Texas Children's Center for Preventive Cardiology is the only center in Texas offering multidisciplinary, specialized care for children at risk for acquired heart disease

Center focuses on preventing cardiac disease and events through early intervention

HOUSTON, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Heart Center is proud to announce the opening of the Center for Preventive Cardiology, which is designed to medically manage the risk factors of acquired heart disease in children. The center is the only one of its kind in Texas that offers multidisciplinary, specialized care for children with these risk factors or who have a strong family history of cardiac disease, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure or the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. For more information about the Center for Preventive Cardiology visit texaschildrens.org/preventivecardiology.

The Center for Preventive Cardiology manages the care of children diagnosed with hyperlipidemia or abnormal lipid levels, high blood pressure and Kawasaki disease. Additionally, the team also treats children with liver disease, obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome that directly causes patients to have lipid or blood pressure abnormalities.

"Our goal is to prevent future cardiac disease and events through early intervention," said Dr. Kristen Sexson Tejtel, pediatric cardiologist, Center for Preventive Cardiology. "If we can educate patients and families about issues early on, they can better care for their disease."

Sexson Tejtel, who is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), along with Dr. Douglas Moodie, associate chief, pediatric cardiology at Texas Children's and professor of pediatrics-cardiology at BCM, and Constance Cephus, nurse practitioner, serve as the clinic's primary providers. Patients are seen by a multidisciplinary team of specialists who have expertise in pediatric cardiology, heart disease prevention, physical activity, nephrology, endocrinology and nutrition. Each designated day of clinic focuses on one particular disease, allowing patients to be seen by all necessary specialists during one visit to the hospital.

"The collaborative approach to care in our clinic is specifically designed to provide our patients with the care they need in one location, during one appointment," added Sexson Tejtel. "The added stress of scheduling follow up visits with multiple providers is now eliminated."

For more than 50 years, Texas Children's Heart Center has been a pioneering leader in cardiac care, treating more than 17,000 children with congenital heart defects and performing more than 800 surgeries annually. The Heart Center team has also developed many of the now-standard procedures and therapies related to the diagnosis and treatment of children in need of cardiac care.

Clinic sessions are available at Texas Children's Center for Preventive Cardiology located on the 19^th floor of Texas Children's West Tower, as well as at Texas Children's Hospital West Campus.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation, Texas Children's has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates the largest primary pediatric care network in the country. Texas Children's has completed a $1.5 billion expansion, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; and Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston.  For more information on Texas Children's, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children's by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

Contact: Lindsey Fox
832-824-2040
[email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital