The American Heart Association is launching a nationwide quality improvement effort to strengthen the system of care for people with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR-CM.
ATTR-CM is an underdiagnosed condition caused by abnormal protein buildup that prevents the left ventricle from filling or relaxing properly, according to a March 23 news release from the organization. When untreated, it can lead to heart failure.
The AHA’s three-year initiative will bring together 10 multidisciplinary healthcare teams from across the nation to design better care pathways and patient journeys for ATTR-CM. The participating hospitals are:
- Advocate Health-Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute (Charlotte, N.C.)
- Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute (Anchorage)
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City)
- Duke University Health System (Durham, N.C.)
- Geisinger Medical Center (Danville, Pa.)
- MedStar Health/Georgetown University School of Medicine (Washington, D.C.)
- OhioHealth Heart and Vascular/Riverside Methodist Hospital (Columbus, Ohio)
- Stanford (Calif.) Medicine
- University of Utah (Salt Lake City)
- WashU Medicine (St. Louis)
Participating sites will work to improve care coordination, earlier identification and long-term management of patients with the disease.
Early diagnosis and timely care can improve survival, physical function and maintain quality of life for patients with ATTR-CM, the release said.
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