Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 15, 2025
Heart Association Launches Major Initiative to Transform Care for 75% of Heart Failure Cases
TLDR
- The American Heart Association's IMPLEMENT-EF initiative offers hospitals a competitive edge by developing superior care models for 75% of heart failure cases.
- The three-year IMPLEMENT-EF initiative uses real-world data to map patient journey gaps and define evidence-based care models for HFpEF and HFmrEF treatment.
- This initiative will improve outcomes for millions with heart failure by scaling effective care models nationwide through multidisciplinary team collaboration and education.
- HFpEF and HFmrEF account for 75% of heart failure cases yet have limited treatment evidence, making this new initiative crucial for advancing care.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses a critical healthcare gap affecting millions of Americans, as HFpEF and HFmrEF represent the majority of heart failure cases but have historically received less research attention and standardized treatment protocols. For patients and families, this means potentially better diagnosis, more effective treatments, and improved quality of life. The program's nationwide scale and multidisciplinary approach could lead to standardized best practices that reduce hospitalizations and mortality rates. Given that heart failure affects approximately 6.2 million Americans and is a leading cause of hospitalization, improving care models for these specific conditions could significantly reduce healthcare costs and improve survival rates across the country.
Summary
The American Heart Association, in partnership with Bayer, has launched a groundbreaking three-year initiative called IMPLEMENT-EF to revolutionize care for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). These conditions collectively represent up to 75% of all heart failure cases yet suffer from substantially limited clinical research and treatment evidence compared to other forms of heart failure. The initiative will engage 40 hospitals nationwide, bringing together multidisciplinary care teams including pharmacists to map gaps in the patient journey, identify unmet needs, and define ideal care models that ensure patients receive appropriate medications and evidence-based therapies.
The program leverages real-world data from Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure to raise provider awareness of best practices and improve adherence to scientific evidence-based treatments. Dr. Mariell Jessup, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association, emphasizes that improving care requires more than clinical knowledge—it demands a coordinated, team-based approach. The initiative includes comprehensive professional educational offerings such as podcast series, eLearning modules, and live presentations, guided by a Science Advisory Panel to enhance clinical understanding and encourage best practices nationwide.
Bayer's support underscores the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to advancing science that transforms patient care in areas where significant treatment gaps persist. Dr. Robert Perkins, vice president of U.S. medical affairs cardiovascular and renal at Bayer, highlights the importance of identifying and scaling effective care models to improve outcomes for millions affected by these heart failure types. The findings from this initiative will inform the American Heart Association's broader approach to patient care and help replicate successful models across the country, ultimately aiming to elevate standards and save lives.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Heart Association Launches Major Initiative to Transform Care for 75% of Heart Failure Cases
