This post was authored by Robert Vincent, MD, CM, FACC, member of the ACC’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) council and membership section.

Congenital Heart Awareness Week is an opportune time to raise awareness of the world's #1 birth defect, as well as acknowledge all that the ACC and its member volunteers and staff have done, and continue to do, to help cardiologists care for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). While we’ve had many “wins” this past year (check out Dr. Jenkins’ previous blog post), there is still much to be done in the name of CHD patients and their families.

As the number of adult patients with CHD (ACHD) is only increasing, last week JACC published results of a survey of general adult cardiologists that looked at the prevalence of general adult cardiologists who care for ACHD patients, and identified patterns of consulting with ACHD specialists, and awareness of ACHD national clinical guidelines. Among other findings, a lack of access to ACHD specialists appears to be a significant gap in care, as 38.5 percent of respondents reported not having access.

In an effort to address these gaps, the ACC’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) council and membership section is working with ACC's Chapters and the patient advocacy group, the Adult Congenital Heart Association, to educate general cardiologists through the Provider Action for Treatment of Congenital Heart disease (PATCH) program. The PATCH program also focuses on developing networking programs between ACHD subspecialty cardiologists and general cardiologists through grand rounds, visits to ACHD clinics, and more. In addition, webinars on various aspects of ACHD care are available for ACC's members. To view the archives webinars, click here.

In addition, every year the ACC teams up with the Adult Congenital Heart Association and Mended Little Hearts for a National CHD Lobby Day, and this year’s activities will take place on March 18 and March 19. The College will be hosting a welcome reception at Heart House on March 18.  To get involved contact Stephanie Mitchell at smitchel[at]acc.org.

Finally, the newly revamped CardioSmart.org has a congenital heart defects condition center, and includes an overview, questions to ask a doctor, the latest news and research on the topic, how to get support through our partner organizations like Mended Hearts or Mended Little Hearts, and more. I encourage you to share these resources and information with your patients.

For those attending ACC.13, there are several pediatric cardiology and ACHD-focused sessions, including the 2013 Dan G. McNamara Lecture with Aldo Castaneda, MD, FACC, who will be discussing the historical development of pediatric cardiac surgery.  Interested attendees should also check out the congenital cardiology solutions learning pathway.

As always, ACC members interested in congenital heart disease issues are welcome to join the College’s Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology membership section. Contact Stephanie Mitchell at smitchel@acc.org if interested.

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