Lets Stand Up for Our Kids Together

All you need to do:
1) Copy the letter below and paste in a new email

2) Personalize the middle part of the email to include why it is important to you to have a specially trained doctor for Adult CHD patients.  A few sentences is all it takes.

3) “Sign” your name on the bottom.

4) Email your letter to: amy.basken@achaheart.org by Friday December 11th.

——–Begin Copy Here:

James Stockman, M.D.

President

American Board of Pediatrics

111 Silver Cedar Court

Chapel Hill, NC27514-1513

Christine Cassel, M.D.

President

American Board of Internal Medicine

510 Walnut St Ste 1700

Philadelphia, PA 19106

Dear Dr. Stockman and Dr. Cassel,

We all share the hope that every child born with congenital heart disease will live as long and as healthy a life as possible. To reach this goal, many will continue to need special congenital heart care even after they become adults.  Right now, there is a severe national shortage of cardiologists with the recommended special training to care for adult congenital heart patients. Worse, many adult congenital heart patients are being cared for by cardiologists without the recommended expertise to keep them healthy.

[Insert your personal story here: Indicate how you or your patients are/are not receiving treatment from a trained ACHD cardiologist. Include how this affects the quality of your care, such as distance needed to travel for treatment, psychological factors, and treatment plans/outcomes. Describe your need for further care and desire for a cardiologist trained in the nuances of your heart, an adult heart.]

The National Congenital Heart Coalition is working with the American College of Cardiology to propose new training and certification requirements just for adult congenital cardiology specialists.  This way, adult congenital patients in search of high-quality care can look for sub-specialists in adult congenital cardiology. These sub-specialists will be cardiologists that have taken additional training in adult congenital issues and will have passed an additional test.  The proposed training allows both pediatric and adult cardiologists to train as ACHD experts.  Those now treating ACHD patients will be offered “grandfathering” options. Everyone will be required to take and pass a certifying exam to become an ACHD sub specialist.

With each beat of their heart, precious time is being lost for adults with CHD to receive the specialized treatment they deserve. I urge you, as the organizations with the power to make a difference, please take action to support these efforts today.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

With Love & Hope,

Sarah