Program areas at Heart to Heart Global Cardiac Care
Mayo Clinic Pediatric & Congenital Heart Disease Conference | AUGUST 2022Heart to Heart sponsored two Costa Rican pediatric cardiologists from the National Childrens Hospital to virtually attend the 2022 Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology Review Course, hosted by Mayo Clinics School of Continuous Professional Education and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. This six-day course covered key aspects of medical care for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), from diagnosis, to treatment, to postoperative recovery.National Childrens Hospital, SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA | OCTOBER 2022A team of five medical volunteers, staff, and interpreters participated on our third pediatric cardiac training mission to the National Childrens Hospital. The team focused on diagnosis of CHD in children and pediatric cardiac intensive care nursing for CHD patients. The team consulted on 32 patient cases, and presented three lectures.National Childrens Hospital, SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA | MARCH 2023A team of 15 medical volunteers, staff, and interpreters participated on our fourth pediatric cardiac training mission to the National Childrens Hospital. The team performed both open heart surgeries as well as interventional catheter-based procedures for children with CHD. The team consulted on 43 patient cases, performed 6 open heart surgeries, 4 interventional catheterizations, and cared for 11 patients in the ICU. Additionally, Heart to Heart cardiologists presented a variety of lectures.Mayo Clinic International Charity Collaboration | MARCH 2023In partnership with the Mayo Clinics International Charity Program, a Costa Rican child with CHD was accepted to undergo a pro bono interventional catheter-based procedure in Rochester, MN. Dr. Carlos Mas, pediatric interventional cardiologist at the National Childrens Hospital in Costa Rica, accompanied the patient and her family. Dr. Mas was able to observe five days worth of procedures performed by Mayos interventional cardiology team.Mayo Clinic International Charity Collaboration | JUNE 2023In partnership with the Mayo Clinics International Charity Program, two Costa Rican children with congenital heart disease were accepted to undergo pro bono open heart surgery in Rochester, MN. Heart to Heart sponsored the travel and lodging costs of both patients and their mothers. Doctors Soto and Gonzalez, pediatric intensivists at the National Childrens Hospital in Costa Rica, traveled with the two patients to the Mayo Clinic. They were able to observe in the Mayo Clinics pediatric intensive care unit for approximately one week.Year round - Heart to Heart staff continuously collected and analyzed per patient surgical outcomes data from HNN throughout the year. These data have been and will be used to guide the educational collaboration, track improvements in patient outcomes, and determine educational objectives for future cardiac training missions and other program activities.
Heart to Heart representatives traveled to Costa Rica to meet with the leaders of all three public adult cardiac programs San Juan de Dios Hospital, Calderon Guardia Hospital, and Mexico Hospital. San Juan de Dios Hospital was chosen as the first partner site for Heart to Hearts work in further advancing adult cardiac care in Costa Rica first cardiac training mission scheduled for Fall 2023.