The mission of the American Heart Association is: Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
The American Heart Association / American Stroke Association supports and advocates for public policies that will help reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. The following are the public policy priorities for Delaware in 2009-2010.
♥ Chain and Fast-Food Restaurant Menu Labeling (Calories)
We, in collaboration with numerous health interests and other stakeholders, will work for passage of SB 81 (with further friendly amendments – requiring calories only on menus and menu boards alongside items offered for sale) during the upcoming legislative session. This legislation is aimed at curbing obesity in the community and was developed by the AHA and the Delaware Center for Health Promotion.
♥ Funding for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Create and adequately fund a state-level Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program in the Division of Public Health (as proposed in SB 66 145th Del. GA). Ensure that this program is aligned with the CDC’s Heart and Stroke Prevention Program and is optimally positioned to leverage both state and federal resources to reduce morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.
♥ Establish STEMI Systems of Care
In Delaware, we have convened a statewide Mission: Lifeline stakeholder working group comprised of all the state’s hospitals, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, state and county EMS, and the state hospital association (Delaware Healthcare Association). The M:L working group will be utilized to advance the penetration of Action Registry-Get with the Guidelines and eventually advocate for use of this data tool for a statewide data registry focused on achieving continuous quality improvement (CQI) in the quality of care and outcomes for STEMI patients.
♥ Promote Quality Improvement Initiatives, Coordinated Stroke Systems of Care, and Support Strong EMS Systems and EMS Triage and Transport Protocols
We will advocate for the establishment of a stroke registry; funding for promotional, informational, and educational campaign(s) on stroke aimed at the general public and medical professionals; and treatment, triage, and transfer protocols utilizing an integrated map of Delaware area hospitals and their capabilities. As hospitals in Delaware attain Primary Stroke Center designation AHA/ASA will explore options for bypass protocols, regulations, and/or law to ensure patients are delivered to the hospitals best able to treat them with the most up-to-date and promising treatment protocols and procedures.
♥ Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the School Environment, and Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the Community Environment
We will continue to collaborate with Nemours Health and Prevention Services and the Department of Education to support physical activity and quality physical education in schools across the states. We will work to align Nemours food and beverage guidance to schools with our own, as well as working to implement those recommendations into statewide uniform school policy. We will also support NHPS activities funded through the US Dept. of Ed. PEP grant award.
♥ Support Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs
Ensure that Delaware continues to fund Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs at levels above CDC minimum recommendations, and seek opportunities to grow funding for media, counseling services, pharmacological services, youth programming, and other tobacco control efforts. Delaware’s Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs have been faced funding cuts equal to cuts in the overall budget in all recent years. CDC estimates that the annual costs to implement all of the recommended program components in Delaware range from $9.3M to $18.7M according to their 2007 Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.
This is the beginning of a new series on our legislative work. First, we will share the legislative agendas of each state. In a few months, we will share a legislative update to inform advocates of where we stand on our set agenda. Finally, we will have a wrap-up post at the end of legislative session to share our final results.
The American Heart Association / American Stroke Association supports and advocates for public policies that will help reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. The following are the public policy priorities for Delaware in 2009-2010.
♥ Chain and Fast-Food Restaurant Menu Labeling (Calories)
We, in collaboration with numerous health interests and other stakeholders, will work for passage of SB 81 (with further friendly amendments – requiring calories only on menus and menu boards alongside items offered for sale) during the upcoming legislative session. This legislation is aimed at curbing obesity in the community and was developed by the AHA and the Delaware Center for Health Promotion.
♥ Funding for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Create and adequately fund a state-level Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program in the Division of Public Health (as proposed in SB 66 145th Del. GA). Ensure that this program is aligned with the CDC’s Heart and Stroke Prevention Program and is optimally positioned to leverage both state and federal resources to reduce morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.
♥ Establish STEMI Systems of Care
In Delaware, we have convened a statewide Mission: Lifeline stakeholder working group comprised of all the state’s hospitals, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Emergency Physicians, state and county EMS, and the state hospital association (Delaware Healthcare Association). The M:L working group will be utilized to advance the penetration of Action Registry-Get with the Guidelines and eventually advocate for use of this data tool for a statewide data registry focused on achieving continuous quality improvement (CQI) in the quality of care and outcomes for STEMI patients.
♥ Promote Quality Improvement Initiatives, Coordinated Stroke Systems of Care, and Support Strong EMS Systems and EMS Triage and Transport Protocols
We will advocate for the establishment of a stroke registry; funding for promotional, informational, and educational campaign(s) on stroke aimed at the general public and medical professionals; and treatment, triage, and transfer protocols utilizing an integrated map of Delaware area hospitals and their capabilities. As hospitals in Delaware attain Primary Stroke Center designation AHA/ASA will explore options for bypass protocols, regulations, and/or law to ensure patients are delivered to the hospitals best able to treat them with the most up-to-date and promising treatment protocols and procedures.
♥ Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the School Environment, and Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the Community Environment
We will continue to collaborate with Nemours Health and Prevention Services and the Department of Education to support physical activity and quality physical education in schools across the states. We will work to align Nemours food and beverage guidance to schools with our own, as well as working to implement those recommendations into statewide uniform school policy. We will also support NHPS activities funded through the US Dept. of Ed. PEP grant award.
♥ Support Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs
Ensure that Delaware continues to fund Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs at levels above CDC minimum recommendations, and seek opportunities to grow funding for media, counseling services, pharmacological services, youth programming, and other tobacco control efforts. Delaware’s Tobacco Control, Prevention, & Cessation Programs have been faced funding cuts equal to cuts in the overall budget in all recent years. CDC estimates that the annual costs to implement all of the recommended program components in Delaware range from $9.3M to $18.7M according to their 2007 Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.
This is the beginning of a new series on our legislative work. First, we will share the legislative agendas of each state. In a few months, we will share a legislative update to inform advocates of where we stand on our set agenda. Finally, we will have a wrap-up post at the end of legislative session to share our final results.
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