The report highlights a critical concentration of resources, with 48% of registered programs operating within academic medical centers. Conversely, states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Louisiana—areas struggling with some of the nation’s highest heart failure mortality rates—host only one to three registered clinics each. This disparity complicates access for the 6.7 million Americans currently living with heart failure, a population projected to swell to 11.4 million by 2050.
In section Releases
Heart Failure Care Gaps Persist Across the American South
The Heart Failure Society of America’s inaugural national report identifies a stark geographic mismatch in cardiac care, revealing that while 300 specialty clinics serve 626,000 patients, the highest-burden regions in the South and Appalachia remain largely devoid of the specialized multidisciplinary resources found in major metropolitan academic centers.
Despite these regional voids, the existing network shows significant clinical sophistication. Approximately 74% of these facilities manage ventricular assist devices, and half provide transplant services. Furthermore, 92% of clinics have adopted telehealth to bridge gaps in rural areas, while 62% actively participate in clinical research. HFSA President Kenneth B. Margulies emphasized that while these clinics represent high-level care, the disconnect between their current locations and the heaviest disease burden remains the primary obstacle for national health policy. The society is now pushing for hub-and-spoke networks to extend specialist reach into underserved communities.
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