June 2008 CCA National Report – Spring 2008 Lisa Maria Henry MSN CRNP CCA State Liaison to The National Office Cardiac Care Associates (CCAs) have busy across the nation and certainly Pennsylvania is no exception. Tina Davis CRNP, and I participated in the CCA Liaison Work Group meeting on March 31st in Chicago at ACC.08 and we have what I believe are impressive recent national and state CCA successes to report. Margo Minissian ACNP-BC from southern California, is our new chair for the national CCA work group. She reported that CCA membership at the end of 2007 reached 3,268. Pennsylvania accounts for 223 of those members. 2007 was also the first year that membership was extended to clinical pharmacists. Many of you may have participated in an online survey assessing satisfaction and needs of CCAs. The survey resulted in a response rate of over 19%. CCA member satisfaction outpaced overall membership. CCA members scored their level of satisfaction at 3.92 out of 5. Needs identified by the survey include; effective patient care, developing CV standards/curriculum, networking, leadership/committee involvement and building the base of CCAs within the ACC. Another priority brought to the workgroup was a desire to reevaluate the CCA designation. A CCA designation work group has been formed to explore the development of a designation for CCA members, not unlike the F.A.C.C. designation earned by physicians. This group consists of members of the Credentialing and Membership committee and a broad sampling of the CCA membership. This initiative will promote recognition of CCA contributions and dedication to quality cardiovascular care and professionalism. Beginning in Fall 2008, CCAs will be able to vote for their Chapter Governor. Physician governors will now have to earn CCA votes. In Pennsylvania, our governor(s) have always been supportive of CCA membership and initiatives, but this is not the case everywhere. Historically, physicians demonstrate low participation in polling, and CCAs, on the other hand, participate in high numbers, giving CCAs a loud voice in their local representation. In Pennsylvania, we have been able to participate in selecting CCA representation on executive council. In most other states, CCAs were appointed by the Chapter Governor. The national work group has changed this to pattern after what we’ve been doing in Pennsylvania. CCAs will now vote for their local CCA Liaisons across the country beginning with the Fall ’08 elections. The elections will mirror the Governor elections. Ideally, we would like to see 3 or 4 names on the ballot proposed by the Governor, current, and past CCA liaisons. Pennsylvania is unique because we also have district representation. Those nominees should come from ACC membership (FACC and CCA), within the respective district. Our Nurse Education Steering Committee is chaired by Eileen Handberg PhD, ARNP of Florida. The Nursing Scope and Standards document was published on April 3rd. This is the first update since 1981 and you can access it for free on Cardiosource. The CCA Core Curriculum is currently scheduled for October 16-19th at Heart House in Washington, DC. It is an intensive four day interactive program designed to enhance skills and knowledge by focusing on key topics in cardiology. Registration is limited to 80 participants. We hope to repeat this 2 or 3 times a year and then take it on the road. 230 cardiovascular clinicians participated in the Pharmacology course on March 29th in Chicago. This was the highest number of registrants to date and much of the credit goes to CCA Janet Long, MSN, ACNP of Rhode Island. Soon, the ACC will be able to provide CE/CME. A policy for local programs is currently being developed and will be distributed. The College will need at least 4 months advance notice to provide this to local programs. The PaACC is proud of our Committee representation within ACC. We make up over 21% of committee involvement nationally. You should know that there are opportunities to participate in committees on a national level. Contact either Tina Davis or me for further information. Below you’ll see our current representation: Committee Member Annual Scientific Session Program Committee Congenital Cardiology Michelle Nickolaus CRNP Annual Scientific Session Program Committee Barbara Bentz CRNP Barbara Todd CRNP Caroline Lloyd Doherty CRNP Lisa Maria Henry CRNP Cardiac Care Team Committee Luann Richardson CRNP, PhD CHD/PC Adult Congenital Heart Disease Work Group Michelle Nickolaus CRNP Clinical Electrophysiology Committee Barbara Bentz CRNP Electrophysiology Spotlight Planning Committee Barbara Bentz CRNP Heart Failure and Transplant Committee Donna Petrucelli CRNP Nurse Education Committee Michelle Nickolaus CRNP Peripheral Vascular Disease Committee Catherine Pensyl PA-C Vascular Disease Spotlight Planning Committee Lisa Maria Henry CRNP I’d like to welcome our newest CCA member of the PaACC Executive Council. Donna Cochran RN has accepted the position of District III Liaison. We’re excited to have her and she offers administrative expertise to the CCA sector of the Council. Donna Petrucelli CRNP is working on the program planning committee and she has worked to incorporate CCA sessions at the annual Chapter Meeting at Hotel Hershey in the fall. Her efforts to provide quality education as well as fun, family centered social events for the weekend are certainly appreciated. Please try to attend and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Tina Davis CRNP and Tammy Outly CRNP are also working with Dr. Vincent Figueredo on the Educational/Quality of Care/Guidelines Committee to bring regional CME Dinner conferences across the state. Discussions are also in progress to try and have CCA specific educational conferences in Pennsylvania as well. I’m excited and grateful for their efforts. As PaACC CCA members, we have demonstrated leadership and quality initiatives both within the state and nationally. This is clearly evident when we meet with other CCAs from around the country. Tina and I are proud to help represent our state. We believe that ACC membership provides essential tools to enhance knowledge and professionalism. If you agree, we hope that you would help to get other licensed cardiovascular professionals to join our efforts in the ACC. Additionally, if there’s a way the PaACC can better serve you, please contact either one of us directly with suggestions or questions you may have. Once again, thank you for your dedication to quality in cardiovascular care and I hope to see you in Hershey.   2008 Chapter Meeting November 21-23, 2008 Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA