Educate individual patients, their families and the public on the importance of primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention, risk factor modification, healthy living habits and a realistic expectation of modern cardiologic care, icluding the management of patients with cardiovascular disease at the extremes of life. Encourage members to ensure that health care benefits are available for their employees. The ACC strongly urges that any health care system must maintain the unique and professional personal relationship between the physician and the patient, including the independence of the decision-making process between physician and patient. The system must maintain the right of the patient to choose his or her physician. The ACC discourages inappropriate interference in medical decision making by third parties who have little or no first-hand knowledge of a specific patient's medical problems.
Quality assurance is the responsibility of the medical profession.
The ACC supports the development and careful assessment of new technologies and therapeutic agents in cardiovascular desease. The College supports the performance of appropriate controlled studies to evaluate the value of new technologies before their use becomes widespread. The ACC encourages support and reimbursement for preventive cardiology programs. The ACC supports the development of educational programs for its members in cardiovascular disease prevention and prevention programs for all Americans. The ACC actively supports medical liability reform to improve access to cardiovascular care.