ACT Team Presents at the Edwards Every Heartbeat Matters Summit 2024
In March 2024, the Edwards Lifesciences Every Heartbeat Matters Summit brought together global changemakers all united by a common goal—improving care for structural heart disease. Among the passionate participants were members of the ACT Team, including experts from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the Uganda Heart Institute, and Children's National. Together, they shared groundbreaking insights on the Active Community Case Management Tool (ACT), a dynamic, mobile registry designed to break down barriers to high-quality Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) care in low-resource settings.
ACT is not just a tool—it’s a game-changer. It helps healthcare partners gather better, more comprehensive data on patients with rheumatic heart disease, leading to improved case management and driving quality improvement. But what makes ACT truly special? It connects communities, empowers providers, and makes real-time, data-driven decisions a reality in the fight against RHD.
The ACT Team took attendees on a journey through the global burden of RHD, a preventable disease that still affects millions, especially in areas with limited resources. They stressed the importance of data, registries, and patient tracking in transforming RHD care. At the heart of the presentation was ACT itself—a solution to the challenges of disconnected care and inadequate data that have long hindered progress.
A standout moment of the presentation was the ACT Team’s success in Uganda. They showcased how the registry is being implemented at the district level, providing a real-world example of decentralized care powered by data. This on-the-ground impact sparked excitement and demonstrated just how much potential exists for global change.
But that wasn’t all! The ACT Team led three highly interactive sessions during the Summit, diving into key topics like connected community-based care, enhancing access to interventions, and driving continuous quality improvement. These lively discussions ignited collaboration and deepened engagement, creating a buzz of excitement around improving RHD care globally.
The Summit was more than just a chance to present— it was a powerful networking hub where attendees from around the world expressed interest in collaborating on a global quality improvement network for RHD. The energy was palpable, and the potential for ACT to drive meaningful change in RHD care is brighter than ever.
This Summit marked a major milestone in ACT’s journey, bringing us closer to a future where data-driven strategies empower communities and healthcare systems to combat RHD more effectively. The path forward is clear, and the opportunity to scale ACT’s impact globally is limitless.