American College of Cardiology

CCA Members Join ASSPC to Plan ACC’05

Ellen A. Langrehr, RN, MS, ACNP, CCRN, who has been on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing for 19 years, has been the director of the acute care nurse practitioner program since 2000 and works also as an acute care nurse practitioner on the inpatient cardiology consult service at the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics.	Barbara Johnson Fletcher, RN, MN, FAAN, is a clinical associate professor for the College of Health, Department of Nursing at the University of North Florida. She also serves as a research nurse consultant for cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla.

"I serve as an advocate for inclusion of topics submitted by CCAs and for CCAs as speakers. My membership on the committee reflects a commitment by the ACC to include CCAs in decision-making at a national level."

So commented Ellen Langrehr, the first representative from the new Cardiac Care Associate member category on ACC’s Annual Scientific Session Planning Committee (ASSPC). In her position of representing CCA members, Langrehr came prepared to the May 2004 ASSPC planning meeting with myriad ideas and suggestions from her colleagues. She and Barbara Fletcher, the CCA representative from the ACC Cardio Team, enjoyed a warm reception from the physicians on the committee then they all settled down to the tasks at hand—beginning the content development process for ACC’05 in Orlando, Fla.

Of the nine work groups defined by the committee, Langrehr and Fletcher each attended two of the four groups that included CCA submissions: myocardial infarction/ischemia, heart failure, vascular/hypertension/prevention, and special topics. Prior to the meeting, Ms. Langrehr had e-mailed all CCA members, soliciting session ideas and speaker recommendations, and she reviewed all the general submissions, noting those from CCA members or including CCA speakers.

Ms. Fletcher added the feedback that the Cardio Team had received about ACC’04 programs, which was important because it directed a change in format for CCA members, who requested that CCA programming be integrated in the general program, not tracked separately as in ACC’04.

"We actively participated within the small groups to review each submission with the goal of creating interesting and relevant sessions and selecting an appropriate format. We advocated for the topics suggested by CCA members and we recommended CCAs for speakers," says Ms. Langrehr. "For next year, I hope to work with Kris Bieg from ACC to develop a task force of CCAs to work with me in reviewing submissions by CCAs and recommending CCA speakers. The development of a CCA speakers' bureau is also planned."

Barbara Fletcher adds, "We were also able to accomplish members’ requests to integrate content relevant to CCAs throughout the program where appropriate. ACC Scientific Sessions ’05 offers various topics of interest ranging from prevention through intervention and surgery.

"The program looks great and many CCAs will be asked to participate! Each of you should find state-of-the-art sessions that will appeal to your clinical interest. Ellen and I hope you find ACC ’05 both academically and professionally stimulating. As always, we will invite your feedback so we can address them when we meet for
ACC ’06," notes Barbara Fletcher. Her final comment to fellow CCA members: "Don’t be surprised if you receive a request from a colleague asking you to consider participating in a session for ACC’05 in Orlando! And make a note, the ACC’05 Abstract Submission Web site opens August 2."

When asked about having these new members on the ASSPC, Dr. Peter M. Okin, co-chair of the ASSPC, responded, "Having CCA representatives on the ASSPC was a tremendous help in the planning of the 2005 meeting. Both Ellen Langrehr and Barbara Fletcher actively participated in many of the topic workgroup breakout sessions, providing guidance in how and where CCAs could best be incorporated into the structured sessions. We believe that inclusion of CCAs in the planning of the annual scientific sessions will greatly enhance the overall value of the structured sessions to all participants."

Question of the Month
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Practice Updates
Go Lower on LDL Levels, Says NCEP
ACC has endorsed the report from the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP), which has issued updated clinical guidelines recommending that, based on the results of five clinical trials of statin therapy reported this past year, physicians need to be more aggressive in treating low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in their moderate to high-risk patients. The new recommendations include lowering LDL levels in moderate to high-risk patients to <100mg/dL and in very high-risk patients, to less than <70mg/dL. The full report is available on the ACC Web site, click here, and will be in the Aug. 4 issue of the JACC.

Common Vocabulary for Atrial Fibrillation Now Defined
Researchers and clinicians dealing with atrial fibrillation (AF) now have a common language thanks to the efforts of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) Joint Task Force on Clinical Data Standards. The ACC/AHA Key Data Elements and Definitions for Measuring the Clinical Management and Outcomes of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, a new dictionary of the terms and procedures used in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation, provides researchers and clinicians with a common language. To view the dictionary on the ACC Web site, click here or go to the July 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

More Positive Signs of Mediterranean Diet Benefits
A study published in the July 7, 2004, edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, may explain the mechanisms behind the health benefits of following the Mediterranean diet. In this study Christina Chrysohoou, MD, PhD, and her associate researchers at Harokopio University and the University of Athens used data from the ATTICA Study, which collected information on the health, diet, physical activity, as well as blood tests and other information, from 1,514 men and 1,528 women living in and around Athens, Greece. They determined that those who followed the Mediterranean diet have lower levels of markers for inflammation and coagulation, which have been linked to heart disease. For more details, click here.

ACC News
ACC/AHA Release New Guidelines for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
The new guidelines for management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction released by the ACC and the American Heart Association (AHA) emphasize the need for speed when chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack strike. The new guidelines provide clear treatment instructions for acute stages and specific guidelines for medical treatments pre- and post- STEMI with aggressive recommendations for secondary treatments and long-term management. To view the whole document, click here.

Go Red for Women on the Move
In August and September 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign travels to Kansas City, Seattle, and Phoenix with a celebrity photo exhibit, the Pfizer "Step into Your Heart Booth," and more. Call 888-MY HEART or visit www.americanheart.org for more information.

New Coding Question Process for ACC
ACC is pleased to have a new coding contractor with substantial cardiology coding experience. We have established a new e-mail address for physicians and their staff who have coding questions. Please e-mail coding questions to coding@acc.org. Provide an ACC member number and your contact phone number with the e-mail.

McEntee Speaks to Association Executives About Heart Disease
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, and one in three women dies of heart disease, ACC CEO Chris McEntee told 400 association executives on June 30. Speaking at the Executive Women’s Heart and Soul Luncheon, sponsored by the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives, McEntee added that when risk factors are reduced, heart disease can be prevented, and she stressed the need for women to know their personal risk and the atypical symptoms that women are more likely to experience. After her speech, many of the executives contacted ACC to obtain more information and educational materials about heart disease in women.

Membership Notes
Have You Filled Out the Membership Data Form?
In order to provide CCA members with useful services and products, ACC is asking all CCA members to fill out and return the brief survey that you may already have received in the mail. By filling out the survey, you will be able to enhance the CCA programming for you and other Cardiac Care Associates. Thank you for doing so.

Education Opportunities
30th Annual Tutorials in the Tetons 2004: Update in Cardiovascular Disease
(2004-1600). Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, 2004, Jackson Lake Lodge, Jackson Hole, Wyo. Directed by Timothy Fleming, MD, FACC; Gordon A. Ewy, MD, FACC; Hugh C Smith, MD, FACC; and H. Robert Superko, MD, FACC. Reduced registration rates apply through Aug. 21. For more information, click here.

Now available and free to all ACC members! The Diabetes-Cardiovascular Disease Toolkit, a part of the Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke campaign! Available on CD-Rom, hard copy, and online, through the partnership of ACC, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA). Click here for more details.

Make the Link! Webcasts
ACC, ADA, and PCNA also have an ongoing continuing education series of free live Webcasts. Archives are available. Click here for details.

Listen Online—ACC Conversations with Experts
Fast-paced 20 – 30 minute discussions between experts with Dr. Adolph Hutter asking the tough questions. Available free to all ACC members. Sessions are archived. Go to www.conversations.acc.org for more information. Upcoming Conversations include: VALUE Review, 8/3/04; Sleep and Cardiovascular Disease in Women, 8/11/04; and A Look at the Data Behind JNC VII, 8/18/04

We Welcome Your Suggestions for CCA Update
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Start Planning Now for the
ACC’05 Scientific Session!
March 6 – 9, 2005
Orlando, Florida

Important Dates To Remember:
Aug. 2–Sept. 8, 2004
ACC’05 Abstract Submission Web Site Open

September 16, 2004
ACC’05 Preferred Registration and Housing
Opens for ACC Members Only
Click here for information.