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VISION 2020

ACHA Vision 2020 is an initiative to accelerate the development of adult congenital heart care in the United States.

Vision 2020 Forum

Nearly 50 of the country's leaders in congenital heart care, cardiac care providers and ACHD patients gathered in Washington, DC on Friday, April 23, 2010 to discuss the Phase I recommendations of the Vision 2020 initiative. This half-day event was designed to solicit feedback from key stakeholders in the congenital heart healthcare community, as well as serve as a springboard to begin Phase II. The level of input and collaboration that day was nothing short of amazing and the event was very successful. Those at the helm of Vision 2020 are currently reviewing the comments and reactions, discussing the best ways to move forward. See the report here.

Read the Phase I Recommendations PDF.

What is ACHA Vision 2020?

ACHA Vision 2020 is an initiative to accelerate the development of adult congenital heart care in the United States. It will bring together national leaders in congenital heart disease to address major existing barriers to providing adequate care for the adult congenital population in the United States. The vision is to establish ACHD as a field that delivers quality lifelong care for adults in the USA. In so doing, we will prevent premature death and disability and prolong health and well-being for congenital heart patients.

What does ACHA Vision 2020 hope to achieve?

By 2020, our goal is that on turning eighteen every complex CHD survivor will have access to life-long ACHD care which is:

  • High-Quality
  • Age-appropriate
  • Research-Based
  • Coordinated and integrated
  • Available in all regions

How we will carry this vision forward?

Working groups have been established for each area. Each group is being led by a Working Group Steering Committee made up of leaders in the field. The working groups will also invite interested individuals to join the working group. Each working group is designed to develop an approach to moving their specific area forward toward our vision for the ACHA field by 2020.

The working groups are:

1. ACHD Regional Care Planning
ACHA will identify regional leaders in ACHD care and help establish care networks and collaboration.
For more information, click here.

2. ACHD Program Accreditation
ACHA will identify key training, services, and skills necessary at a regional ACHD program and establish a credentialing system for ACHD programs.
For more information, click here.

3. ACHD Workforce Development
ACHA will identify strategies to rapidly expand the workforce of trained ACHD care providers.
For more information, click here.

4. ACHD Program Business Development
ACHA will develop successful business models to promote the development of ACHD care within the current reimbursement system.
For more information, click here.

Vision 2020 Forum Notes

The Initiative kicked off at the Adult Congenital Heart Association’s Vision 2020 Forum in Boston on April 26, 2009. The notes from the Forum for all of these working groups can be found here.

How can you get involved?

In the coming months, you will hear more from us on how you can get involved. In the meantime, if you are interested in knowing more, please email info@achaheart.org.