Adapting to the Pace of Tech Implementation in Heart Failure

A joint statement by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN), published on January 27, 2026, emphasizes the value of integrating technology into all facets of heart failure care. The statement aims to provide clinicians with suggestions for a more team-based, forward-thinking, and actionable system of care.

Integrated health technologies (IHTs) have become extremely prominent in heart failure care of late, allowing for timely clinical intervention and facilitating care coordination between disciplines. However, widespread challenges, including suboptimal engagement from patients, digital literacy and access disparities, and poor interoperability, have stymied the uptake process. This document guides clinicians in overcoming these challenges to optimize care.1

In the second episode of a 6-part HCPLive Special Report, Adam DeVore, MD, MHS, and Laura Peters, DNP, come together to discuss the intrinsic value of including recent technological advancements in standard clinical care.

A key theme emerging from the conversation is the need for clinicians to think beyond efficacy data and consider the broader framework of implementation. As Adam explained, evaluating a technology should involve asking how it will function within the healthcare system where it will ultimately be deployed. This includes assessing the patient and caregiver experience, the time demands placed on clinicians, and the integration of new data streams into electronic health records and clinical workflows. Financial considerations also play a major role, not only in terms of upfront costs but also reimbursement structures and long-term sustainability within a health system.

The conversation also acknowledges that the pace of technological innovation introduces additional complexity. Many digital health tools are no longer static devices but dynamic platforms that evolve over time, particularly as artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities are incorporated. A technology evaluated in a clinical trial may undergo multiple updates within months, potentially altering how it performs in clinical settings. Moreover, the way a tool is implemented in one health system may differ significantly from another, depending on local workflows, patient populations, and available resources.

Because of these challenges, the panelists emphasize the critical role of professional societies in guiding clinicians through this rapidly evolving landscape. Organizations involved in cardiovascular care can help establish frameworks for evaluating new technologies, develop standards for data collection, and create platforms that allow for rapid learning across institutions. By facilitating real-world evidence generation and sharing best practices, these groups can help ensure that promising innovations are translated into meaningful improvements in patient care.

Ultimately, the discussion reinforces that the integration of digital technologies into cardiovascular medicine requires both scientific rigor and practical planning. Clinicians must evaluate the strength of the evidence while also considering the operational realities of implementation. At the same time, healthcare institutions and professional organizations will play an essential role in supporting the thoughtful adoption of tools that have the potential to transform patient monitoring, decision-making, and long-term outcomes.

Our Panelists:

• Adam DeVore, MD, MHS, is an associate professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine, as well as the medical director of the Duke Heart Transplant program.
• Laura Peters, DNP, is an assistant professor of medicine in the advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant section within the division of cardiology at the University of Colorado, as well as a senior clinical instructor in the University of Colorado College of Nursing and the director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado and UCHealth Heart Transplant Transition Program.

Editors’ Note: Peters and DeVore report no relevant disclosures.

References

1. Cajita M, Peters L, Rao VN, et al. Integrated Health Technologies in heart failure: A scientific statement from the Heart Failure Society of America and the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. Journal of Cardiac Failure. Published online January 27, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2025.08.029

2. Heart Failure Society of America. Integrated Health Technologies in Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement from the Heart Failure Society of America and American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. January 27, 2026. Accessed March 5, 2026. https://hfsa.org/integrated-health-technologies-heart-failure-scientific-statement-heart-failure-society-america-and