NC State Cardiology Care Network Will Help Pets with Heart Disease

Veterinary cardiologists at North Carolina State University have created an interactive heart-care resource to help veterinarians and pet owners across the country support dogs and cats with heart disease.

The NC State Cardiology Care Network, developed by clinicians with the Cardiology Service at NC State’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), provides a range of educational tools, advanced diagnostics, consultative services and pioneering treatment options to improve the lives of dogs and cats suffering from various heart conditions.

“The cardiology care network is the first of its kind for veterinary patients,” says Dr. Bruce Keene, a professor of cardiology at NC State. “We designed the network to serve as a personalized resource for veterinarians and their clients with the goal of improving both the inpatient and outpatient management of pets with heart disease. The network team will coordinate with the consulting veterinarian and pet owner to access advanced cardiac services and ensure optimal care for the patient.”

The cardiology care network utilizes a web-based platform to provide users access to online patient monitoring tools and other cardiology resources. Participating in the network provides veterinarians with the opportunity to work closely with the VTH Cardiology Service team to develop individual treatment plans that offer the best “therapeutic fit” for both patients and pet owners.

The network offers:

• Access to the proprietary online cardiovascular drug and dosage calculator;

• Telephone and e-consultation with the cardiology team;

• Referrals to the Cardiology Service when appropriate, including the Heart Failure Clinic;

• Coordinated follow-up care between the Cardiology Service and referring practices;

• Access to innovative clinical trials at for appropriate patients;

• Continuing cardiology education.

The NC State Cardiology Care Network was made possible in part by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI).  For more information on the network, visit the web at: www.cardiologycarenetwork.com. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is part of NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

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