Highlights from AFib Awareness Month

September marks National Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month, a critically important time for the Heart Rhythm Society to raise awareness for this life threatening arrhythmia. Our efforts are focused on helping the public become more familiar with the symptoms, warning signs, and available treatment options. Given the growing prevalence of AFib, in September 2009, HRS worked with other organizations to have the United States Senate officially designate September as National AFib Awareness Month.

Since then, September has been a time when we implement and promote AFib awareness programs and initiatives. This September was no different. I want to take this time to highlight the work we've done alongside our members to celebrate and recognize AFib Awareness Month this year.

2016 AFib Awareness Award Winners

Members were given the opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 to fund new or existing projects that help promote awareness of AFib, patient compliance, caregiver awareness, diagnosis, and treatment options, and the challenges of under-diagnosis of the disease.

After a competitive review process, we are pleased to announce the winners of the AFib Awareness Awards program:

• Jose Osorio, MD, Grandview Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
• Melissa Middeldorp, University of Adelaide, South Australia
• James E. Tisdale, PharmD, Purdue University, IN, USA

Each winner is awarded $5,000, thanks to Janssen's sponsorship, and we look forward to seeing the impact of their programs. Learn more about how each recipient is using their award to raise awareness in their communities.

Latest Research from Members

Earlier this month, members submitted research papers focused on AFib to be eligible for scholarship awards in the form of waived open access fees for Heart Rhythm Case Reports. Based on a review of the case results, a limited number of papers (4-6) will be selected and published free of charge (value of $750). We are in the process of reviewing the papers and we will announce the selected papers within a few weeks. HRS would like to thank Janssen for sponsoring the scholarship awards.

Get with the Guidelines AFib Registry – Join Today

As you know, HRS has partnered with the American Heart Association on its Get with the Guidelines®- AFIB Registry. Our goal is to provide an efficient and effective quality initiative with the shared mission of improving care and treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Because of limited influence on data collection design, lack of ability to gain access to data, and the need for flexible opportunities to publish analysis and conclusions, HRS sought alternatives to its current registry alignments and ultimately to a partnership with AHA. In the coming weeks and months, AHA and HRS will provide additional information on the program on the HRS website, at the AHA Scientific Sessions in November, and through webinars and educational videos. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines®- AFIB Registry website. You can sign up today!

Due to our shared mission and through the generous support from AHA, the first 75 HRS members’ facilities that enroll prior to December 21st, 2016 will have their fees waived for the remainder of 2016 and all of 2017.

New Patient Education Resources

We’ve also created new resources for patients who want to know more about AFib, stroke prevention, and treatment options with the support of Janssen. These include:

• AFib and Stroke Prevention: Anticoagulants, an up-to-date patient information sheet which lays out the current state of science regarding the relationship between anticoagulants and AFib and stroke prevention.
• Anticoagulation Algorithm, a tool designed to assist in the anticoagulation management of AFib patients.

Additional HRS resources available for you and your patients are:

• HRS Website
• AFib and Atrial Flutter related activities in the HRS Learning Center
• Patient Information Sheets
• AFib Patient Guide in English and Spanish
• Brief Public Service Announcement videos
• AFib Risk Assessment

Join the Conversation

We invite you to continue the conversation with us. Please join us on September 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET as we host another #AFibHRS Twitter Chat. Tweet your questions using the hashtag #AFibHRS and panelists will answer them live.

HRS continues to work towards advancing care to end death and suffering due to heart rhythm disorders. By raising awareness throughout the community, we can continue to engage patients and educate the public about this disease.

Sincerely,

James H. Youngblood 
Chief Executive Officer 
Heart Rhythm Society