Saint Luke’s and Children’s Mercy Earn Accreditation for Kansas City Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute and the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy Kansas City announced their collaborative program serving adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), named Kansas City Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, has earned accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA).
Individuals with CHD, the most common birth defect diagnosed in one in 100 births, are living longer. There are nearly 2 million adults in the United States living with one of many different types of congenital heart defects, ranging among simple, moderate, and complex.
“We are honored to receive this accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association,” said Anthony Magalski, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Saint Luke’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. “It shows the dedication of our team of experts to our patients and their heart health through every phase of their life.”
The Kansas City Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program has a 28-year history of caring for patients with congenital heart conditions. Both organizations represent renowned innovation, quality, and compassionate care. Their partnership formed from their mutual desire to care for and provide seamless advanced care for patients with congenital heart disease from childhood through adulthood.
“We are excited to have achieved ACHA accreditation for the KCACHD program,” said Brian Birnbaum, MD, pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. “As the only ACHA accredited program in Kansas or Missouri, we continue to showcase the great work done by both Children’s Mercy and Saint Luke's in congenital heart disease care, the strong collaboration our programs have—and the ongoing commitment to lifelong treatment of congenital heart disease in this region.”
The Kansas City Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program received accreditation by meeting ACHA’s rigorous criteria around medical services and personnel requirements. The accreditation process was developed through a collaboration with doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and ACHD patients.
“There are now more adults than children in the U.S. with CHD,” said Mark Roeder, President and CEO of ACHA. “Accreditation will elevate the standard of care and have a positive impact on the futures of those living with this disease. Coordination of care is key, and this accreditation program will make care more streamlined for ACHD patients, improving their quality of life.”
There are now 53 ACHA ACHD Accredited programs throughout the United States.
About Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute is part of Saint Luke’s Health System, which serves the West Region of BJC Health System, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. The Heart Institute, a teaching affiliate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, is one of the most distinguished cardiovascular programs in the country. Its legacy of innovation began more than 40 years ago when it opened as the nation’s first freestanding heart hospital. Since then, the nearly 200 board-certified specialists and cardiovascular experts have earned a global reputation for excellence in the treatment of heart disease, including interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, imaging, heart failure, transplant, heart disease prevention, cardio-oncology, cardiometabolic disease, women’s heart disease, electrophysiology, outcomes research, and health economics by being the third hospital in the U.S. to achieve Comprehensive Cardiac Center certification from The Joint Commission.
In 2023, the Heart Institute completed its 1,000th heart transplant, making it one of only 23 advanced programs to have reached this milestone.
About the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy Kansas City
The Ward Family Heart Center at Children's Mercy provides comprehensive care for children with all types of heart conditions.
Our team of 35 pediatric cardiologists and heart surgeons, together with specially-trained nurses and staff members, work tirelessly to give children the best possible care.
The size and scope of our program means that we are always ready to care for children, no matter how rare their condition might be. Even though we care for some of the most complex kids, our survival rates continue to surpass the national average. Learn more about the Ward Family Heart Center at childrensmercy.org.
About the Adult Congenital Heart Association
The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and extending the lives of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). ACHA serves and supports the nearly 2 million adults with CHD, their families and the medical community—working with them to address the unmet needs of the long-term survivors of congenital heart defects through education, outreach, advocacy, and promotion of ACHD research. For more information about ACHA, contact 888-921-ACHA or visit www.ACHAHeart.org.