For more than 30 years, AACH has focused on the complex topic of medical communication and relationship-centered care to improve the quality of patients' experience of care.

The research is very clear that communication and relationships issues are critical to patient care and have multiple influences on outcomes. Communication and relationship have been demonstrated to have an impact on patients' experience of care, patients' experience of care, improved patient adherence to treatment regimens, clinical outcomes and quality, patient safety, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, and reduce medical malpractice risk.