title: Care of the patient with adult congenital heart disease.
abstract: The adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patient population has numerous and distinctive needs and comprise a rapidly growing group within the modern day healthcare arena. Current treatment provisions along with recommendations for future specialized multidisciplinary ACHD teams are discussed. The exclusive needs of this patient population have forced professional groups to reconsider the availability and appropriateness of current healthcare delivery to this group of complex patients, whose survivability and life expectancy have continued to improve as a direct result of enhanced research, technology, medical, surgical, and nursing care. General care considerations including psychosocial issues and patient education are presented, and reveal the challenges and strengths of caring for this adult patient population within a pediatric facility. Congenital heart disease is a lifelong illness that requires a dedicated, consistent approach to healthcare delivery in order to guarantee quality care throughout the lifespan.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. lucy.thompson@chp.edu
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002309:Cardiology / Q000458:organization & administration; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008134:Long-Term Care; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010360:Patient Transfer; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D015996:Survival Rate