Harnessing the Power of the ACC Chapters

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY

VOL. 64, NO. 12, 2014

ª 2014 BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY FOUNDATION

ISSN 0735-1097/$36.00

PUBLISHED BY ELSEVIER INC.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2014.07.954

LEADERSHIP PAGE

Harnessing the Power of the ACC Chapters Uniquely Positioned for Grassroots Advocacy and Member Engagement Shalom Jacobovitz, Chief Executive Officer, American College of Cardiology

A

s we begin implementing the 5-year strategic

improvement, grassroots advocacy, and expanding

plan for the American College of Cardiology

member engagement.

(ACC), I believe that it is with our local ACC

The ACC Maryland Chapter worked extensively

chapters that we can make the most impactful,

for 2 years to develop an oversight system for all

genuine, personalized engagement with our mem-

state hospitals performing percutaneous coronary

bers. Our plans are ambitious, and the College will

intervention. In April 2012, the Maryland Legislature

need to build even stronger connections with and

passed a bill requiring a state agency to develop

among the chapters in order to accomplish the mission

requirements

and deliver the highest level of member value.

consistent

for

with

peer the

or

2011

independent American

review,

College

of

ACC chapters offer a uniquely personal touch point

Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association/

for members. They are localized and can tailor ACC

Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

programs and communications specifically for pro-

Guideline for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

fessionals in their state. They provide a place where

(1),

communities can form surrounding a member’s

randomly selected cases for Maryland hospitals.

career stage or interest area. They provide direct

The chapter went on to serve as an integral part

representation for ACC members in local advocacy

of the regulatory process to implement regulations

issues and are on the front lines of grassroots support

and ongoing performance measures. This was a

for national issues. They also develop local educa-

momentous win for Maryland, and 2 years later,

tional opportunities for members. In short, they

remains a shining example of successful ACC grass-

provide a rich member experience from residency

roots advocacy.

to retirement.

of

difficult

or

complicated

cases

and

for

However, Maryland is not the only state to see

A national survey completed in January 2014 of

chapter wins in advocacy. Earlier this year, ACC’s

more than 350 physician ACC members shows that

California Chapter led a grassroots campaign aimed at

three-fourths of chapter members want their chapters

defeating California Senate Bill 1215, a harmful

to provide advocacy on state and local issues and

imaging bill that sought to remove the in-office

nearly one-half of members look to chapters for

ancillary services exception for advanced modality

communications. Some states have been tackling

imaging and many other services. The chapter

these desires from members head-on and providing

bolstered the campaign with face-to-face educational

incredible value at the grassroots level.

meetings with lawmakers and patients, and in May

Chapter success stories abound, including some stellar examples of ACC chapters in states like Mary-

2014, the chapter was successful in rendering the bill obsolete.

land, California, West Virginia, Connecticut, Florida,

Chapters are also engaging the next generation of

and Wisconsin. These chapters have seen the posi-

ACC members. ACC chapters in West Virginia and

tive impact of their work in collaborative quality

Connecticut set out with a goal to more robustly interact with early career members and fellows-intraining. In the past year, the West Virginia Chapter

From the American College of Cardiology, Washington, DC.

reached out to residency programs, hoping to connect

JACC VOL. 64, NO. 12, 2014

Jacobovitz

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014:1290–1

Harnessing the Power of ACC Chapters

with internal medicine students who were in the

success. We must begin to directly tie the strategic

process of selecting a specialty. A tailor-made poster

plans in the states to the College’s strategic plan,

competition drew submissions and chapter interest

aligning results-driven national work with goals and

from those physicians who otherwise may not have

objectives from coast to coast. Our planning cycles

come into contact with the ACC. The Connecticut

must work in concert. We must focus on engaging

Chapter has held similar poster competitions for early

the next generation of cardiovascular professionals

career professionals, and has taken engaging this

and work even harder to include all members of the

group to another level by encouraging them to sit on

cardiovascular care team in chapter activities. We

chapter councils and provide bidirectional communi-

also need to use the chapters as our eyes and ears on

cation to their chapters to ensure that the ACC is

the ground in the states to take our advocacy work

serving their distinctive needs.

to the next level.

Just this past spring, a $15.8 million federal grant

Chapters can increase member satisfaction and

was announced to support SMARTCare, a pilot project

provide more engagement opportunities for mem-

designed by ACC’s Florida and Wisconsin Chapters

bers. According to the CardioSurve survey re-

that reduces healthcare costs by providing tools to

spondents, only 1 in 3 members indicated that they are

help doctors and patients communicate about options

engaged with the local chapter, and many report only

for their care while helping physicians apply the latest

moderate levels of satisfaction. Those that report not

guidelines to the decision-making process. It brings

being engaged with an ACC chapter most often cite

together 5 tools to help physicians and patients work

lack of time (66%). It is our job to develop tools, re-

collaboratively to make decisions about the treatment

sources, and platforms that make engaging with the

of stable ischemic heart disease. The tools also pro-

College and its chapters easier and more satisfying.

vide performance benchmarking and immediate

The ACC has begun working with chapters to further

feedback to physicians to ensure that appropriate use

enhance the chapter presence in the community and to

guidelines are considered. The program was devel-

tie the local organization’s external look and feel back

oped by chapter members working with healthcare

to the national one. With the impending redesign of

professionals from health systems, employer health

ACC.org, chapters will have a more seamless and pro-

coalitions, insurers, patient advisers, payment reform

fessional way to connect with members, as individual

advisers, and primary care physicians.

chapter websites will reflect the look, feel, and func-

ACC chapters also came together this past spring to

tionality of ACC national’s web presence. The College

voice their opinion on Maintenance of Certification

is also working closely with the states to ensure that

changes. More than 4,400 responses poured in with

chapter leaders are effectively using social media

an overwhelming majority of opposition to the

tools to make connections with members, especially

changes that are driven by the American Board of

early career and fellow-in-training members who are

Internal Medicine. The ACC took these recommen-

particularly active via interactive forums and emerging

dations from chapters to the American Board of In-

technology. These are small changes that will have

ternal Medicine, and it is apparent that the voice of

a big impact on the future of chapter effectiveness.

members is being heard. Once again, individual

The continued success of ACC chapters is para-

members in localized chapters rallied together and

mount to the success of the College and to achieving

are making a national impact.

the goals set forth in our strategic plan. It is by har-

These examples show the power that comes from

nessing the power of these local organizations to

localized, organized, mission-focused activity. Chap-

advocate for and engage members and to strive for

ters across the country are ensuring that the ACC as-

action-oriented, results-driven performance in the

sists members in becoming advocates for themselves

states that the ACC can make a difference. I look

and their patients and are providing a critical foun-

forward to seeing big things in the states over the

dation for achieving the ACC’s mission.

coming year.

Although there are incredible strides being made in many states, we would be remiss if we did not

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: Shalom Jacobo-

consider how we could improve the effectiveness of

vitz, American College of Cardiology, 2400 N Street

our chapters and address opportunities for expanded

NW, Washington, DC 20037.

REFERENCE 1. Levine GN, Bates ER, Blankenship JC, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI guideline for percutaneous coronary intervention: a report of the American

College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiovascular

Angiography and Interventions. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011;58:e44–122.

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