American College of Cardiology and Gullapalli and Associates Form Collaborative Relationship.

Organizations Seek to Address Gaps and Barriers Faced by Healthcare Providers in the Area of Cardiovascular Health Through Unique Educational Initiatives

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- The American College of Cardiology (ACC), one of the nation's preeminent medical specialty societies, and Gullapalli and Associates (G&A), a leading consulting firm specializing in the development of collaborative educational strategies for healthcare providers, announced their collaboration to address educational gaps and barriers faced by clinicians in providing cardiovascular care through the development of certified CME initiatives. One initiative will be a multi-year, multi-modality program seeking to address disparities in health care delivery and treatment among patients of multi-ethnic origin with hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Another initiative will address knowledge gaps and lack of guideline adherence among clinicians managing acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Cardiovascular disease related deaths have declined over the past 25 years, but they still contribute to the leading cause of death in the U.S., estimated at over 650,000 annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Addressing the issue of cultural competency in a physician's practice, where approximately 65% of patients are of a multi-ethnic background, is essential as providers need to ensure that there is proper communication and sensitivity when managing such patients. Evidence shows that as the patient population grows and becomes more diverse, lack of such cultural competence among providers will lead to an increasing gap in racial and ethnic disparities in health care. "It is critical that health care professionals are provided the education and resources necessary to address the unique needs of the multicultural patient," said Joseph Green, PhD, Chief Learning Officer of the ACC.

Despite evidence-based guidelines and performance measures for ACS, a major contributor to cardiovascular disease related deaths, data indicate underutilization of heart medications in ACS. Elizabeth Yarboro, Senior Director of Education Strategy, Programs, and Accreditation at the ACC states, "The benefits of adhering to guidelines are well-documented in medical literature; however, methods for addressing and overcoming barriers to integrating guidelines into management are issues we continue to face. By developing educational initiatives based on evidence as well as a thorough needs assessment, measurable learning goals and objectives, we hope to ensure quantifiable change in a healthcare provider's skills, knowledge, behavior and clinical competence."

Dr. Venkat Gullapalli, CEO, G&A said, "At G&A, we believe that a critical success factor in the development and implementation of effective medical education resides in a collaborative framework, where each partner brings their core competencies to the table. The collaboration between the ACC and G&A is a partnership that reinforces this principle. ACC's participation in these initiatives will permit participants to more effectively translate knowledge and comprehension into better patient care and outcomes in the area of cardiovascular health."

About the American College of Cardiology:

The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is a 34,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. For more information, visit www.acc.org.

About Gullapalli & Associates, LLC:

Gullapalli & Associates (G&A) is a consulting firm specializing in facilitating strategic collaboration between key stakeholders in the medical education community. G&A facilitates the development of integrated and collaborative educational initiatives through evidence based health education models, ensuring consistent educational strategy, goals, and objectives across multiple channels. G&A also identifies and manages a range of educational partners, channels, and resources to enhance the educational impact of the services provided. For more information, visit www.gullapalliandassoc.com.