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Amanda Jekowsky , American College of
Cardiology, 202-375-6645, ajekowsk@acc.org
September
16, 2008
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY LAUNCHES
QUALITY FIRST CAMPAIGN TO SET NEW STANDARDS FOR HEALTH CARE
REFORM
Survey Results Show Americans Concerned about Quality,
Cost; Demand Doctor Involvement
WASHINGTON D.C. – September 16, 2008 –
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) today kicked off
its Quality First campaign which advocates for new standards
for quality in health care reform, while setting forth initiatives
that will immediately begin to move the American health care
system dramatically forward.
At the launch of the Quality First campaign, the ACC released
findings from a recent survey revealing the American public’s
dissatisfaction with the current health care system and the
need for doctors, especially cardiologists, to be involved
in the reform movement. The results showed that not only do
52 percent of Americans feel that the costs of health care
are too high, but 77 percent are also unhappy with the way
the health care system is being regulated.
“The results of the survey could not be clearer. Americans
want health care reform now,” said ACC CEO Jack Lewin,
M.D. “The goal of the Quality First campaign is to advocate
for the highest quality of care at the most effective cost.
We are committed to working with payers, Congress and other
organizations on pilot programs, legislation, strengthened
quality measures, guidelines and appropriate use of technology.
”
Eighty-six percent of survey participants said that they
would most trust doctors and medical or patient advocacy groups
to set standards for measuring and reporting health care quality.
Through the Quality First campaign, the ACC is committed to
supporting efforts to increase transparency, focus on measureable
outcomes and provide accountability in care, as well as advocate
for the development and implementation of health information
technology to increase the quality of care and help control
costs.
According to the survey, 83 percent of Americans agree that
the primary objectives of the ACC are extremely or very important
and 64 percent said that the ACC’s top priorities should
be setting new standards for health care reform and advocating
for sound health care priorities.
“Considering that heart disease is the leading killer
in the United States and that more than 40 percent of
Medicare spending goes towards cardiovascular-related medicine,
cardiologists and the ACC are in a key position to refocus
the health care debate and work with Congress and our partners
on creating a new vision for health care,” said ACC
President W. Douglas Weaver, M.D. “Americans want their
cardiologists involved in this vitally important process and
through the Quality First campaign, the ACC is committing
itself to ensuring that Americans get the health care they
need and deserve.”
The survey, conducted by Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research,
polled a nationally representative sample of 1,003 American
likely voters with a margin of error of 3.1 percent. Forty-two
percent of those polled said they would likely vote for Barack
Obama and 40 percent said they would likely vote for John
McCain (with 15 percent undecided) if the election were held
at the time of the poll.
Survey results are available by contacting either Amy Murphy
or Larry Farnsworth.
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The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is
a 36,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the
credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon
physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College
is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards
and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular
research. The ACC provides professional education and operates
national registries for the measurement and improvement of
quality care. More information about the association is available
online at www.acc.org .
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides these news
reports of clinical studies published in the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology as a service to physicians,
the media, the public and other interested parties. However,
statements or opinions expressed in these reports reflect
the view of the author(s) and do not represent official policy
of the ACC unless stated so.
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