Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the general public through the advancement of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation education, research, and outreach.
Case for Support
The Problem
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, taking the lives of more than 460,000 people each year. The incidence of cardiovascular disease in the United States is staggering. About every 29 seconds an American will suffer a coronary event, and about every minute, someone will die from such an event. This year, an estimated 1.1 million Americans will have a new or recurrent coronary attack (650,000 will be first attacks and 450,000 will be recurrent). About one third of the people experiencing these attacks will die from them.
Twenty five percent of the population of the United States has one or more types of cardiovascular disease, including 50 million with high blood pressure. Approximately 4.6 million Americans have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure with 400,000 new cases annually. In 1996, more than 5.5 million people underwent a cardiovascular procedure (e.g. coronary catheterization, balloon angioplasty, stent placement). This year over 6 million people are expected to undergo such procedures.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranks fourth among the leading causes of death in the U.S. The most prominent of the conditions classified under the COPD terminology are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD affects more than 16 million people each year in the U.S. and at least 52 million worldwide. Annually, more than 16 million office visits and over 500,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. are due to COPD. Interestingly more women than men die from COPD each year in this country. Asthma, another type of obstructive pulmonary disease, is a serious chronic condition affecting an estimated 30 million Americans. The number of people with asthma continues to grow and more importantly the number of people dying from asthma is also rising, increasing 67% from 1979 to 1995. Another cause of death related to cigarette smoking, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U. S., causing at least 160,000 deaths each year. Although most smokers in the U.S. report they want to stop smoking, more than 47 million adults continue to smoke. Overall tobacco use accounts for over 400,000 lung related deaths per year.
Most people affected by coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would benefit from cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. This rehabilitation improves health and quality of life, reduces risk of recurrence, reduces the use of health care resources, and teaches participants how to achieve an optimal level of independence within the community.
AACVPR and the Heart and Lung Foundation
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, promotion of scientific inquiry, and the advancement of education for the benefit of health care professionals and the public in the fields of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
The over 2600 members of the AACVPR represent constituencies including behavioral science, cardiopulmonary physical therapy, cardiovascular nursing, cardiovascular physicians, exercise physiologists, exercise rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, pulmonary nursing, pulmonary physicians, respiratory therapists, physiatrists, and others in the area of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
The Heart and Lung Foundation was established in 2000 and accepts philanthropic dollars from indiviual donors wishing to support activities of the Association. As such, the Heart and Lung Foundation seeks to assist the AACVPR in becoming the recognized leader in professional and public education in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Specifically the Heart and Lung Foundation raises money to support:
1. Research
A. Service Delivery – Incl. indigent population
B. Outcome based rehabilitation
C. Healthcare services utilization
D. Home-based rehabilitation
E. Disease management
2. Education
A. Patient Education programs
B. Primary Care Physician
C. Cardiac Rehabilitation
D. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
3. Special Awards
A. Award of Excellence
The award of excellence is given each year in recognition of an outstanding contribution by an individual to the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The nominee would have made significant and unique professional contributions(s), which have had a major impact on the delivery of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. The nominee would have earned national prominence in his/her field with contributions spanning over many years. He/she would not need to be an AACVPR member.
Amount/type of award
Complimentary annual meeting registration, coach airfare, hotel room during conference $500 honorarium, engraved plaque.
B. Kent Smith Excellence in Clinical Practice
In recognition of the vast and numerous scientific and clinical contributions made to the field of cardiovascular rehabilitation by the late L. Kent Smith, MD, the Heart and Lung Foundation has established an award in his memory. This award is designed to annually recognize one individual for his/her outstanding clinical contributions to the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
The nominee would have made significant advances in the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation through his/her clinical contributions. A nomination letter presenting a compelling case for the nominee
Amount/type of award
Complimentary annual meeting registration, airfare, one night hotel, $300 honorarium, engraved plaque
C. Michael L. Pollock Investigator Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made significant advances in the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation through his/her research contributions and has earned national prominence in his/her field through contributions in contemporary research. The nominee would have made significant advances in the field of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation through his/her research contributions. Evidence of their scholarly activity would include: peer reviewed publications, grant funding, and/or scientific presentations. He/she would have earned national prominence in his/her field through contributions in contemporary cardiopulmonary research. The nominee would not have to be an AACVPR member.
Amount/type of award
Complimentary meeting registration, coach airfare, hotel room during conference, $500 honorarium, engraved plaque
The Future and How to Participate
The Foundation will seek to raise funds from AACVPR members, grateful patients, relatives and friends, and industry. The contributions can be designated for annual use or for endowments, based upon the wishes of the donor(s). Contributions of all sizes will be gratefully received.
Annual Contributions
1. Contributions to the Heart & Lung Foundation Annual Campaign can be unrestricted (to be used where the need is greatest) or designated to support one of more current programs.
2. The Heart & Lung Foundation recognizes all donors at the AACVPR Annual Meeting and in the Annual Report of the Foundation.
3. Annual Giving Donor Levels are as follows;
Platinum - $1,000 and up
Gold - $500-999
Silver - $100-499
Bronze - $1-99
Endowment Contributions
1. Contributions to the Heart & Lung Foundation can be unrestricted (to be used where the need is greatest) or designated to support one or more current programs.
2. Donors who make contributions in cash or cash equivalents will be recognized the same as annual campaign donors using the same giving level clubs.
3. Donors who provide for the Heart & Lung Foundation using a deferred giving instrument such as life insurance, trust, annuity, etc., with an amount of $10,000 or more will be recognized as a member of the “Legacy Society”