title: Translating research into practice for healthcare providers: the American Heart Association's strategy for building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
abstract: The American Heart Association's (AHA's) mission is "to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." This first article in a 2-part series will serve to present an overview of the work the AHA has undertaken to translate evidence into practice for healthcare professionals. It describes the extensive work of the AHA to support and further the delivery of evidence-based medicine, which includes the following: (1) supporting scientific discovery and the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers; (2) disseminating scientific information; (3) developing evidence-based guidelines and statements; (4) creating and advocating for the implementation of performance indicators/measures; (5) developing clinical decision support and quality improvement tools; and (6) developing directed-cause campaigns, all of which can lead to improved patient care. This article also discusses the need for novel approaches and some of the AHA's evolving strategies to help address gaps in care. The second article, which will be published shortly after this one, will examine the AHA's efforts to engage and empower healthcare consumers to become more involved with their own health and health care.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216-4505, USA. djones@ovc.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Bonow
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Masoudi
authors.forename: Gregg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
authors.forename: Sidney C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Meighan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girgus
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006293:Health Promotion; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States