About the Center

Public

Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine are launching the Center for Cardiovascular Innovation to improve the quality of care provided to millions of people with heart disease. We are inviting individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of heart disease patients to learn more about the initiatives of our Center, which is led with great distinction by internationally recognized cardiologist, scientist, and scholar Robert Bonow, MD.

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. More than 860,000 Americans die from cardiovascular conditions each year. Cardiovascular disease also leads in the consumption of U.S. healthcare resources, with an annual expense that exceeds $574 billion. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence of gaps in care, which reflect notable divisions between what we know and what we do. Unnecessary testing, procedures, and hospitalizations occur, often with less than optimal patient outcomes.

To address these gaps in care, new research models are needed to 1) Measure clinical performance of physicians, hospitals, and healthcare systems; 2) Develop new systems of healthcare delivery; 3) Study the comparative effectiveness of tests and treatments; and 4) Investigate models of communications among providers and the patients they serve.

Our goal is to seek new knowledge that will directly inform healthcare policy decisions that will enhance the quality of care for patients with heart disease.

To succeed, we must conduct innovative research studies and broadly disseminate our findings to health professionals, policy makers, and the public. Dr. Robert Bonow is championing our new Center and is joined by Drs. Mihai Gheorghiade, Steven Farmer, Kathleen Grady, and Peter Pang, who bring unique backgrounds, talents, and expertise to our collaborative efforts.

The Center for Cardiovascular Innovation plans to perform research in healthcare quality and outcomes designed to:

Improve systems of healthcare delivery, including seamless transitions from inpatient to outpatient care settings;
Enhance quality of life and clinical outcomes from the patient’s perspective;
Reduce mortality and rehospitalization rates;
Reduce underuse, overuse, and misuse of tests, procedures, and medications; and
Expand Northwestern’s impact in addressing the worldwide burden of cardiovascular disease

Groups:

Center for Cardiovascular Innovation