Health care is rapidly evolving in the U.S. With the passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), physician reimbursement and health care delivery will change considerably over the next decade. At the center of this change is a transition from volume-based care to a value-based model that will require team-based care and population health strategies. As physician practices and health care organizations become more closely aligned, all members of the health care team will need to recognize each other’s expertise and competencies to meet the needs of our patients. ACC’s Cardiovascular Management Member Section and Leadership Council is the home for those interested in cardiovascular organization and administration within the College, advocating for and advancing priorities of interest to the community.

Our mission is to “advance cardiovascular science and practice through research, education, clinical criteria and guidelines, and to influence healthcare policy.” A unique blend of forum and network, the CV Management Member Section and Leadership Council will guide the ACC on issues related to cardiovascular management and work with the College to provide information, resources, activities and advocacy on issues central to the cardiovascular management arena.

Comprised of over 1,400 members including cardiovascular physicians, program administrators, care team members and others, the Section serves as a point of identification and forum for its members within the ACC, and as a College-wide resource for issues in cardiovascular practice. The CV Management Section membership provides participants with opportunities to make a difference in cardiovascular management and:

• Network with colleagues
• Develop leadership skills
• Receive education about different reimbursement models
• Expand upon interests within the specialty

In late 2015, the CV Management Section conducted a survey of its members. Numerous learning opportunities were identified with four major themes emerging:

Education – The desire for education regarding our rapidly changing healthcare environment is routinely cited as an important need for many members. An Education Workgroup has been formed to respond to the need for management skills for section members. Areas of education identified by members included MACRA, Merit Based Incentive Payment Models (MIPs) and Alternative Payment Models. In addition, the Section will work to share and promote best practices within the areas of Practice, Quality and Leadership.

Leadership Development - The desire for leadership development within the CV Management Section is a high priority. This has resulted in the establishment of a Leadership Workgroup focused on providing strategic oversight regarding ACC’s member-focused leadership development activities, including selecting participants for ACC’s second wave in its Leadership Academy.

Quality - Members look to the Section to help continuously improve quality at their organizations. Future Section content will be developed and centered on providing resources and best practices supporting quality improvement efforts and strategies. Efforts may include partnering with ACC’s NCDR to provide benchmark data for quality improvement.

Networking - Members are looking for opportunities and avenues for networking with other cardiovascular leadership colleagues. The Section continues to pursue several communication and networking avenues including educational forums, journal articles, web conferences, e-mail communications and more.

As the CV Management Section continues to grow and evolve, we encourage you to take advantage of several ACC resources available now to help you lead and manage your cardiovascular program:

• Medicare Quality Reporting - As the Medicare program continues to evolve into a pay-for-value system, it is important for cardiovascular leaders to understand each of these programs and their associated requirements. Click here to learn more >>>
• MACRA Information Hub - For everything you need to know about how MACRA will impact cardiovascular practices. Click here to learn more >>>
• ACC Quality Initiatives - Designed to help cardiovascular professionals bridge the gaps between science and practice and ensure patient access to high-quality, appropriate and cost-effective care. Click here to learn more >>>
• ACC Clinical Toolkits - Provides practical, field-tested tools that address critical opportunities for improvement in cardiovascular care. Click here to learn more >>>
• CV Management Section Page on ACC.org – Link to practice, quality and leadership materials available by the College. Click here to learn more >>>

In summary, the goal of the CV Management section is to help educate our members about important health care changes and delivery models, give our members the leadership tools to be successful in a new era of medicine and showcase quality work and projects. We hope you will join our team.

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This article was authored by Alison Bailey, MD, FACC, director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at the Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, TN, and Rich Lundy, MBA, RRT, vice president of Heart and Vascular Services, Imaging Services and Respiratory Care at Cone Health in Greensboro, NC. Both are members of the CV Management Section Leadership Council.