New Cardiovascular Disease Registry to Support Care for Underserved
CONTACT:
Cassandra McCullough, ABC - cmccullough@abcardio.org
Cathy Lewis, AHA - cathy.lewis@heart.org
Ronna Charles Nu’Man, MSM - rnuman@msm.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALLAS, April 4, 2016 —The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) will develop a cardiovascular disease registry for underserved populations in collaboration with the Morehouse School of Medicine and the American Heart Association. The registry will import data directly from electronic health records and other healthcare technology platforms and will be powered by technology from the collaborative partners. The data and key measurements collected and tracked will be used in new quality improvement initiatives supporting underserved populations and will report on adherence to evidence-based guidelines.
Additionally, research and publications from the data collection will provide invaluable insight to guide improved care practices for underserved populations. Dr. Icilma Fergus, immediate past president of the ABC stated, “I am excited to see the ABC Registry concept come to fruition. With the support of the AHA and Morehouse, this repository of data from our patient population will highlight issues essential to achieving health equity and reducing the gap in morbidity and mortality that currently exists.” Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, current president of the ABC stated, “A comprehensive registry dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities among African American patients is long overdue. With the support of AHA and Morehouse School of Medicine, this is a step forward in engaging African Americans in clinical studies. This registry will highlight issues essential to achieving health equity and reducing the substantial gap in morbidity and mortality that currently exists for our patient population.”
Elizabeth Ofili, M.D., M.P.H., FACC, past president of the ABC and senior associate dean of clinical and translational research at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, is the principal investigator for the registry. Dr. Ofili added, “The registry will address critical gaps in the quality of healthcare for African Americans and other underserved patients. The registry also addresses the unmet need and capacity of small practices to aggregate their practice data, which is a requirement for meaningful use, population management, and Maintenance of Certification. These practices have the patient population and can support industry sponsored as well as comparative effectiveness patient centered outcomes research.” Please direct inquiries to Cassandra McCullough, CEO of the ABC at cmccullough@abcardio.org.
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About the Association of Black Cardiologists
Founded in 1974, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., (ABC) is a nonprofit
organization with an international membership of 1,500 health professionals, lay members
of the community (Community Health Advocates), corporate members, and institutional
members. The ABC is dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular
disease in all people of color. Today, the ABC's public and private partnerships continue
to increase our impact in communities across the nation. The Association of Black
Cardiologists, Inc. is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing
Medical Education (ACCME). For more information, please visit www.abcardio.org.
About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading
educators of primary care physicians and was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine
in 2011 as the top institution in the first study of U.S. medical schools for our
social mission based on our production of primary care physicians, training of underrepresented
minority doctors and placement of doctors practicing in underserved communities. MSM’s
faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy,
as well as exceptional patient care.
MSM is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award doctorate and master degrees. For more information, please visit www.msm.edu.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and
stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers
to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide
lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based
association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to
fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1,
visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.