Children born with heart disease are living longer, healthier lives thanks to medical advances. They need specialized care once they reach adulthood. Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is one of the only adult congenital programs in Kentucky caring for patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). We partner with those living with ACHD from the time they reach adulthood and through their senior years.

Our ACHD cardiologists and their team provide focused care for close to 1,000 adults annually in this rapidly growing field. Their training and years of experience have given them expertise in caring for the unique health care needs of adults with congenital heart conditions.

As an Adult, Why Should I Receive Care at a Children’s Hospital?

Studies show that the risks of surgery are up to three times lower for ACHD patients who have their surgery at a children’s hospital. Receiving care from a specialized team that is trained to deal with congenital heart conditions in children and adults makes the difference.

Getting care from a team that understands the condition you were born with and how it affects you as an adult makes Norton Children’s Heart Institute the right place for your ACHD care.

At Norton Children’s Heart Institute:

• We provide you with all of the heart care you need in one place for life. Tests, therapies, surgeries and much more are all done here, no matter your age. We also partner with providers within the Norton Healthcare system to make sure you have a seamless health care experience.
• We provide you with the care, education and support you need as you age with your condition. We want you to experience the best health possible from your teen years to your golden years.

The Right Kind of Collaborative Care for Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Our ACHD specialists work closely with other physicians and programs within Norton Children’s Heart Institute and the Norton Healthcare system. Our team performs all diagnostic testing, surgeries and follow-up care at Norton Children’s Hospital.

Our providers from Norton Children’s Heart Institute are skilled at treating congenital heart conditions in children and as they grow into adulthood.

Why Choose Norton Children’s Heart Institute

• Norton Children’s Hospital has been a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, performing Kentucky’s first pediatric heart transplant in 1986 and becoming the second site in the United States to perform an infant heart transplant.
• The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has certified our cardiothoracic surgeons in congenital heart surgery.
• The Adult Congenital Heart Association has accredited Norton Children’s Heart Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program as the only comprehensive care center in Kentucky and Indiana treating adults born with a heart defect.
• More than 17,000 children a year visit Norton Children’s Heart Institute for advanced heart care.
• Norton Children’s Heart Institute has offices across Kentucky and Southern Indiana to bring quality pediatric heart care closer to home.
• The Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital is the largest dedicated CICU in Kentucky, equipped with 17 private rooms and the newest technology available for heart care.