Nationally accredited pulmonary hypertension care

The Austin Heart Pulmonary Hypertension Program at St. David’s Heart Hospital of Austin has been awarded PH Care Center (PHCC) Accreditation with Regional Clinical Program (RCP) designation by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).

This national accreditation recognizes programs that demonstrate the experience, infrastructure, and clinical expertise required to provide high-quality care for patients living with pulmonary hypertension, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

What sets our program apart is a truly collaborative approach to care. Patients benefit from coordinated evaluations by both a cardiologist and a pulmonologist with specialized expertise in pulmonary hypertension, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment plan.

As the only program in the Austin area offering this integrated model of pulmonary hypertension care, we provide patients with access to a level of multidisciplinary expertise not available elsewhere in the community.

Our program was recognized for:

  • A truly multidisciplinary pulmonary hypertension clinic
  • Specialized physicians, advanced practice providers, and nursing support
  • Timely access to right heart catheterization
  • Ongoing education and training for inpatient nursing and pharmacy teams
  • Strong adherence to national pulmonary hypertension care guidelines

Source: Pulmonary Hypertension Association PH Care Center Accreditation Program.

This accreditation reflects our commitment to delivering expert, evidence-based care close to home for patients throughout Central Texas.

Specialists in pulmonary hypertension treatment (PAH)

At Austin Heart, we are dedicated to the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and support of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

We offer a comprehensive approach for patients by providing joint evaluations by a cardiologist AND pulmonologist specializing in PH. We are proud to be the only group in Austin providing this level of care for the community.

Please call our dedicated PH Nurse at (512) 450-7231 for new patient appointments or provider referrals. Referrals can also be made within Leading Reach.

Our providers

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension

You may have PAH if you fall into one of these categories:

“P” – Progressive and/or explained symptoms

  • Difficult or labored breathing, shortness of breath
  • Chest pain, palpitations
  • Decrease in activity level
  • Episodes of nearly passing out with exercise

“A” – Abnormal test results

  • Echocardiogram with non-typical findings
  • Pulmonary function tests with low measurements
  • Decreased oxygen saturation with exercise

“H” – High-risk conditions

  • Connective tissue disease
  • History of pulmonary embolism
  • Interstitial lung disease
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Hematologic disorders, i.e. sickle cell disease, Myelofibrosis

We offer:

Comprehensive evaluation

  • Dual physician visit for all patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension (PH)
  • Convenient scheduling options for visits and testing with multiple locations

Diagnosis

Thorough testing to determine the cause and risk classification of PH, including:

  • Lab work
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • Echocardiogram
  • Chest imaging
  • Right heart catheterization +/- exercise
  • Cardiac MRI

Treatment

  • Prescribing expertise for all available classes of PH therapies
  • Close working relationship with specialty pharmacies and patient assistance program
  • Participation in clinical research trials for new treatment options

Monitoring

  • Established protocols to monitor safety, efficacy, and tolerance
  • Dedicated treatment “team” including PH nurse and advanced practice provider
  • Easy accessibility with a direct phone line to our program

Support

  • Education and community resources for patients
  • Peer support network options
  • Close communication with your referring physician