Emerging technologies such as digital health tools, big data analytics and precision medicine have the potential to transform health care. Yet, in practical terms, what does this really mean and how do we get there? And, how do we integrate these potential innovations as seamlessly and intuitively into the clinical care delivery, while ensuring we provide solutions for the real needs of clinicians and patients?

The ACC held its first-ever Cardiovascular Innovation Summit: Moving Cardiovascular Care Forward at Heart House in September, signaling the College’s deepening commitment to shaping innovation in cardiovascular medicine. The one-day think tank was co-chaired by ACC’s Chief Innovation Officer John S. Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, FACC, and Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM, FACC, a well-known change leader and professor of medicine and epidemiology at Yale School of Medicine.

The multidisciplinary group of participants was charged with identifying the principles for meaningful transformation of health care to improve cardiovascular care and health outcomes. In-depth discussions were facilitated on emerging technologies to support innovation, accelerating innovation and principles for evaluation, and the integration of innovation in care delivery. “Each table, each session, each report out began with a patient engagement, patient-centric objective, or a shared decision-making focus,” noted Leslie Kelly Hall, vice president of policy at Healthwise.

“What can be done to bridge the gap between what is possible and what is happening, and how do we get to a better future faster?” asked Krumholz. These key questions helped to frame the discussion and the objective for the think tank. In defining the road forward, Rumsfeld stressed that the focus must be improving health, not health care, which he noted aligns with the mission of the ACC: to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health.

Participants recommended that the ACC use its robust infrastructure, networks, resources and voice to explore the specific needs that innovation can address and engage experts required for successful collaborations. The expertise of the College in implementation science and its vast data from the NCDR are invaluable resources for this effort.

Prospectively defining the problems for which to seek innovative digital or technological solutions emerged as a guiding tenet from the discussions. Aside from the development of some devices, much of the digital tools and solutions have been created by tech companies with their outsider perspective, often meaning they are retrofitted into workflow or may miss the mark for a tool that could truly benefit care and outcomes. The solutions must be customized to meet the needs of clinicians and patients.

Electronic health record (EHR) technology is a prime example of an innovation where frustration and challenges overshadow its great potential. Let’s ask ourselves, suggested Krumholz, why Google does not require us to spell correctly to access its knowledge resources and have a successful user experience, but this same experience is not found when using an EHR. Such thinking and questioning will be needed to unleash the potential for innovation that will improve quality of care, improve patient outcomes through targeted care and therapeutics, and reduce variation in care and waste.

The Summit served as a catalyst for ongoing collaboration across health care stakeholders who share a commitment to accelerate meaningful health care transformation. One specific next step is the development of a Roadmap for Innovation in Cardiovascular Care document, informed by the presentations and discussions at the Summit.

New Workgroup Unites Health Care Innovators The ACC has created a new interdisciplinary workgroup dedicated to supporting the transformation of cardiovascular care to improve quality of care and patient outcomes. The Health Care Innovation Workgroup, which will evolve into a member section, will serve as a professional home for ACC members who are engaged in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, with a specific focus on career development. Workgroup activities will include exploring innovations related to digital health, health technology, health care analytics and precision medicine that have the potential to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The Workgroup will also help facilitate ACC’s ‘thought leadership’ position in relation to the evaluation and implementation of health care innovations, and will strive to help keep members as up-to-date as possible with regard to health technologies.

ACC Challenges Hackers to Tackle Cardiovascular Care Challenges The ACC was a sponsor of Georgetown University’s intercollegiate hackathon, called Hoya Hacks, which took place Nov. 4 – 6 in Washington, DC. During the 36-hour event, 350 participants worked tirelessly to build innovative software and hardware solutions in response to a list of challenges posed by organizations such as the ACC. The hackathon challenged participants to develop solutions related to improving patient-clinician communication, tracking health status, improving medication adherence and streamlining care coordination among patients, families, clinicians and health systems.

ACC Launches First-of-its-Kind Institutional Page on Doximity As part of ACC’s innovation efforts, the College has launched a first-of-its-kind institutional page on Doximity, the largest online network of physicians and other health care professionals. ACC’s page provides a “home” for the entire cardiovascular care team on the secure, online platform. As part of this effort, the ACC logo now appears on members’ Doximity profiles to showcase their credentials and dedication to ACC’s mission of transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health. Now, ACC members from across the country can connect with one another and collaborate to improve cardiovascular patient care in a novel manner. Check out the College’s page at Doximity.com.

ACC Supports Philips Wearables and Chronic Care Challenge The ACC was a supporter of the 2016 Philips Wearables and Chronic Care Challenge, a call for solutions that reimagine how care is delivered through the seamless integration of clinical-grade wearable sensors, predictive analytics, mobile apps, connectivity, medication management, patient education and engagement, and other transformative experiences. Participants were challenged to develop solutions that would further the Triple Aim in the management of patients with chronic diseases. ACC Chief Innovation Officer John S. Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, FACC, was invited to be an online judge, and ACC Innovation Advisory Group members Maulik Majmudar, MD, and Sanjeev Bhavnani, MD, served as judges at the "pitch-off" in Boston on Oct. 25.

Door-to-Balloon 10 Years Later: Successful Model Sets the Stage for the Next Generation of ACC's QI Programs Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. ACC: Paving the Pathway to Clinical Excellence Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Get to Know Your Leaders: ACC.17 Chair Jeffrey T. Kuvin, MD, FACC and Vice Chair Andrew M. Kates, MD, FACC Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Cardiovascular Innovation: Moving Cardiovascular Care Forward Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. ACC Shares Guideline-Based Information via Google Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Cardiologist Dedicates Career to Carrying on a Legacy Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Raymond Bahr, MD, FACC: The Man Behind the Early Heart Attack Care Education Program and SCPC Accreditation Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Creating an Education Environment to Spur Innovation in Medicine and Science Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Looking Ahead: What’s in Store For the New Medicare Payment System in 2017 Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. ACC Global Education Program on Heart Disease Prevention Expands to 10 Countries Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. ACC Statement Stresses Importance of EHR Interoperability Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. ACC’s First Regional Conferences a Resounding Success Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Shifting the Paradigm: Cardiology and Population Health Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Special Issue of JACC Broadly Examines the Global Promotion of CV Health Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Recap From ESC Congress 2016 Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Cardiac Imaging Think Tank Report Embraces Quality and Innovation For the Future Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Health Affairs Committee Member Publishes Book on New Health Care System Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. In Memoriam: Joseph Lee Garvey Jr., MD, FACC Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Around the World in Photos Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology. Just One More | Cardiology: New Look, Same Great Content in 2017 Read the full Fall 2016 issue of Cardiology at ACC.org/Cardiology.

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Cooperative Behavior, Decision Making, Electronic Health Records, Patient Participation, Workflow

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