Heart Failure Care

U.S. News ranks Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital as “high-performing” in heart failure care, indicating these hospitals' capabilities compared to the national average. Duke University Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital, a campus of Duke University Hospital, also received "Gold Plus" awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program in 2026. These awards recognize that we offer high-quality heart failure care and highlight our commitment to continuous improvement.

Centers of Excellence and Other Designations

Heart failure is a complex disease with varied causes and effects. Our expertise goes beyond heart failure itself to address related conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, and more.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - Center of Excellence, HCMA
• Pulmonary hypertension - Accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center, PHA
• Sarcoidosis - Center of Excellence, WASOG

Heart Disease Prevention

 If you are at risk for developing heart failure, our heart disease prevention program helps fine-tune your overall health and monitors you for heart failure symptoms.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

If you were recently diagnosed with heart failure or are recovering from a heart episode, our cardiac rehabilitation specialists use exercise, education, and individualized home plans to improve your heart function and overall mobility. Duke researchers led an important clinical trial that demonstrated heart failure patients benefit from cardiac rehab.

Medication Management

You may need a combination of medications to treat heart failure symptoms and improve your heart’s function. As a Duke patient, you have access to a specialized clinic that focuses on optimizing guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure. Our providers and pharmacists expertly adjust your medication doses to maximize benefits and minimize side effects.

Interventional Procedures and Surgeries

In certain people, heart failure can be helped by minimally invasive procedures like TAVR, which can repair dysfunctional heart valves, and open heart surgery like CABG to open blocked arteries.

Implantable Devices 

We offer implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to manage arrhythmias that can be related to heart failure. If you receive an implanted device, providers at our specialty clinic ensure the device is continually fine-tuned for optimum performance.

Barostimulation 

Barostimulation, also called baroreflex activation therapy, can help manage symptoms related to heart failure. Barostimulation is a type of neuromodulation -- a surgically implanted device produces low-current electrical impulses to stimulate a key reflex. This interrupts abnormal heart rhythm activity.

Remote Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring 

Remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring allows experts to track your heart pressures when you’re at home. Pulmonary artery pressure monitors are placed during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Then heart failure experts monitor your pressures remotely and contact you if they are abnormal.

Ventricular Assist Device

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical heart pump that is surgically placed into your heart to help it distribute blood throughout your body. Duke is certified by The Joint Commission for our high standards and positive outcomes for ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation therapy.

Heart Transplantation

Duke is among the top programs in the U.S. for the number of heart transplants performed each year, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. We have some of the shortest wait times in the region. Our team uses advanced techniques to match more hearts with more people who have heart failure and related conditions.

You are the most important member of your care team. Our heart failure specialists, general and interventional cardiologists, surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, therapists, and others work with you to tailor your heart failure care.

Prioritizing Convenience

Whenever possible, we schedule multiple appointments on the same day to save you time. We also offer virtual video visits when appropriate.

Remote Monitoring

Our team of specialists can monitor weight changes, lung pressure, and heart function remotely to identify potential problems, change medications, and offer intervention before issues reach a critical stage.

Support Throughout the Process

The heart failure team includes nurses and coordinators who serve as your direct contacts if you have a question or problem. Duke social workers and support programs offer emotional and psychological support to you and your caregivers.

Partnering with Your Local Cardiologist Through Shared Care

We understand that you may want to keep seeing your local cardiologist while also seeking more advanced care at Duke. We routinely collaborate with local cardiology teams to ensure you receive the best care here and at home.

Advanced Technology

From diagnostic tools to the most advanced procedures, Duke’s heart failure specialists use high-tech cardiac imaging, the latest assistive devices, and highly accurate and less-invasive surgical techniques to provide the highest-quality care to you.

Access to Clinical Trials

As part of the Heart Failure Clinical Research Network, we participate in studies evaluating new treatment options and best practices for people with heart failure. As a Duke patient, you may have access to heart failure clinical trials and new treatments that aren’t yet available elsewhere.