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Quality Care Policy Issues

The American Heart Association is working across the country to support policies that promote health care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely and equitable. The Institute of Medicare has reported that it takes an average of 17 years to translate new medical knowledge into actual practice and even then, patient access to the most effective care is highly uneven.  Specific areas of American Heart Association focus include:

  • Promoting evidence-based, high-quality cardiovascular care
  • Promoting health equity for minorities and women with cardiovascular disease
  • Promoting the use of health information technology such as electronic health records to improve the coordination of care and promote best practices

Healthcare delivery system changes that speed the translation of new knowledge to practitioners and strategies that improve care coordination are essential to continuing to reduce mortality and morbidity from heart disease and stroke and improving the quality and value of care provided.

How You Can Promote High Quality Cardiovascular Care …
You don't have to be a physician or hospital administrator to improve the quality and value of cardiovascular care, just an advocate with the American Heart Association willing to ask lawmakers or federal officials to improve the quality cardiovascular care. 
With just a few clicks, you can make a big difference by responding to action alerts on the issues most important to you. Join the You’re the Cure advocate network!

Learn more >>

Heart Disease and Women

In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.  The Association also got involved on a federal level to push for passage of the HEART for Women Act (S. 438), legislation that would help ensure that heart disease and stroke are more widely recognized and more effectively treated in women




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