Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric Heart Failure Team was named the 2023 Outstanding Heart Failure Care Team Award winner.
The Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Program at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) is a vital part of a bustling and highly regarded pediatric Heart Center in Houston, TX. Ranked #1 in the nation for its Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular surgery divisions, TCH provides high-quality heart failure care to patients from fetus to adulthood. The program has a distinguished history, beginning with the first successful infant heart transplant performed by Dr. Denton Cooley. Today, the multidisciplinary TCH Heart Failure Team consists of dedicated cardiologists, surgeons, nurse coordinators, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, therapists, nutritionists and others.
Important accomplishments for the TCH Heart Failure Care Team include:
- Establishing the nation’s first Heart Failure ICU dedicated to children
- Leading the world in the use of percutaneous devices in children
- Assisting in the innovation of miniaturized LVADs
- Identifying new genetic mutations in cardiomyopathy
- Creating evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation and management of pediatric acute decompensated heart failure
- Describing the neurohormonal profile of pediatric heart failure
- Describing the cardiorenal syndrome in children
The team has a strong commitment to quality improvement measures related to heart failure. Multiple QI projects have been established for identification and/or treatment of iron deficiency, sleep-disordered breathing, missed diagnoses, cardiac rehabilitation needs and utilization of advanced directives. One project in particular that led to improved patient care focused on rapid identification of congestion in the Emergency Center and resulted in a reduction in the ‘door-to-diuretic’ time by half.
Sometimes the care provided to at-risk patients and their families takes the form of social assistance. Team social workers demonstrate compassion and understanding as they work with abandoned or abused children, new immigrants and crisis interventions. The team must also communicate closely with schools and other care providers. Partnering with a world-class palliative care team reduces anxiety for child, parent and practitioner and facilitates cohesive care when facing end-stage disease and death.
The Heart Failure Team at TCH also makes a strong commitment to education. Patient and family understanding of their disease and its treatment is paramount. Likewise, formal teaching for house staff, nurses, community physicians and colleagues around the country is a priority.
Each day, this dedicated and talent team strives to make a difference for their patients and families with pediatric heart failure. They recognize that success depends on the unique skill set and value of each team member. And even though some days are daunting, this team remains committed to healing sick children.