EP229: Tanya And Warrick—Hearts 4 Hearts Interview

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Podcast Summary Introduction Dr. Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist and author dedicated to patient education in heart health, interviews Tanya Hall, CEO of Hearts for Hearts, a national charity supporting Australians living with heart disease and arrhythmias. The episode explores Hearts for Hearts' mission of support, education, and advocacy for heart rhythm disturbance patients, with Tanya sharing both the organization's work and her personal journey as a heart patient herself. Key Takeaways: Hearts for Hearts is a national charity specializing in supporting, educating, and advocating for Australians with heart disease, particularly arrhythmias, with services extending to New Zealand. The organization operates heart buddy groups, runs national screening events (such as AF Awareness Week), and conducts advocacy work with federal government to improve patient access to therapies. A key advocacy focus during COVID-19 was securing funding for remote monitoring of patients with pacemakers and defibrillators, allowing cardiologists to monitor patients from home safely. Hearts for Hearts has successfully advocated for increased access to catheter ablation treatment for atrial fibrillation and arrhythmias in hospitals, reducing patient wait times. The organization was founded by Tanya Hall, who is herself a heart patient and sought information and support during a three-year period of hospitalization in her early 30s, discovering a significant gap in available resources. Hearts for Hearts serves thousands of members through multiple support modalities, including in-person peer support groups, telephone support, and virtual Zoom meetings. The organization develops patient education materials through a rigorous process involving patient focus groups, medical advisory committees, and patient review to ensure materials are accessible and understandable. Hearts for Hearts supports patients with various heart conditions including atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and congenital heart disease, linking patients with similar conditions to prevent isolation. The screening events run by Hearts for Hearts have successfully identified undiagnosed atrial fibrillation and prevented strokes, representing a significant public health impact.