American Heart Association

According to American Heart Association website aha. org, lack of information about heart disease led to the thinking that a heart patient was doomed and ought to take complete bed rest.In 1915 a pioneering group of physicians and social workers formed an Association for â€Å"Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease in New York City† and investigate the possibility of their return to work. In 1920s these groups evolved into heart associations in Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. In 1924 six cardiologists namely Dr. Lewis A. Conner and Dr. Robert H.  Halsey of New York; Dr. Paul D.White of Boston; Dr. Joseph Sailer of Philadelphia; Dr. Robert B. Preble of Chicago; and Dr. Hugh D. McCulloch of St. Louis affiliated to different groups founded a national organization – American Heart Association to â€Å"share research findings and promote further study. † In addition Dr. James B. Herrick of Chicago and Dr. William S. Thayer of Baltimore were instrumental in early p lanning. In 1946 AHA received $50,000 donation from American Legion for conducting research and â€Å"develop a community rheumatic fever program.† In 1948 AHA reorganized by recruiting non-medical volunteers with skills in business management, communication, public education, community organization and fund raising to broaden its scope and operations. Later this year AHA made public debut through network radio contest programs â€Å"The Walking Man,† on the â€Å"Truth or Consequences† hosted by Ralph Edwards receiving contributions and guesses from millions of Americans earning $1. 75 million and identifying Jack Benny as the â€Å"Walking Man. † American Heart Association divisions were organized all over the country by a small national staff in New York City.A first national fund-raising campaign was launched in February 1949 and an amount of $2. 7 million was raised. Since then the organization has developed in leaps and bounds in all respects such a s financial resources, involving medical and non-medical volunteers, size and influence. The National Center of AHA was shifted to Dallas in 1975 from New York City for serving the affiliates and local divisions in a better way. These affiliates are led by volunteers and form a national network of local AHA organizations involved in various activities such as research, education, community programs and fund raising for the organization.The organization laid emphasis on cardiovascular science, cardiovascular education, community programs and fund raising efforts. AHA could achieve better research standards, newer healthcare site modules and also developed various new cookbooks. Inclusion of women and minorities in the leadership ranks paid off by providing a chance to understand impact of heart disease and stroke on women and minorities. The organization created new divisions for dealing with stroke and emergency cardiac care.In order to economize and provide wider publicity the asso ciation decided to outsource the scientific journals and publish them online. In March 1995 the AHA adopted a strategic driving force which describes the usage resources to support its mission. The driving force can be described in five parts as follows: †¢ Credible information services and products on heart disease and stroke †¢ Multiple distribution channels to meet customers’ needs †¢ Consumer markets restricted to the United States †¢ Prioritization relative to risk †¢ Science and community mobilization as foundation.The strategic driving force of the organization can be described as â€Å"Effecting change by providing information and solutions for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in people of all ages, with special emphasis on those at high risk. † Impact goal of the organization is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk to 25 per cent by the year 2010. Indicators of the impact goal being the fo llowing: ? Reduced death rate from coronary heart disease and stroke by 25 percent ? Reduced prevalence of smoking, high blood cholesterol and physical inactivity by 25 percent? Reduced rate of uncontrolled high blood pressure by 25 percent ? Elimination of the growth of overweight and diabetes. The AHA has its National Center at Dallas, Texas and 12 affiliate offices covering the US and Puerto Rico with the operations being divided into seven main areas as stated below (a rough outline of each area are mentioned below): 1. Office of the CEO: Administration, Communications, Legal, Food Certification and Consumer publications. 2. Advocacy: Public Advocacy (Washington, D. C. ), Health Initiatives and Field Advocacy (State/Local Public Policy) and Minority initiatives.3. Corporate Operations: Finance, Human Resources, Production and Distribution and Audit and Consulting Services. 4. Field Operations and Development: Development, Major Donor Development, Corporate Relations, Strategic A ccounts, Emergency Cardiovascular Care Programs and American Stroke Association. 5. Healthcare Markets: American Stroke Association, Strategic Alliances, and Patient Education. 6. Science Operations: Research Administration and Scientific Publishing, Science and Medicine, Professional Education, Scientific Meetings and Marketing and Patient Education.7. Technology and Customer Strategies: Customer Relations, Digital Strategies and Information Technology. Three stake holders affected due to agency’s action include American Stroke Association, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the organizations publishing the scientific journals for AHA. In concluding remarks I would like to state that American Heart Association as discussed above has risen from a small association to a major one with well planned set of activities and functions.The organizational structure depicts stability with excellent services to mankind and is bound to gain recognition internationally in times to come. References History of the American Heart Association. American Heart Association (2007). Retrieved on February 09, 2007 from: http://www. americanheart. org/presenter. jhtml? identifier=10860 Organizational Structure. American Heart Association (2007). Retrieved on February 09, 2007 from: http://www. americanheart. org/presenter. jhtml? identifier=11282