Unlike most other hospitals and health systems, academic health systems are connected to a university, and particularly to a medical school. This type of organization offers several benefits when it comes to pediatric heart care.
Academic health systems are often the first institutions to translate leading-edge clinical research into new breakthrough treatments for patients. In many cases, academic programs are large enough to support a wide range of pediatric heart specialists, including teams focused on rare conditions. They typically have invested in state-of-the-art equipment and are equipped with the latest medical techniques – leading to better outcomes for patients. These institutions are also the training grounds for the next generation of pediatric heart doctors through medical residence and subspecialty fellowship programs.