Advancing Healthcare Reform: The American Heart Association’s 2020 Statement of Principles for Adequate, Accessible, and Affordable Health Care: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

Abstract

The mission of the American Heart Association is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The American Heart Association has consistently prioritized the needs and perspective of the patient in taking positions on healthcare reform while recognizing the importance of biomedical research, providers, and healthcare delivery systems in advancing the care of patients and the prevention of disease. The American Heart Association’s vision for healthcare reform describes the foundational changes needed for the health system to serve the best interests of patients and to achieve health care and coverage that are adequate, accessible, and affordable for everyone living in the United States. The American Heart Association is committed to advancing the dialogue around healthcare reform and has prepared this updated statement of our principles, placed in the context of the advances in coverage and care that have occurred after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare delivery systems, and our evolving recognition that efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease can have synergistic benefit in preventing other diseases and improving overall well-being. These updated principles focus on expanding access to affordable health care and coverage; enhancing the availability of evidence-based preventive services; eliminating disparities that limit the availability and equitable delivery of health care; strengthening the public health infrastructure to respond to social determinants of health; prioritizing and accelerating investments in biomedical research; and growing a diverse, culturally competent health and healthcare workforce prepared to meet the challenges of delivering high-value health care.

The Role of the American Heart Association in the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Areas such as brain health, air quality, health insurance reform, rural health, and more are now part of our mission. 9,10 There is no way to draw a sharp demarcation between cardiovascular health and general health and well-being.…”

Efficacy of a Simplified Feedback Trainer for High-Quality Chest Compression Training: A Randomized Controlled Simulation Study

“…According to the recent international guidelines, a compression rate of 100-120 count/min and a depth >5 cm are beneficial for improving the patient outcomes, while compressions at a rate of >120 counts/min or at a depth of <38 mm may result in poor coronary perfusion and low cardiac output and eventually lead to poor prognosis. Noting that in the most recent guideline of AHA, a CC depth of >5 cm has been recommended, rather than at a range of 5-6 cm (2,3). This change in the guideline implies a growing concern on the harm of shallow CC, rather than the complications induced by over CC.…”

“…The quality of chest compression (CC) is the primary factor for "high-quality" cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest (1). In the 2020 American Heart Association (AHA) guideline, rescuers are recommended to perform compressions to a depth of over 5 cm and a rate of 100-120 counts/min, and real-time feedback devices for quantifying CC quality are also highly recommended (2). Numerous clinical evidence has already proved that shallow CC, incomplete release, and inappropriate CC rate might result in poor coronary perfusion and low cardiac output.…”

Impact of Social Forces and Environmental Factors on Healthcare and Pharmacy Education: The Report of the 2021-2022 AACP Argus Commission

“…The legacy of health disparities/health inequity/social determinants of health One of the most discussed public and political issues of the last few decades has been healthcare reform. 2 Much of this conversation has focused on health disparities and health inequity including economic (overall cost, burden on patients, price of prescriptions, etc.) and social concerns (race, geographic location, ethnicity, access, sexual orientation, quality, etc.).…”