In this guest article about atrial fibrillation resources from the North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF), Molly Gately, who is the Assistant Director of Content Development for the NATF, provides very useful links to materials that both clinicians and patients will find useful in better understanding atrial fibrillation.
By Molly Gately (Assistant Director of Content Development, North American Thrombosis Forum)
Atrial fibrillation is a life-altering condition that affects at least 2.3 million adults in the United States. It greatly increases a patient’s risk for developing ischemic stroke, and it is imperative that these patients get the medical therapy they require. The North American Thrombosis Forum has designed resources for both healthcare providers and patients to help them understand the risks, treatments, and management of atrial fibrillation.
In 2016, NATF published the “Atrial Fibrillation Action Initiative Consensus Document,” a comprehensive briefing document for healthcare professionals focused on stroke and bleeding risk assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation. The consensus document was published in the American Journal of Medicine and continues to serve as a practical reference guide for the care of patients with atrial fibrillation.
NATF prides itself on providing constant updates on new developments in the sphere of atrial fibrillation. In a recent video blog, Dr. Samuel Goldhaber, president of NATF and interim chief of cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, offered healthcare providers additional insights into atrial fibrillation management. In the “Clot Chronicles: Atrial Fibrillation Management,” Dr. Goldhaber discusses risk factor modifications that can help prevent atrial fibrillation attacks.
In addition to this important resource for healthcare providers, NATF features a “What is Atrial Fibrillation” page on their website. This resource is designed to help patients understand who is at risk for atrial fibrillation, what the signs and symptoms are, and how it relates to stroke. Patients can also benefit from a pamphlet entitled, “Living Well with Atrial Fibrillation and Reducing your Risk of Stroke.” This pamphlet can be found on the NATF website, but is an external resource.
For additional resources, guides, and episodes of the Clot Chronicles, please visit www.natfonline.org.
NATF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving patient care, outcomes, and public health by utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach to advance thrombosis research and education. NATF’s legacy will be the improvement of patient care, outcomes, and public health by supporting thrombosis-related programs, such as novel research projects, innovative educational programs, public policy initiatives, regulatory issues, and advocacy. NATF also seeks to broaden training opportunities for physicians, scientists, and other health professionals.
Molly Gately is the Assistant Director of Content Development for NATF. She is a passionate writer and storyteller, who enjoys using these skills to promote thrombosis awareness. Molly is responsible for developing NATF’s quarterly newsletter, as well as creating engaging content for NATF’s website. Molly graduated from UMass Amherst in 2016 with her BA in journalism. Outside of work, she is an avid reader and animal lover. Need a book recommendation? Molly already has something in mind.