Realizing optimal care for children with cardiovascular disease: Funding challenges and research approaches

Realizing optimal care for children with cardiovascular disease depends on organizing all the factors related to clinical care, research, education, and advocacy that have been reviewed in the 30 articles contained in these 3 issues of Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. The management of congenital heart disease has changed greatly over the past few decades and continues to evolve rapidly. More than ever, contemporary practice requires a collaborative effort by a large healthcare team comprised not only of pediatric cardiac surgeons but also pediatric cardiac nurses, pediatric cardiologists, perfusion and respiratory technicians, pediatric cardiac intensivists, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, ultrasonographers, and MRI and catheterization laboratory technicians. All of these individuals need to clearly understand the morphology and pathophysiology of congenital heart disease, as well as the associated surgical procedures. The successful team will be the one that has worked together for many years with an evidence-based approach to surgery and to patient communication about the risks, benefits, and potential complications. Here, I review the funding aspects of pediatric cardiovascular care and cite research that has improved our understanding of pediatric cardiovascular medicine and that has improved patient outcomes in this branch of medicine. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.