Washington, DC (March 2, 2020) — American College of Cardiology President Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, and American College of Physicians Executive Vice President & CEO Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, FACP, FRCP, FIDSA, made the following statement on the need for increased access to telehealth to combat community spread of COVID-19:
“As public health officials across the nation coordinate efforts to combat the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians encourage policymakers to consider the important role digital and telehealth services can play to mitigate community spread while allowing clinicians to continue caring for patients. Self-quarantine and social distancing are important tools in managing disease transmission, especially among patients who are acutely vulnerable to the risk of infection. Therefore, our organizations urge steps be taken to create defined, emergency authority to expand access to telehealth services in all areas, ensuring clinicians have the necessary flexibility to continue caring for their patients remotely during this rapidly evolving public health response.”
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About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 159,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Contacts:
ACC: Katie Glenn, kglenn@acc.org, 202-375-6472
ACP: Allison Ewing, aewing@acponline.org, 215-351-2649