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 and disability to one on health empowerment resulting in improved cardiovascular lifestyles for all Canadians. It describes a national interprofessional initiative to achieve this new vision in the area of cardiovascular health promotion. Achieving Cardiovascular Health in Canada (ACHIC) is a partnership of health professional associations and other health advocate groups whose vision is to promote optimal cardiovascular health (including cerebrovascular health) for all Canadians through interprofessional partnership initiatives and support systems.