OSF Children's Hospital Expands Care for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Ty Hasselman, MD and Ugo Nwankwo, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Congenital Cardiologists with OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria have received certification in Adult Congenital Heart Disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Hasselman is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and has been with the Congenital Heart Program at OSF Children’s Hospital for almost 12 years. Dr. Hasselman is also board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology.
Dr. Nwankwo is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and is subspecialized in interventional cardiology. Dr. Nwankwo is also board certified in Pediatrics,Pediatric Cardiology and Internal Medicine.
Dr. Hasselman and Dr. Nwankwo receiving this additional board certification further strengthens congenital heart care available within OSF HealthCare in the only comprehensive care center in Illinois accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
“This expands our team to three board certified physicians who are specially qualified to treat congenital heart defects in adults and are dedicated to providing patients with the long-term care and monitoring they need to live long, healthy lives,” said Marc Knepp, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist and Director of the Adult Congenital Heart Program. Dr. Knepp was one of the first physicians to hold the Adult Congenital Heart Disease certification in the state of Illinois.
The certification marks a major step by the OSF Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Program to further a national effort to educate adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) on the importance of receiving long term follow-up care. According to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, after receiving care as a child, fewer than 10 percent of adults with CHD in the United States get the recommended care as the disease progresses.
The Adult Congenital Heart Program treats all congenital heart conditions in adults, including those complicated by heart rhythm problems, heart failure, pregnancy and pacemakers.
OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria is the third largest pediatric hospital in Illinois and the only full service tertiary hospital for kids downstate. With 136 beds and more than 141 pediatric subspecialists, OSF Children's Hospital cares for more children in Illinois than any hospital outside of Chicago. Formally established as a pediatric hospital within the walls of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in 1990, OSF Children's Hospital has over 7,000 admissions; 2,500 newborn deliveries, and 18,000 emergency department visits each year. More at https://www.osfhealthcare.org/childrens/.