September, 17, 2008 - The American College of Cardiology (ACC) yesterday launched its Quality First campaign that advocates for new standards for quality in healthcare reform, while setting forth initiatives to begin moving the American healthcare system immediately and dramatically forward.
The ACC released findings from a recent survey revealing the American public's dissatisfaction with the current healthcare system and the need for doctors, especially cardiologists, to be involved in the reform movement. While 52 percent of Americans feel that the costs of healthcare are too high, 77 percent are also unhappy with the way the healthcare system is being regulated.
"The results of the survey could not be clearer. Americans want healthcare reform now," said ACC CEO Jack Lewin, M.D. "The goal of the Quality First campaign is to advocate for the highest quality of care at the most effective cost. We are committed to working with payers, Congress and other organizations on pilot programs, legislation, strengthened quality measures, guidelines and appropriate use of technology."
Eighty-six percent of survey participants said that they would most trust doctors and medical or patient advocacy groups to set standards for measuring and reporting health care quality. Through the Quality First campaign, the ACC is committed to supporting efforts to increase transparency, focus on measurable outcomes and provide accountability in care, as well as advocate for the development and implementation of health information technology to increase the quality of care and help control costs.
According to the survey, 83 percent of Americans agree that the primary objectives of the ACC are extremely or very important and 64 percent said that the ACC's top priorities should be setting new standards for health care reform and advocating for sound healthcare priorities.
"Considering that heart disease is the leading killer in the U.S. and that more than 40 percent of Medicare spending goes towards cardiovascular-related medicine, cardiologists and the ACC are in a key position to refocus the healthcare debate and work with Congress and our partners on creating a new vision for healthcare," said ACC President W. Douglas Weaver, M.D. "Americans want their cardiologists involved in this vitally important process and through the Quality First campaign, the ACC is committing itself to ensuring that Americans get the healthcare they need and deserve."
The survey, conducted by Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, polled a nationally representative sample of 1,003 American likely voters with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
For more information: www. acc.org
January 09, 2024 
