On September 14, 2017, the Heart Institute’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (ACHD) was one of the first of only 11 programs in the nation announced to be accredited as a comprehensive care center by the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA). The accreditation program provides adult patients with congenital heart disease a means to find a high-quality ACHD program throughout the United States.

The rigorous path to becoming accredited involves a lengthy application process including stringent data requirements and proof of effective processes. The result is fully patient-centered: Adult patients with CHD now have a trustworthy source for finding where they can get high-quality care that includes specialists and services geared to their specific needs.

“Patients who were treated for congenital heart disease as children continue to have complex medical needs into adulthood,” says Gruschen Veldtman, MD, director of adult congenital heart disease. “Statistics show that if ACHD patients have heart surgery in non-specialist centers, their risk of death increases nearly threefold.”

The Heart Institute has a long history caring for patients with adult congenital heart disease. Over the years, the ACHD team has built up strength in treating teens and adults with all forms of congenital heart disease. With the specialty training that is crucial in this field, the team has made significant progress in treating patients with single ventricle and Fontan physiology, as well as in maternal cardiac care and pregnancy care.

In addition to seeing new patients each month, the ACHD team continues establishing partnerships with a variety of practices throughout the region, increasing awareness of the strength of the program and the team’s availability for consults and second opinions. They also rely on a vital collaboration with the University of Cincinnati and other adult hospitals in the area.

At the forefront of the program is the team’s passion for combining state-of-the-art medical and surgical care with the education and psychological support needed to help patients enjoy the best possible outcomes throughout adolescence and adulthood. Says Veldtman, “We provide patients with excellent medical care in a compassionate way that is delivered both effectively and efficiently.”