At a glance
People who were born with heart defects need lifelong congenital cardiac care-but many of them aren't getting it. As an emergency room physician, you can help change this. When people with heart defects visit the emergency room-for any reason-you have an opportunity to connect them to congenital cardiac care.
Overview
Take these steps to help people with heart defects get the care they need:
- Ask patients or their caregivers about a history of heart problems. They may not mention it unless you ask.
- Ask adults with heart defects if they're seeing a congenital cardiologist. And for children with heart defects, ask their caregivers if they're seeing a pediatric cardiologist. If they're not, explain why lifelong congenital cardiac care is important.
- Refer adults who aren't getting the care they need to a congenital cardiologist. If you need help finding adult congenital cardiologists in your area, check out the ACHD Clinic Directory.
- Refer children who aren't getting the care they need to a pediatric cardiologist.
