The meeting will focus on new and developing opportunities, initiatives, projects, policies and research relevant to measuring and improving quality of care and outcomes for persons with or at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.  Novel research methods for quantifying outcomes, new findings from clinical trials and observational studies and translational research will also be presented.

The meeting will focus on new and developing opportunities, initiatives, projects, policies and research relevant to measuring and improving quality of care and outcomes for persons with or at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.  Novel research methods for quantifying outcomes, new findings from clinical trials and observational studies and translational research will also be presented.

This conference is for clinicians, researchers, medical students and trainees, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, healthcare and managed care professionals, policymakers and other healthcare professionals interested in quality of care and outcomes research in cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Trainees are particularly encouraged to attend so that they may become acquainted with the current state of the field and to interact with many of the leading researchers in this area. Special efforts are made to introduce new individuals to the field.

At the conclusion of this program participants should be able to:

1. Identify elements of performance improvement projects that are important in quality improvement efforts.
2. Identify strengths and weaknesses of current regulations surrounding accountable care organizations and opportunities to improve their implementation within healthcare organizations.
3. List evidence-based approaches designed to improve the quality and outcome of cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention and management.
4. List components of successful patient-centered practices and barriers to developing a patient-centered healthcare system.
5. Identify opportunities to overcome barriers to a patient-centered healthcare system.
6. Describe critical components of health information technology systems designed to meet meaningful use requirements and improve quality of care and patient outcomes.
7. Develop grant applications for projects designed to move the quality/outcomes field forward. 

Continuing Medical Education Accreditation - Physicians
The American Heart Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Continuing Medical Education Accreditation – Physician Assistants
AAPA accepts Category I credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Continuing Education Accreditation - Nurses
The American Heart Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.