Heart Institute Grows As Quaternary Care Referral Center

With a focus on highly specialized services, advanced diagnostic procedures and cutting-edge surgeries for complex conditions, the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute draws patients regionally, nationally and internationally. A quaternary referral center, its team is committed to increasing access to cardiac care for the youngest of patients, throughout childhood, and into adulthood.

National and international referral center: Serving patients from 48 states and 22 countries

Over the past three years, patients have come to the Heart Institute from 48 states and 22 countries. The Heart Institute team has dedicated itself to building and improving upon its services for patients with the most challenging heart conditions. By concentrating on continuous improvement, seeking out highly skilled staff and emphasizing leading-edge research, the team has pioneered clinical procedures and treatments here that are used all over the world. This includes the supported Ross procedure, our world renowned ventricular assist device program and our new End-stage Lung Failure program, the first of its type in pediatrics. It’s this type of care that attracts patients and families from around the United States and overseas. A dedicated international patient team offers special services for patients and families who are coming from outside the country.

Going the extra mile = less time in the hospital, better outcomes

The Heart Institute’s focus on improvement and strong outcomes translates into shorter hospital stays for patients. “We have among the shortest lengths of stays of hospitals in the region, which means families can get back to normal quicker, after a procedure,” explains Andrew Redington, MD, executive co-director of the Heart Institute.

This benefits patients throughout the region. While a trip to the Cincinnati Children’s main campus for a surgery or procedure is sometimes necessary, follow-up care at one of the Heart Institute’s many regional clinics is easier and closer to home.

“That hour or two extra on the highway to main campus could save you a day or two after your procedure,” Redington says. “The additional time in the car initially can mean that you’re back as a family quicker, back to work quicker, and the kids can be back to school and normal activities quicker.”

Regional growth: serving patients from 30+ locations

Driven by a need for more access to high-quality cardiac care, the Heart Institute has expanded its regional reach in recent years. This includes investing in 15 new Cincinnati Children’s regional pediatric and adult congenital outpatient clinics in the past five years as well as establishing the Joint Heart Program. The Joint Heart Program is a collaboration with UK Kentucky Children’s Hospital to increase access to world-class heart care. Now patients can access care at more than 30 outpatient cardiology clinics throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

These regional locations save families time and make them more likely to follow up with care. They are able to take less time away from work and school to travel for their outpatient visits. Families throughout the region have indicated how much they appreciate being able to receive follow-up care close to home.

A short time to appointments reduces anxiety for patients needing to visit these regional clinics. Those referred to a cardiologist can be seen at one of the Cincinnati Children’s locations within three days of making an appointment, or on the same day for urgent cases.

The latest regional expansions

Most recently, the Cincinnati Children’s and Kentucky Children’s Hospital Joint Heart Program opened new Joint Heart Clinics in Owensboro and Ashland, Kentucky. These clinics make receiving advanced pediatric and adult congenital heart care easier to access for surrounding communities. This includes comprehensive lifelong care into adulthood through the Heart Institute’s accredited Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, as well as Fetal Heart Program services in Western Kentucky.

This expansion of services supports the Heart Institute’s goal of delivering exceptional care and improving outcomes for patients. Says Redington, “Over the last seven years the unprecedented growth of the Heart Institute has allowed us to provide the highest level of care to patients in our region and across the country more than ever before.”