Birmingham, AL – February marks American Heart Month, a dedicated period to raise awareness about pediatric heart disease and celebrate the strength of cardiac patients and their families. Children’s of Alabama, boasting one of the largest pediatric cardiovascular programs in the Southeast, stands at the forefront of providing specialized care for children with heart conditions.
The Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama, part of Children’s of Alabama, is a beacon of hope for families navigating the complexities of pediatric heart issues. With a dedicated team of over 350 professionals, including surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, and various specialists, the center provides care for more than 14,000 patients annually.
In 2023 alone, the center performed over 800 cardiac catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures, along with more than 425 surgical procedures, including three heart transplants. Impressively, the overall survival rate for the program in 2023 exceeded 97%, a testament to the high-quality care and expertise offered at Children’s of Alabama.
Dr. Yung Lau, Division Director and pediatric cardiologist at Children’s and the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), emphasized the collaborative effort of the interdisciplinary team, stating, “Our results of both survival as well as complication rates are among the best in the world. Regardless of the heart disease, Children’s of Alabama has developed the expertise to not only treat these patients but also support the family during this challenging time.”
The Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center features state-of-the-art facilities, including private cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) rooms, dedicated ECMO suites, intermediate critical care unit (CCU) rooms, cardiovascular operating rooms, and cardiac catheterization labs. This “heart hospital within a hospital” reflects decades of commitment to superior cardiovascular clinical care and research exclusively for children.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs), the most common type of birth defect, affect nearly 40,000 babies born in the United States each year. Children’s of Alabama plays a pivotal role in CHD treatment and is consistently ranked among the top 50 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in eight services, including cardiology and heart surgery.
Throughout American Heart Month, Children’s of Alabama is actively raising awareness about CHD and highlighting the remarkable work of its medical professionals. The community is invited to participate in events and stay connected through the Children’s of Alabama webpage and social media pages for stories, posts, behind-the-scenes photos, and videos.
Children’s of Alabama, a private, not-for-profit medical center, has been serving the community since 1911 and remains dedicated to providing specialized medical care for ill and injured children. The hospital serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric programs and ranks among the best children’s hospitals in the nation.
