With this issue of the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, the AACVPR begins its celebration of 20 years of service to the health of this nation. Our mission, "To reduce morbidity, mortality, and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research, and aggressive disease management," is the driving force behind the accomplishments and advancements of this multidisciplinary professional organization. With the patient and his or her family as the primary focus of our efforts, we have worked diligently to remain scientifically based, responsive to changing paradigms and perceptions, and committed to excellence in clinical practice.
Noteworthy accomplishments over these past 20 years are numerous. AACVPR has:
* Held 19 national conferences
* Published 4 editions of the Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Programs
* Published 3 editions of the Guidelines for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
* Published Core Components of Cardiac Rehabilitation/Secondary Prevention
* Published the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Cardiac Rehabilitation for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
* Achieved Index Medicus/Medline citation for JCR
* Supported the development of state societies for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs nationwide
* Developed and implemented "Program Certification" for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs throughout the United States and Canada (>1200 certified programs to date)
* Established the Heart and Lung Foundation and held the first Heart and Lung Games
* JCR became the official journal of the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation
* Developed a national newsletter (News and Views) that has evolved to a bimonthly electronic publication
* Established the World Council for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
* Designed an Association Web site as a resource for members
* Provided members with a new distance learning venue
* Established a voice in Washington in support of the benefits and effectiveness of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation services
With these extraordinary achievements, our future is bright. The AACVPR will continue to be a valued resource for consumers, healthcare professionals, and third-party payors, enabling them to make more informed decisions regarding their selection of services and/or covered benefits. Moreover, we remain committed to a multifactorial approach to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The 3000 + members that we have today will build on an armamentarium of research-based lifestyle, behavioral, and pharmacotherapeutic interventions to further reduce death and disability, decrease symptoms, and improve the quality of life for patients who are afflicted with heart and/or lung diseases.
Working together, through this association, we will address critical contemporary issues, including the vast underutilization of the services we provide, outcomes assessment, suboptimal patient compliance rates, the need for and degree of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, alternative delivery systems, cost-effectiveness of these models, and, of course, equitable reimbursement. The challenge is yours!!