The American Heart Association has unveiled a comprehensive Heart Failure Center Certification program aimed at elevating global heart failure care standards. The initiative will span 13 countries, bringing evidence-based treatment protocols to healthcare facilities worldwide to improve patient outcomes and reduce disability related to heart failure.
With over 56 million people globally living with heart failure, the certification program addresses a critical healthcare challenge. The initiative focuses on promoting guideline-directed medical therapies and ensuring seamless transitions between hospital and outpatient care. By recognizing hospitals dedicated to comprehensive heart failure treatment, the program seeks to standardize and improve cardiovascular health interventions.
Dr. D.P. Suresh, an American Heart Association volunteer, emphasized the program's significance, noting that coordinated heart failure programs demonstrably benefit both hospitals and patients. The certification standards are independently developed, ensuring a rigorous and patient-centered approach to quality healthcare.
Research indicates that appropriate medical therapies can significantly slow heart failure progression, allowing patients to maintain a high quality of life. The new certification program represents a strategic effort to reduce the more than 5 million years of disability caused by heart failure globally, aligning with the organization's mission to transform cardiovascular health.
