Heart failure affects approximately six million Americans and is the most common diagnosis for acute hospitalization in patients over 65 years. Over the next decade, we will see a dramatic increase in the number of patients in the community with advanced heart failure who can benefit from advanced therapies for complex cardiac disease. Academic medical centers, such as UCLA, have an opportunity to integrate treatment advances into a comprehensive patient-centered heart failure management program. UCLA Health wants to enhance the role of the primary care physician and primary cardiologist as the central provider for continuity of care for these complex heart failure patients.

The 12th Annual UCLA Heart Failure Symposium 2024 will:

1. Discuss general heart failure treatment options including short and long term mechanical circulatory support therapy, heart transplantation, pulmonary hypertension management, high risk percutaneous and structural interventions, and complex congenital heart disease management.

2. Emphasize the need for developing networks linking academic centers with community physicians to manage these patients through the evolution of their disease pre and post advanced cardiac intervention.

3. Discuss heart failure therapies in cardio-oncology, amyloidosis and new medication updates, as well as address patient and care-provider’s specific needs and perspectives.

Target Audience

Family practitioners, internists, cardiologists, pediatricians, nurses and all other healthcare professionals taking care of heart failure patients, as well as the interested lay public.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the program participants will be able to:

• Identify the epidemiology and pathophysiology of heart failure and the need for mechanical circulatory support with a growing heart failure population.

• Identify indications for and management of lifelong left ventricular assist device therapy.

• Implement shared care programs with the community and co-manage patients in need of complex cardiac therapies including LVAD therapy, heart transplantation, pulmonary hypertension management, high risk percutaneous interventions, and complex congenital heart disease management.

• Discuss the comprehensive multidisciplinary care and services available to complex cardiac patients within the UCLA Heart Failure Program.