovascular specialist’s knowledge and skills and providing clinical guidance, the ACC supports enhanced health care professional-to-patient interactions, as well as direct patient education resources on cardiovascular health, prevention and disease. Resources include Cardiosmart.org, a website built to engage, inform and empower patients to better prepare them for participation in their own care.

At the core of the College’s activities is the fundamental goal of improving patient well-being. Access to care, clinical guidelines, appropriate use criteria, and outcomes-based measures are features of the ACC’s Quality First initiatives centered on patient care.

What goods and services value do I get from the ACC?

$1,800 worth of savings each year. For a full dues paying physician member in the U.S. - who receives the JACC journals, Cardiology, access to Cardiosource.com; attends annual meeting; and purchases one product and one program registration in a given year - the membership discount is more than two times the dues amount each year.

Benefits and dues rates vary for other membership types and for those outside the U.S.

Where is my dues money spent?

The College maintains an annual operating budget -- closely monitored by the Board of Trustees, the Budget, Finance and Investment Committee, finance and program budget managers – and it is subject to annual audits by an independent auditing firm.

The ACC Budget by Revenue and Expense Type ($ figures in millions)

The College has a variety of revenue sources, with just under 15% coming from dues. To frame the dues share differently, 85% of the ACC revenues come from registration, sales, sponsorships, royalties, subscriptions, and other sources. Consistent with most service and knowledge-based enterprises, about 40% of expenses are associated with personnel and benefits, and the remainder with the cost of conducting business and activities.

Budget items can be defined in different ways. The operational budget’s general revenue and expense types are typical for a business view of how the College receives and expends funds. Members also ask how the College expends resources by mission area or by activity type, so these ways to view the budget are also shown here.

If expenses are clustered into key mission areas:

If expenses are clustered into key activities of the College:

What is the National Cardiovascular Data Registry?

NCDR^(R), an initiative of the American College of Cardiology Foundation, is the United States’ preeminent cardiovascular data repository. Its suite of registries collect patient risk factors, procedures, devices and clinical outcomes, and provides evidence-based quality improvement solutions for medical professionals who are committed to measurement, improvement, and excellence in cardiovascular care.

What portion of my dues goes to advocacy?

Only a portion of dues goes to support staff and activities associated with federal legislative and regulatory issues that directly impact the practice of cardiovascular medicine. By federal law, only a fraction (12.71%) of the national payment amount, and in some cases a fraction of the relevant Chapter amount (which varies, depending on the Chapter) is defined as associated with “lobbying.” No amount of national or Chapter dues is associated with political action committees. Dues amounts for members outside the U.S. do not include any American advocacy amount.

What is on the ACC advocacy agenda?

The ACC’s mission in advocacy is to develop sound health care policies to foster an environment in which research, disease prevention and patient access to quality cardiovascular care are understood, valued and promoted. Visit the advocacy homepage at http://www.acc.org/advocacy/advocacy.htm for information on the patient-centered Quality First efforts, the variety of issues covered and involvement opportunities.

Who determines College priorities?

Members of the College who serve on the Board of Trustees have fiduciary responsibility and are responsible for the governing policies of the ACC. The BOT established a Strategic Framework and Strategy Map, and utilizes a Balanced Scorecard of performance goals and measures to guide and inform College priorities and activities.

What do ACC Chapters do for me?

ACC Chapters present professional opportunities for members and provide a voice for cardiovascular medicine’s concerns at the local and state level. Networking, referral and consultation contacts, mentoring and professional advancement are inherently local in nature, as well as state-regulated issues such as the practice of medicine, licensure, and insurance coverage. Other factors are also most directly affected locally, including CV education, CME and CE offerings, research, training, work place and workforce concerns.

Members of the Board of Governors are cardiovascular medicine leaders in your community; they are charged with representing you and they are key sources of information about the value of the Chapter and ACC. Contact your Chapter Executive or Governor to find out more about Chapter activities and for further information.

What does the ACC offer cardiovascular specialists outside the U.S.?

The American College of Cardiology is pleased to offer members the latest information about its global activities. The ACC International Center provides information about upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, and resources for travel. Health is an issue that crosses borders and College members work to promote dialogue exchange among cardiovascular professionals worldwide. The ACC is also establishing Country Chapters outside the U.S. to better serve its international members, and established an International Member Section to act as a forum for international members and to help the College determine international initiatives.

Who are the members of the College?

The ACC has 37,000 members, comprised of 25,300 Fellows, 600 Associate Fellows, over 3,300 Affiliates, 200 International Associates, 3,700 Fellows-in-Training, 3,800 Cardiac Care Associates and 100 Practice Administrators. Membership types, requirements and applications can be found at http://www.acc.org/about/join_acc.htm
Most members are located in the U.S., however upwards of 4,000 are located in other countries.

Members of the College have access to an online directory of the membership. To use this membership benefit service: Go to www.acc.org, Click on “Member Center” in the toolbar at the top of the page, User Name = your email address and Password = your ACC record number or if you had customized it, the password you entered. For help on your user name and password, please contact the ACC Resource Center, resource@acc.org, or call (202) 375-6000 x5603.

In the Member Center, you will find a “Member Directory” on the left hand toolbar. Click that to search by name, country, city/state, and specialty.

Who do I contact with my concerns?

The ACC is led by cardiovascular specialists supported by a staff committed to serving member interests. There are a number of ways to contact the College, its leaders, and specific programs. You may call the ACC Resource Center directly at (202) 375-5603 or use one of the following options:

Email the Resource Center at resource@acc.org

Online feedback form

ACC Departmental Directory

ACC Chapters