When heart failure continues to progress despite guideline-directed medical therapy, earlier referral to an advanced heart failure team can help optimize care, clarify the underlying cause of disease and identify additional treatment options before a patient reaches a crisis.

provides comprehensive, personalized care for patients with complex or worsening heart failure. The multidisciplinary team works with referring physicians to develop treatment plans based on each patient’s disease stage, underlying condition, comorbidities and goals of care. provides comprehensive, personalized care for patients with complex or worsening heart failure. The multidisciplinary team works with referring physicians to develop treatment plans based on each patient’s disease stage, underlying condition, comorbidities and goals of care.

When Should You Refer for Advanced Heart Failure Care?

Advanced heart failure does not always present as a single defining event. Referring physicians may instead notice a pattern of worsening symptoms, recurrent hospitalizations or increasing difficulty maintaining a patient’s clinical stability.

Consider referring a patient for an advanced heart failure evaluation when you see any of these three signs:

1. Two or more hospitalizations for heart failure within a year
2. Progressive intolerance to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT)
3. Escalating diuretic requirements to maintain clinical stability

Referral does not mean a patient needs an LVAD or heart transplant, and referring physicians do not need to determine whether a patient is a candidate for an advanced therapy before making a referral. The Center for Heart Failure can evaluate the patient, determine the appropriate next step and continue to work alongside the referring physician.

“The best time to refer is before a patient reaches a crisis. When heart failure is progressing despite appropriate treatment, an advanced heart failure evaluation can help us understand what options remain and determine the right next step for that patient.”

— Sandra Chaparro, M.D., Medical Director, Center for Heart Failure

What Can the Center for Heart Failure Offer Your Patient?

Every patient’s heart failure journey is different. At the Center for Heart Failure, specialists develop personalized treatment plans based on the patient’s underlying disease, clinical characteristics, comorbidities and goals of care.

An advanced heart failure evaluation may help:

• Clarify the underlying etiology of cardiomyopathy or heart failure
• Optimize guideline-directed medical therapy
• Provide patient and family education and support
• Coordinate multidisciplinary care across specialties
• Incorporate remote monitoring and digital technologies to help manage disease and reduce hospitalizations
• Guide long-term disease management and transitions of care
• Determine whether advanced therapies or heart transplant evaluation should be considered

The Center also provides expertise for patients with specialized and complex heart failure conditions, including pulmonary hypertension, cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis, and genetic and inherited cardiomyopathies, as well as access to clinical trials and emerging therapies when appropriate.

When Are Advanced Therapies Considered?

For patients with severe or rapidly deteriorating heart failure, advanced cardiac support may become part of the treatment pathway.

Baptist Health offers a variety of temporary mechanical support options including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for select critically ill patients.Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is another form of mechanical circulatory support for select patients with advanced heart failure. An LVAD helps the left ventricle pump blood to the body and may be considered as part of an individualized advanced heart failure treatment plan.

For some patients with progressive disease, a comprehensive evaluation may also indicate that heart transplant candidacy should be considered.

Patients do not need to arrive with a determination that an LVAD or transplant is necessary. The advanced heart failure team can evaluate the full clinical picture and help determine the appropriate next step.

Why Refer to Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Failure?

Referring a patient with complex heart failure requires confidence in the team receiving their care.

Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Failure combines specialized expertise, personalized treatment planning, multidisciplinary care and access to advanced heart failure therapies and technologies. Baptist Hospital is recognized as High Performing in heart failure, reinforcing Baptist Health’s commitment to high-quality care across the heart failure continuum.

Most importantly, a referral can add value well before a patient requires an advanced therapy. The Center works alongside referring physicians to better understand the cause of heart failure, optimize treatment, manage complex disease and determine when additional interventions should be considered.

A Multidisciplinary Team for Advanced Heart Failure

Patients at Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Failure are supported by a multidisciplinary team of advanced heart failure physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), nurse navigators, pharmacists, and cardiac and electrophysiology specialists as needed.

Together, the team coordinates personalized care and connects patients with the appropriate treatments and advanced therapies as their needs evolve.

• Sandra Chaparro, M.D., medical director for the Center for Heart Failure
• Sanjeev Gulati, M.D., executive deputy director and system chief of cardiovascular medicine at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care
• I-Wen Wang, M.D., system chief of perfusion and ECMO, specializing in advanced heart failure and transplant surgery
• Sheng Fu, M.D., board-certified advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute

Refer a Patient

If your patient meets any of the three referral criteria, or you are concerned that their heart failure is progressing, refer them for an advanced heart failure evaluation.

Patients do not need to be identified as candidates for LVAD or heart transplant before referral. Our team can evaluate the patient and help determine the appropriate next step.

Email: Cardiology@BaptistHealth.net
Call: 786-204-4204

Earlier referral can help personalize care, optimize treatment and preserve more options for your patient.

Center for Heart Failure | Baptist Health South Florida