ADULT CONGENITAL HEART ASSOCIATION

ACCREDITATION, SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES:-MEDICAL CENTER ACCREDITATION PROGRAM: THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM STARTED IN 2014. AS OF DECEMBER 2024, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 56 ACCREDITED SITES IN THE US. THERE ARE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL SITES CURRENTLY IN VARIOUS STAGES OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS.-PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM: ADULT CONGENITAL HEART ASSOCIATION (ACHA) MANAGES VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO ACHD PATIENTS SEEKING SUCH HELP.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).- EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND WEBINARS: THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, WEBINARS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, ACHA PROVIDES 24-HOUR ACCESS TO RELEVANT, UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. FROM THE WEBINARS, PATIENTS LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIFIC CHD CONDITIONS AND DEFECTS, AND THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES. LEADING EXPERTS AND ADVOCATES COVER A RANGE OF INTERESTING, DIVERSE, AND TIMELY TOPICS IN PATIENT-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE.- ACHA REGIONAL CONFERENCES: THREE REGIONAL CONFERENCES WERE HELD IN-PERSON DURING 2024. EACH CONFERENCE BEGAN WITH A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP AMONG PATIENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND INSTITUTIONS. EACH EVENT WAS TAILORED TO REGIONAL NEEDS AND INCLUDED: TWO EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS (TOPICS WERE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CARDIOLOGIST AND A PATIENT-LED PANEL ON LIVING WELL WITH CHD), GROUP ROUNDTABLES WITH DEFECT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATION MATERIALS AND RESOURCES. ACHD CARE GUIDELINES ARE REVIEWED AT EVERY SESSION TO ENCOURAGE LIFELONG CARE. - ACHD CLINIC DIRECTORY: ACHA EXPANDED ITS ONLINE LISTING WITH CLOSE TO 400 ACHD CLINICS (INCLUDING SATELLITE CLINICS) IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA; THE DIRECTORY CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY RESOURCE OF ITS KIND AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES.- ACHD PATIENT DIRECTORY: THE ACHA ACHD PATIENT RESOURCE DIRECTORY PROVIDES INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND TOOLS FOR ACHD PATIENTS WHO MIGHT EXPERIENCE BARRIERS WHEN ACCESSING RECOMMENDED SPECIALIZED CARE. THESE SEARCHABLE RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED TO HELP PATIENTS TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR CARDIAC CARE. PATIENTS CAN SEARCH FOR TOPICS IN AREAS SUCH AS ACHD/CHD ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER HEALTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, ACCESS TO CARE, AND OTHER HEALTH RESOURCES.