Nonfinancial incentives for quality: a policy statement from the American Heart Association.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and its division, the American Stroke Association, are dedicated to improving the quality of care available to patients who have or are at risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases remain the No. 1 killer in the United States and a leading cause of permanent disability.1 Approximately 71 million Americans have some form of these diseases.1 In 2006, cardiovascular diseases will cost this nation an estimated $403 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity.1 The AHA is committed to reducing cardiovascular disease by improving the quality of care in the United States, ensuring that this care is patient-centered and of the highest quality and that it ultimately improves patient outcomes.