American College of Cardiology

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kbieg@acc.org
adees@acc.org

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ACC’05 Scientific Session!

March 6 – 9, 2005
Orlando, Florida

Welcome to this first issue of CCA Update, a monthly newsletter developed specifically for Cardiac Care Associates. In CCA Update, our goal is to keep you informed about key ACC education and information resources; medical, research, or advocacy news; and to give you the opportunity to learn about other CCA members and their activities and involvement in ACC programs. We encourage you to let us know what you would like to see covered in future issues.

ACC Announces Two Major Appointments
CCA Members Bring Expertise and Experience

Suzanne Hughes, MSN, RN	Kathleen A. Dracup, RN, FNP, DNSc, FAAN

CCA members may come to the ACC for its resources, but the ACC looks to you, its newest members, as valuable resources for the College. As members of the cardiac care team, you bring fresh perspectives and insightful knowledge to the ACC’s strategic planning, goals, and mission. For that reason, the ACC has made two major appointments of CCA members and will continue with more in the coming months. We encourage all members to join key committees and working groups or to seek other involvement in the ACC.

As to the two appointments, Suzanne Hughes, MSN, RN, has joined the Cardiosource team as an associate editor for nursing and patient education in a newly created editorial position, and Kathleen A. Dracup, RN, FNP, DNSc, FAAN, has joined the Publications Committee, filling a position created specifically for a CCA.

Ms. Hughes comments about the CCA membership, "The CCA group, made up of physician assistants and nurses at various practice levels, is on the front lines working to bridge the gap between bench and bedside. Whether or not we are prescribers, we are, in all of our various areas of practice, key members of the team that can make the difference in the quality of care delivered to a growing segment of the population." Ms. Hughes’ work experience includes cardiovascular nursing, coronary care, non-invasive cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation, and preventive cardiology. She has worked for The Heart Group, a large cardiology practice in Northeast Ohio, and for the Cleveland Clinic Section of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation. She currently coordinates a women’s heart health program at Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio. In addition to her Cardiosource duties, Ms. Hughes also serves on the ACC Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Committee.

Her goal in working with Cardiosource is to help it become the site that CCAs rely on for the most up-to-date, clear, usable information to meet the challenges and responsibilities of delivering quality, evidence-based cardiovascular care.

Dr. Kathleen A. Dracup, who is dean and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, hopes to introduce the diverse interests and disciplines of CCAs to ACC publications and expand the various editorial boards to represent the new membership category better. She has extensive experience in cardiovascular clinical nursing, is recognized nationally and internationally for her investigation in the care of patients with heart disease and the effects of this disease on spouses and other family members. Having served as editor of Heart & Lung for over a decade, she is currently the editor of the American Journal of Critical Care and recently published the textbook, Intensive Coronary Care.

About CCA Membership
The ACC created this new membership category to recognize the importance of all the members of the cardiac team, to tap their knowledge and experience, and to provide them with:

Access to advanced cardiovascular education
Updates on hot topics and issues in the cardiovascular community
Updates on what’s happening with cardiac care teams
Networking opportunities
A voice in the future of cardiovascular care.

As members, Cardiac Care Associates receive:

Access to Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC); Cardiosource.com, Current Journal Review online, and ACC Standards and Guidelines
Reduced annual dues (US$100) and reduced fees for ACC programs, products, and the ACC Annual Scientific Session
Opportunities to participate on designated ACC committees, task forces, and working groups; speak at ACC programs; and work on special projects.

Who Are CCA Members?
CCA members include clinical nurse specialists (CNS), nurse practitioners (NP), registered nurses (RN), and physician assistants (PA), all critical members of the cardiac care team. Based on the most recent numbers, approximately 60 percent of the CCA members practice in adult cardiology. Interventional cardiology is second largest group at 13 percent. Other specialty groups of recognition (5% to 8%) included invasive and non-invasive cardiology. As of June 11, 2004, there were 1,123 CCA members.

Education Opportunities
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. Upcoming: "Hypertension, Therapeutic Agents and the Occurrence of Cardiovascular Events," June 30.

Past sessions are archived. Go to www.conversations.acc.org for more information.

New Learning Center Program
"Comprehensive Treatment of Heart Failure," Dr. Ileana Pina, July 12 – 14, 2004, Seattle. Take this opportunity to assess your knowledge and clinical performance with heart failure patients. The program will focus on heart failure patient cases, ACC/AHA heart failure guidelines, and provide you the opportunity to examine your own clinic or hospital chart system. Nursing credits are available. For details, click here.

MGMA/ACC Audio Conferences:
"Physician Extenders in the Cardiovascular Practice: How To Use Effectively and Bill Appropriately" July 13, 2004. Audio conference with Dennis Grindle, CPA, Partner in Healthcare Consulting, Seim, Johnson, Sestak & Quist LLP. CCA member Janet Long will be representing ACC in the conference. Sponsored by the MGMA Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery & Cardiology Assembly (CSCA) in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Registration closes on July 9, 2004. For more information or to register, call toll-free 877.ASK.MGMA (275.6462) or visit www.mgma.com/education/calendar.

Media, Journals & News
JACC
"Closing the Gap in Heart Attack Care"
Quality of care higher with use of standard forms and support systems.—June 16, 2004

"Arrhythmias May Hold Key to Gender Differences in Sudden Death"
Measured factors don't explain gender gap in dangerous arrhythmias.—June 16, 2004

"Sharp Drop-off in Heart Failure Medication Use Needs Attention"
Prescribing ACE inhibitors to in-patients is important, but outpatients need ongoing support.—June 2, 2004

For more information, click here.

Start Planning Now for the
ACC’05 Scientific Session!

March 6 – 9, 2005
Orlando, Florida

Important Date To Remember:
September 16, 2004
ACC’05 Preferred Registration and Housing
Opens for ACC Members Only
Click here for information.