Heart Failure Clinic Report Revealed Geographic Gaps
A new industry report highlights significant disparities in access to specialized heart failure care across the United States.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Heart Disease
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The Heart Failure Society of America released a report mapping 306 specialized clinics across the country. The findings reveal a marked shortage of designated heart failure centers in states throughout the South and Appalachia compared to other regions.
Why it matters
Identifying these gaps in specialized care is a critical step in helping patients connect with experts who manage heart failure. This report helps clarify where access to specialized management remains limited for residents in underserved areas.
This analysis draws on a database of 306 registered heart failure clinics currently serving 626,000 patients. The registry identifies significant geographic disparities, with states like Texas hosting 25 clinics while others, such as Mississippi and West Virginia, have only one to three.
The players
Heart Failure Society of America
A professional medical organization that establishes standards for heart failure care and maintains a national registry of specialized clinics.
The details
Clinics often leverage telehealth, digital health platforms, and hub-and-spoke networks to extend specialized care to patients living in isolated or underserved regions. Currently, 92% of these registered facilities offer telehealth services to bridge gaps in physical access. While 61% of clinics are concentrated in urban areas, the registry aims to improve resource coordination for patients across all settings.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: The Heart Failure Society of America published the report.
Over the last 20 years: Heart failure management therapies have significantly advanced.
Health Landscape
This report builds upon the Heart Failure Society of America clinic registry initiative to quantify the national landscape of specialized heart care. It serves as a necessary baseline for understanding how clinical infrastructure has evolved alongside 20 years of medical therapy advancements.
If you are managing heart failure, ask your primary care physician whether you have access to a specialized heart failure clinic in your network. Discussing whether your current treatment plan could benefit from a consultation with a specialist who uses telehealth may also improve your care.
The takeaway
Access to specialized heart failure care varies significantly depending on your geographic location. Patients should proactively consult with their doctor about available specialized resources in their area or explore whether telehealth options can connect them to expert management.
What happens next
The Heart Failure Society of America has committed to conducting regular updates to this report and plans to increase registry enrollment by identifying the estimated 2,800 clinics currently missing from the database.
Further reading
Learn more about managing your care by visiting the Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tctmd.
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