At a glance
- CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics created a digital toolkit to help physicians promote lifelong congenital cardiac care for people with heart defects.
- Use these resources to educate different types of providers about their important role in ensuring people with heart defects get the care they need.
Overview
Congenital heart defects are lifelong conditions affecting approximately 2.4 million people in the United States. As a person with a heart defect grows and gets older, further heart problems may occur. Additional medications, surgeries, or other procedures may be needed after initial surgeries or procedures during childhood. Unfortunately, it's common for people with heart defects to fall out of congenital cardiac care starting as early as childhood.
Physicians play an important role in ensuring people with heart defects get the lifelong congenital cardiac care they need to stay healthy. As people with heart defects receive medical care for other reasons—checkups, sick care, or for life events such as pregnancy—these providers can discuss the need for congenital cardiac care with them.
In partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC created a digital toolkit with resources and online trainings for physicians to help ensure that people with heart defects get the lifelong congenital cardiac care they need.
What's included
The toolkit contains video trainings, social media materials, customizable content for emails and newsletters, conversation starters, and infographics. Access the online course and the custom resources for each medical specialty below.
Toolkit components
Resources for Pediatricians and Family Medicine
Resources for Emergency Medicine Physicians
Resources for Internal Medicine Physicians
Resources for Obstetrician-Gynecologists