From the September 15, 2006 BOG Update:

THANK YOU!  to all Governors, Governors-elect and Chapter Executives who made these past few days in D.C. such a huge success!  We all know how hard it is to schedule time away from your family and your practice.  However, your contributions, whether time, energy or financial, will make a lasting impact on improving the quality of cardiovascular care. Both the BOG meeting and the Legislative Conference meetings proved our commitment to this mission. 

Here are some preliminary reports from the Legislative Conference:

• 
  226 participants attended;
• 230 Capitol Hill visits were made covering 48 states, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico;
• the ACC PAC raised about $40,000 at the Texas Hold 'Em event (and our own Governor-elect for Texas - how appropriate! - Rick Snyder, was the big winner at the high stakes table).
  

Please be sure to send a thank you note to the legislative offices that took the time to meet with you.  A template note is attached but please personalize the note to your own experience.  Also, email Molly Nichelson at mnichels@acc.org with a report of your Hill visits.  Whether your visit was bad, good or indifferent, she needs your report.

The Board of Governors was privy to some exceptional presentations at our meeting, i.e. the 2007 priority direction from the Board of Trustees; an update from the HIT Working Group on EHR adoption; an explanation of the Committee selection process; an explanation of the CAC Committee and its importance to the BOG; Chapter leaders survey results; as well as reports on initiatives involving our International strategy, FIT and CCA involvement.  And, on the quality front, I am especially excited and proud to announce that:

• 
  37 of the 39 Chapters have already committed to doing a Door to Balloon quality improvement project in their states; and
• Additional representatives have signed up to attend the Medical Directors' Institute.

I am attaching the D2B presentations and the D2B Participation Agreement for Hospitals for your immediate use.  All of the presentations seen at the BOG Meeting will be posted to OSCAR (www.acc.org/oscar) after the 'dust' has settled from the move to the new Heart House this coming weekend. In addition, I am sending the list of CAC representatives for ACC by state with their contact information, as was discussed at the meeting. Just a reminder that staff will not be available Thursday or Friday of this week due to the move.  And, while we all expect the computer transfer will be a flaw-free transition, there may be some unanticipated technological challenges in the first few days. Please be patient. Again, thanks for your commitment.

Best wishes,

Mike

C. Michael Valentine, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Chair, Board of Governors