heart is no longer working effectively, whether that’s due to a congenital or acquired heart defect,” she says, “we can keep them alive on artificial/ mechanical support to bridge them to transplant and recovery. This is an area that has seen tremendous growth in the past few years, and it’s exciting that we are able to support even the tiniest babies with this technology.” Support is one of the words that defines the care provided in the CTICU. In addition to the specialized medical care provided by an expert clinical team, patients and their families also benefit from the support of Rady Children’s many other departments while they’re on the unit and as they prepare for discharge and life beyond the Hospital. From parent education and training to social work, these services are key to a successful recovery. “As part of the multidisciplinary setup in the CTICU, from diagnosis on, there’s a close collaboration between the cardiologists, surgeons, specialists and the families. We build upon that foundation throughout their stay to provide information and education and
engage them in the care plan,” Dr. Bassi concludes. “Our social workers and supportive care team are part of this plan, serving as an extra resource
for the families to address their concerns and what their goals are when they get home. We have really grown supportive care services Hospital- wide, and we are proud to be able to provide resources and support for families of children with complex cardiac needs.” TOP: Baby Amanda was born with a congenital heart defect and other issues, but she's now happy and healthy thanks to the multidisciplinary care she received in the CTICU. BOTTOM: Kids with complex cardiac conditions benefit from specialized care and state-of- the-art equipment
SPRING 2024 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE 23
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