Table 1.

Stakeholder organizations and perspectives

Organization	Stakeholder perspective	Purpose
American College of Cardiology	Professional societies/researchers	The ACC strives to achieve its enduring purpose: to improve cardiovascular health through education, research, quality care and health policy. The members of the College will dramatically reduce the incidence, severity and complications of cardiovascular disease as we promote prevention, reduce disparities in health care, and improve personal and population-based cardiovascular health.
American Heart Association	Professional societies/researchers	The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest, largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the AHA now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters, and funds innovative research, fights for stronger public health policies and provides lifesaving tools and information to save and improve lives.
American Geriatrics Society	Professional societies/researchers	The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of over 6,000 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society provides leadership to health care professionals, policymakers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality	Health care decision- and policymakers	The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.
Boston Scientific	Product makers	Company that is a leading innovator of medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. Products and technologies are used to diagnose or treat a wide range of medical conditions, including heart, digestive, pulmonary, vascular, urological, women’s health, and chronic pain conditions.
Heart Rhythm Society	Professional societies/researchers	The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is a leading resource on cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. This specialty organization represents medical, allied health, and science professionals from more than 70 countries who specialize in cardiac rhythm disorders.
Medtronic	Product makers	Medtronic is the world’s largest medical technology company, offering innovative therapies to fulfill their mission of alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life. Their medical therapies treat cardiac and vascular diseases, diabetes, and neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR)-ICD Registry	Professional societies/researchers	The ICD RegistryTM establishes a national standard for understanding treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, device safety, and the overall quality of care provided to implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients. As the CMS-mandated registry for hospitals that perform ICD implantation procedures, the ICD Registry plays an important role in determining the association between evidence-based treatment strategies and clinical outcomes. Eighty percent of participating hospitals value the registry beyond the CMS mandate—capturing all ICD implantations regardless of payer or indication.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute	Health care decision- and policymakers	The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides global leadership for a research, training, and education program to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives.
Patient Advocate	Patient advocacy	To represent research priorities and issues from the patient’s perspective.
St. Jude Medical	Product makers	Company with mission to transform the treatment of expensive epidemic diseases, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain. St. Jude Medical provides innovative solutions that reduce the economic burden of costly diseases on health care systems worldwide and provide improved outcomes for patients.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association	Consumer and patient advocacy	The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA) is an organization singularly focused on sudden cardiac arrest. SCAA identifies and unites survivors and those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, as well as others who are interested in being advocates on SCAA issues in their communities and beyond. Their membership is dedicated to promoting solutions to prevent sudden cardiac death, including increased awareness, immediate bystander action, public access to defibrillation (PAD), cardiovascular disease prevention, and access to preventative therapies.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Thought Alliance	Professional societies/researchers	The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Thought Leadership Alliance (SCATLA) was formed to improve the quality of care around sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and to share and develop educational tools for patients and health care providers.
WomenHeart	Consumer and patient advocacy	WomenHeart’s mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease, and to advocate for their benefit.

Abbreviations not defined above: ACC American College of Cardiology, AHA American Heart Association, CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, PAD public access defibrillation