From death and disability to patient empowerment: An interprofessional partnership to achieve cardiovascular health in Canada

This paper proposes a paradigm shift in health care from a focus on death a nd disability to one on health empowerment resulting in improved cardiovasc ular lifestyles for all Canadians. It describes a national interprofessiona l initiative to achieve this new vision in the area of cardiovascular healt h promotion. Achieving Cardiovascular Health in Canada (ACHIC) is a partner ship of health professional associations and other health advocate groups w hose vision is to promote optimal cardiovascular health (including cerebrov ascular health) for all Canadians through interprofessional partnership ini tiatives and support systems. ACHIC's objectives are to: 1) identify system barriers and supports to cardiovascular health; 2) develop strategies that will have a positive impact on the practices of health professionals/educa tors in the promotion of cardiovascular health; 3) develop an interprofessi onal national approach to support strategies to achieve cardiovascular heal th in Canada; and 4) support the development and delivery of consistent, ev idence-based messages by health professionals/educators for promotion of ca rdiovascular health.