Quality, cost, and access solutions in medicine are the holy grail of health care reform. 

Since the report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), "Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century" (March 1, 2001) was published, it has been made clear to the public as never before that there are significant gaps between the care that Americans do get and the care that they should and could get. That report, and the supporting data, has energized the efforts of health care purchasers and health care systems to demand demonstrated "value" and to organize more effectively to do so.

Pressure for improvement has never been greater, and ACC is responding. We have always been the leader in defining quality cardiovascular care. Now we are the taking the lead in integrating quality into practice, measuring the results, and working to create a healthcare practice environment that supports quality care.