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Amanda Jekowsky , American College of
Cardiology, 202-375-6645, ajekowsk@acc.org
March
13, 2009
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY LAUNCHES LANDMARK CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES TWO-YEAR INITIATIVE
March 13, 2009 -- The American College of Cardiology
Foundation (ACCF) today announced an historic initiative that
examines the intersection of cardiovascular disease and type
2 diabetes. The initiative includes education interventions
that reach a national audience in order to achieve measurable
results in physician performance improvement and patient outcomes.
The Convergence of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular
Disease: Current Insights and Future Directions is chaired
by Roger S. Blumenthal, M.D., F.A.C.C., with co-chairs Richard
W. Nesto, M.D., F.A.C.C and Darren K. McGuire, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Faculty includes a distinguished panel of 14 cardiologists,
endocrinologists, and diabetologists, all expert clinicians
and educators in their respective fields of medicine.
Driven by a core curriculum process, the Planning
and Assessment Board of faculty experts convened to address
preliminary needs-assessment research on the two disease states
and perform an in-depth analysis of the gap between current
physician practice and what the experts and the clinical evidence
shows is ideal care. The Board also developed specific needs-based
learning objectives and outcomes measurements, and created
a 12-point core curriculum outline of topics for the overall
initiative.
The group of 17 expert faculty have since refined and reached
consensus on the science presented in the core topical outline,
developed a finalized curriculum and laid out plans on how
to most effectively deliver the science to the care providers
and patients who need it most.
According to Joseph Green, PhD, Senior Vice President of
Professional Development and Education and Chief Learning
Officer at the ACC, “Using a core curriculum approach
ensures the development and dissemination of an effective
and consistent educational focus that is based on identified
professional practice gaps and a thorough assessment of educational
need. The ACCF believes that this approach to assessment,
content development, and educational design is paramount to
our ability to plan and deliver true needs- and outcomes-based
programming.”
According to Program Chair, Dr. Blumenthal, “The ABCs
for patients in this CVD/T2D context are as follows:
A: A1c Target and Aspirin
use
B: Blood Pressure Control
C: Cholesterol Management & Cigarette
Smoking Cessation
D: Diabetes & Pre-Diabetes Lifestyle
Management
E: Exercise
F: Food Choices.”
Co-chair Darren McGuire said recently in an interview
released by the ACC, that two goals of this initiative are
to “… educate patients and clinicians on the most
important cardiovascular risk modifications in the setting
of type 2 diabetes”, and “…implement quality
improvement measures and apply performance improvement strategies
across the spectrum of cardiovascular and diabetes care down
to the level of patient care.”
Two education sessions that address this topic are scheduled
at the ACC's Annual Scientific Session 2009 (ACC.09) in Orlando,
FL, March 31 through April 1:
A Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Symposium will take
place on Tuesday, March 31 from 8:00 am - 9:30 am, and will
include discussion on the role of tight glucose control, early
revascularization in patients with diabetes, the role of insulin
therapy and more. Also, a groundbreaking Quality Pathway “Meet
The Experts” Session will take place on Tuesday, March
31 from 11:00 am - 12 noon, that brings together leading ACCF
faculty for a discussion of three new strategic initiatives:
type 2 diabetes management in the context of cardiovascular
disease; in situ simulation training to improve door-to-balloon
(D2B) time, and a coalition to reduce racial and ethnic disparities
in CVD care. ACC annual meeting attendees are invited to become
part of the CME/Quality Improvement revolution and learn more
about how they may directly participate in these initiatives.
Independent medical educational grants for the Convergence
of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease initiative are
provided, to date, by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America,
Inc. and sanofi-aventis U.S.
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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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