Education by Global Thoughts Leaders for the Primary Care Community
NCD Academy is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between major actors in global health to equip frontline health workers with integrated, mobile-first education on NCD care as they take on a more prominent role in prevention. Led by the American College of Cardiology, in collaboration with the World Heart Federation and NCD Alliance, and supported by Viatris, NCD Academy has courses on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention, cancer care and mental health.
The NCD Academy is a first-of-its kind partnership to equip providers at the front lines of patient care —including general practitioners, internists, nurses, and community health workers— with education available whenever, wherever, and at no cost.
The NCD Academy, spearheaded by the American College of Cardiology is a first-of-its kind partnership to equip providers at the front lines of patient care —including clinicians, nurses, and community health workers— with education available whenever, wherever, and at no cost.
Courses focus on fundamental and updated skills for the prevention and basic management of major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), with the aim to vastly improve resources for primary care clinicians and contribute to reshaping clinical education to address NCDs.
Why NCD Academy?
NCDs account for 71% of global deaths with cardiovascular disease (CVD) ranked number one. Considering that 45% of WHO member states report having less than one physician per 1,000 residents, health care systems globally are realising the importance of upskilling nurses and community health workers to play a greater role in patient care. The goal with NCD Academy is to fill this need and foster progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of reducing premature mortality due to NCDs by a third by 2030.
NCD Alliance, together with the American College of Cardiology, the World Heart Federation and supported by Viatris, have been working on education efforts to build the capacity of the health workforce to deliver high quality, integrated primary care services with a focus on the prevention, management, and treatment of NCDs.
The report “Protecting Populations, Preserving Futures: Optimising the health workforce to combat NCDs and achieve UHC” recently launched by NCDA with the support of Pfizer Upjohn was an effort to understand approaches that empower the health workforce, including the need to facilitate access to training opportunities. It found that an optimal health workforce with a wide range of skills and expertise, across the health system involving other sectors and segments of the community, can be a critical lever for health system change in the context of NCDs.
The uptake of innovative care models —such as leveraging multidisciplinary care teams and exploring digital health solutions— has the potential for strengthening the health workforce and improving the education, deployment, and ongoing management of human resources for health at the primary health care level.
If you are interested in this programme, more information on course lessons, FAQs and participants can be found at acc.org/ncdacademy.
Who can take part in the NCD Academy?
Courses provided by the NCD Academily are primarily for:
General practitioners and nurses based at community clinics who act as the main source of care for patients seeking medical guidance and treatment in rural and remote areas;
Internists and nurses at hospitals who are tasked with assessing newly-admitted patients and providing non-critical care;
Community health workers who support preventive efforts and early detection in underserved communities through health promotion and disease screening.
Available Courses
NCD Academy: A Call to Action for Primary Healthcare Teams
NCD Prevelance and Response Gaps
NCD Interplays
The Importance of the Primary Healthcare Team.
COVID-19: Protecting Patients at Greatest Risk
COVID-19 Basics
Evaluation and Basic Treatment
Antiviral Therapies, Immunomodulation and Vaccines
NCD Academy is entirely free for download worldwide and is available for iOS and Android, as well as via desktop here.
Spread the word on social media!
Join the American College of Cardiology, World Heart Federation, NCD Alliance and Pfizer Upjohn from Monday 18th May 2020 for the launch week of #NCDAcademy!
Check out the #NCDAcademy - providing free and online education with courses on noncommunicable diseases #NCDs, #COVID19 and #CVD! @AccinTouch @NCDAlliance
Read how Pfizer Upjohn, the American College of Cardiology, the World Heart Federation and NCD Alliance work together to achieve an optimal health workforce for NCDs.
