Heart Teams for Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive framework for developing heart teams to manage a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Management of cardiovascular diseases has changed dramatically in recent years due to developments in evidence-based practices and treatments as well as the introduction of new devices. The sequential method of referring patients from doctor to doctor is becoming an antiquated model. The future of cardiac care lies in developing multidisciplinary "Heart Teams" to provide patient-focused treatment for complex cardiovascular problems. This volume examines the history and evolution of cardiovascular care and technology and explains why the implementation of heart teams is absolutely necessary to the future of cardiac care. It analyzes the role of heart teams for heart failure, complex coronary revascularization, mitral valve disease, cardiac imaging, aortic valve disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and women's heart health. Finally, the book explores how heart teams work with hospital administration and the broader healthcare industry. Heart Teams for Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease: A Guide for Advancing Patient-Centered Cardiac Care is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, fellows, and graduate students in cardiology, cardiac surgery, critical care medicine, and radiology.