FAQ: American Heart Association Connected Care™ Program for Heart Failure Patients

What is the American Heart Association Connected Care program?

It is a virtual care program developed by the American Heart Association in collaboration with Cadence that delivers ongoing heart and cardiometabolic care to patients at home after their hospital stay, using remote patient monitoring technology and clinical support.

Why was this virtual care program created?

The program was created to address critical gaps in heart failure care, as nearly 1 in 4 heart failure patients is readmitted within 30 days of discharge and fewer than 20% receive all four guideline-directed medical therapy pillars post-discharge despite evidence showing these therapies improve outcomes.

How does the Connected Care program work?

Hospitals refer eligible patients prior to discharge, Cadence enrolls patients and teaches them to use devices, monitors vital sign readings, and provides ongoing clinical support through their remote platform and 24/7 virtual provider group.

Who is involved in this program?

The American Heart Association developed the program in collaboration with Cadence, with participating hospitals integrating it into discharge workflows and their 24/7 virtual provider group delivering the ongoing clinical support to patients.

What are the main goals of this program?

The program aims to reduce 30-day readmissions for heart failure patients, support patients from hospital admission through safe discharge and recovery at home, and bring personalized care to more communities beyond hospital walls.

When do patients enroll in the program?

Hospitals refer eligible patients to the Connected Care program prior to discharge, and the Association is working with participating hospitals to integrate the program into discharge workflows.

Where is this program available?

The program delivers care to patients at home regardless of geographical location, making proactive, personalized heart-failure support available anytime, anywhere through remote monitoring technology.

What technology does the program use?

The program utilizes Cadence’s AI-driven remote monitoring platform and always-on care team combined with the American Heart Association’s gold-standard scientific guidelines for chronic condition management.

Why is remote patient care important for heart failure patients?

Remote patient care fills a critical gap by offering a scalable way to support vulnerable patients, improving adherence to evidence-based care and reducing avoidable hospitalizations as chronic illness rates are expected to double from 2020 to 2050.