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March 2018

The Heart-Brain Team—Towards Optimal Team-Based Coordinated Care

Author Affiliations
  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown
  • 2Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
  • 3Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
JAMA Cardiol. 2018;3(3):187-188. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2017.5072

In contemporary cardiovascular medicine, the concept of a collaborative team approach to patient care has reached a high level of awareness by patients, society, reimbursement agencies, and professional societies. The specific term Heart Team was popularized in the pivotal Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery trial1 in 2009, which compared 2 competitive strategies to treat complex coronary artery disease. Today, the Heart Team concept is codified in the guidelines and, in some situations, is required for procedural performance and reimbursement. It has evolved as an integral part of programs caring for patients with valvular and ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and advanced cardiomyopathies. The migration of this concept to other stakeholders continues.

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