Points
- The shared decision of the Doctor and cardiovascular care team is an important factor in steering the risks and benefits to maternal cardiovascular patients.
- The risks of pregnancy in populations with a high threat of death or complications are assessed based on general clinical practice guidelines and tools, as ACC has no official policy on abortion.
- To discourse specific laws and policies for maternal CV care which would threaten or criminalizes patient-clinician debates
Summary
The main purpose of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) is to change and recover the maternal health of cardiovascular patients through the shared decision of Doctors, the cardiovascular team, patients, and others.
Guiding Principles
- Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of death in maternal women in the US, as reported during pandemics.
- Professionals are experts in taking care of maternal cardiovascular patients who are or may be pregnant.
- A lot of progress in medical science, scientific literature, and practice standards were established in the field of cardio-obstetrics, particularly in cardiovascular medicine.
- Cardiovascular professionals are responsible for women with risks of mortality and morbidity during their pregnancy.
- The most challenging conversations during counseling and shared decision-making are the use of contraception, pregnancy termination, and material risks associated with CV disease.
- The main objective of cardiovascular professionals is to provide the best care to maternal patients with cardiovascular disease.
- The law must allow professionals to guide pregnant women with CVs about all appropriate medical options provided by medical science and practice standards through counseling.
Member Guidance
- Cardiovascular professionals caring for pregnant women with cardiovascular disease should work with multi-disciplinary teams in hospitals or clinics.
- Cardiovascular professionals should refer women with cardiovascular disease to the larger system, which has more experience and support.
- Clinicians caring for pregnant women with cardiovascular disease also work with risk management experts, hospital staff leadership, state medical societies, and state representatives for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) to know laws as abortion is currently restricted.
- There should be legal support for professionals guiding pregnant women with heart issues through telehealth consultations.
- Professionals dealing with women of childbearing age should understand the tools to predict the risks related to cardiovascular disease and pregnancy.
- ACC facilitates the contact between hospitals, health systems, state medical, and ACOG.
- ACC’s Cardio-Obstetrics work group will develop educational tools for multi-disciplinary teams via email, in-person visits, and social media about cardiovascular disease, pregnancy, and wellness.
Link to the article: https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2022/07/15/13/27/Guiding-Principles-and-Member-Guidance-Maternal-CV-Care
References American College of Cardiology. (2022, July 15). Guiding principles and member guidance: Maternal CV care. American College of Cardiology. https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2022/07/15/13/27/Guiding-Principles-and-Member-Guidance-Maternal-CV-Care
