The ACC and MedAxiom have a long history of working together to help physicians, practices, hospitals and health systems address the increasingly complicated business and financial aspects of medicine that extend beyond clinical patient care, but are just as vital in today's health care environment. With MedAxiom now part of the ACC family, clinicians, practices, health systems and hospitals can take advantage of the strengths and expertise of both groups to optimize cardiovascular care and patient outcomes.

As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, providing members around the world with clear, evidence-based solutions to ensure optimized cardiovascular care and outcomes is a strategic priority for the ACC. In today's health care environment, where costs and value are increasingly part of the quality care equation, doing this well involves going beyond the clinical aspects of caring for patients and providing tools, resources and education that also address strategic, operational, financial and other non-clinical factors. With the addition of MedAxiom, an already nationally recognized leader in cardiovascular performance improvement, ACC members, hospitals and health systems will have streamlined access to MedAxiom's expertise in cardiovascular operations, performance improvement, and business.

No. In recognition of almost 20 years of successful operations, and ACC's commitment to maintaining the entrepreneurial and nimble spirit that has been a hallmark of MedAxiom's success, MedAxiom will continue to operate as a wholly-owned, but separately incorporated for-profit enterprise.

MedAxiom joined the ACC as a wholly-owned subsidiary, separate from the ACC Foundation.

ACC Chief Executive Officer, Timothy W. Attebery, DSc, MBA, FACHE, serves as CEO of both MedAxiom and the ACC Foundation. Gerald (Jerry) Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC, is MedAxiom’s president and chief medical officer. To ensure continuity, Jennifer Linville, previous MedAxiom CEO, serves as a consultant to Tim, and Pat White, previous MedAxiom president, serves in an advisory role as leadership is transitioned. A separate board of seven members governs MedAxiom, reporting to the ACC Board of Trustees.

MedAxiom clients will not be impacted by the change. MedAxiom will continue to provide the same expert services that its clients have come to expect over the last 20 years. If anything, current MedAxiom clients and ACC members, will see increased benefits over time as a result of the blending of ACC's world class science, education, registry, quality improvement and advocacy work and MedAxiom's recognized leadership in cardiovascular operations, performance improvement, and business.

ACC membership and MedAxiom resources and services will continue to remain separate. At this time, there are no discounts for ACC members or MedAxiom clients who are part of both organizations. Specific MedAxiom tools and resources available to ACC members as part of pre-existing collaborations will continue. However, look for greater alignment and integration of ACC and MedAxiom services in the months and years to come.