University of Utah Health Care joined pulmonary hypertension patients of all ages to celebrate becoming accredited by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA)'s accreditation program for Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers. The goal of the program is to improve outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension, a debilitating disease of the lungs that affects the functioning of the heart and can lead to right heart failure.
With symptoms that include breathlessness, fatigue, dizziness and chest pain, many pulmonary hypertension patients will see three or more physicians before they receive an accurate diagnosis. The survival rate for PH patients who go untreated is less than three years.
In its nearly 25 years, PHA's work has led to significant advances in PH care, including the availability of 12 FDA-approved treatments. However, the association continues to fight for earlier and more accurate diagnosis. The median time from onset of symptoms to PAH diagnosis is still 1.1 years, and many patients will see three or more different physicians over this period before they are properly diagnosed. Without treatment, the average survival rate is less than three years. In addition, many patients are hospitalized due to PH complications and some require transplantation if therapies do not work.
PHCC accreditation means a program demonstrates a dedication to making a proper diagnosis. It also means a program has the capacity to appropriately and comprehensively manage PH patients through a set of criteria established by the PHA's Scientific Leadership Council and the PHCC Oversight Committee. The committee is comprised of members that are global leaders in the field of pulmonary hypertension.
Accredited PH Care Centers will contribute to a PHA national patient registry that will track diagnostic and treatment patterns and patient outcomes, and help establish best practices in patient care.
Learn how you can support the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, which provides patient and family support, early diagnosis education, specialty care resources and research to find ways to prevent and cure PH, at www.PHAssociation.org.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., with a growing list of chapters across the country, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the country's leading pulmonary hypertension organization. Its mission is to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension and provide hope for the community through support, education, research, advocacy and awareness. PHA does this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families and medical professionals. Among its programs, PHA facilitates more than 245 support groups around the country and delivers continuing education for medical professionals through PHA Online University. For more information or to support PHA with a donation, go to PHAssociation.org.