Heart Failure Society of America 17th Annual Scientific Meeting To Focus On New Developments In Heart Failure Cause, Care And Treatment

ORLANDO, Sept. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America's (HFSA) 17^th Annual Scientific Meeting convenes Sunday, September 22, 2013 at the Peabody Orlando Hotel. This four-day meeting--a forum for heart failure specialists to present research findings and advances in treatment--will address emerging trends in research and new developments in the approach to treating patients with all stages of heart failure.

The 2013 HFSA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Arthur Feldman, M.D. Ph.D., Executive Dean of Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Feldman has received numerous awards and has been a member of several professional societies. Dr. Feldman is a renowned cardiovascular researcher who has led many clinical trials, and his work on the molecular biology of heart failure has been published in over 200 peer-reviewed articles. In addition, Dr. Feldman is a past president of the Heart Failure Society of America, and during his tenure he developed and implemented Heart Failure Awareness week.

"We are delighted to honor Dr. Art Feldman with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award," said Dr. Thomas Force, HFSA President. "Art is a distinguished clinician and researcher, and he has contributed a great deal to the field of heart failure."

The scientific program will kick off with an opening plenary session: "The Impact of Healthcare Reform" on Monday, September 23 at 8:00 a.m.

Following the opening plenary will be simultaneous sessions with presentations by national and international heart failure experts, scientists, and allied health care professionals. Many will focus on the progressive treatments for heart failure and the increased risks patients face, along with recent developments related to devices and healthcare reform.

"This year's annual meeting will feature many exciting new advances in the field of heart failure, specifically in the areas of readmissions and heart failure in patients with comorbidities," said Dr. Force. "The conference will once again feature the latest developments in clinical trials and new research from the leading practitioners and scientists interested in heart failure. Thought leaders in the field will discuss causes and treatment of heart failure and the important socio-economic issues surrounding this condition, along with the impact of healthcare reform."  

The Annual Scientific Meeting will include presentations on:

• How to Manage End-Of-Life Care in Heart Failure
• Heart Failure Readmissions
• Contemporary Issues in Cardiac Transplantation
• Acute Heart Failure: Role of EMS and the ED
• Regeneration of the Heart
• The Prevention of Heart Failure

For a complete list of annual meeting sessions or for details on attending the conference, call (617) 226-7193 or visit www.hfsa.org and click on Annual Scientific Meeting. There is also an app for the Annual Meeting available in the Apple Store by searching HFSA. There is no registration fee for accredited journalists. Interview areas will be available on-site in addition to a press room.  You may follow news from the meeting on Twitter @HFSA and #HFSA.

About Heart Failure
Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened after it is injured, most commonly from heart attack or high blood pressure, and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs. Many people are not aware they have heart failure because the symptoms are often mistaken for signs of getting older. Heart failure affects 4.6 to 4.8 million individuals in the United States. Demographic and clinical evidence strongly suggests that the prevalence of heart failure will increase throughout the next decade. Ten to 15 years ago heart failure was considered a "death sentence;" however, recent advances in treatment have shown that early diagnosis and proper care in early stages of the condition are key to slowing, stopping or in some cases reversing progression, improving quality of life, and extending life expectancy. For more information on heart failure, please visit www.abouthf.org.

About the Heart Failure Society of America
The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) is a nonprofit educational organization, founded in 1994 as the first organized association of heart failure experts. The HFSA provides a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure research and patient care. The Society also serves as a resource for governmental agencies (FDA, NIH, NHLBI, CMS). The HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting is designed to highlight recent advances in the development of strategies to address the complex epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic issues of heart failure. Additional information on HFSA can be found at www.hfsa.org.

SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America