Contact: Amanda Jekowsky, ajekowsk@acc.org, 202-375-6645

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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