Caring for patients with congenital cardiac disease – Introduction

Extract

The sixth, and final, section of this Supplement is titled “Caring for Patients with Congenital Cardiac Disease”. In it, we have included reviews that address a variety of issues related to caring for patients with congenital cardiac disease, including analysis of data, training, organization of the cardiac intensive care unit, quality of life, intraoperative imaging, and databases relating to congenital cardiac malformations. The purpose of this section of the Supplement is to take time to ponder the future of our professions, and what will be required to improve this future. My own belief is that, to quote the American football coach Jon Gruden, “I think the future's so bright here I've got to wear shades (sunglasses)”.¹ Still, we all must work, ideally together, to ensure this bright future. This final section of the Supplement reviews several ideas and concepts which are representative of areas that our professional collaboration and work will lead to a better future for both patients with congenital cardiac disease, and the professionals caring for these often challenging patients. Indeed, part of being a Professional is self-regulating the profession, and taking measures to improve the state of the art in this profession, and in the process, “raising the bar”.