Heartbeat International Foundationinc

SAVE LIVES GLOBALLY BY PROVIDING CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES AND TREATMENT TO NEEDY PEOPLE.

THE HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 1984 BY THE WATSON CLINIC FOUNDATION AS A 501(C)(3) PRIVATE OPERATING FOUNDATION. IN 1992, THE HEADQUARTERS OF HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL WAS TRANSFERRED TO ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL OF TAMPA, A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY. HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTES NEW, IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC PACEMAKERS AND RELATED DEVICES TO TOTALLY INDIGENT PATIENTS IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES THROUGH UNIFORMLY STRUCTURED HEART CENTERS LOCATED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THESE LIFE-SAVING OR LIFE-IMPROVING DEVICES ARE SUPPLIED WITHOUT COST TO HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL BY PARTICIPATING PACEMAKER MANUFACTURERS.(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) THE DEVICES ARE IMPLANTED ONLY IN TOTALLY INDIGENT PATIENTS BY CARDIOLOGISTS/SURGEONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCAL HEART CENTER IN THE THIRD WORLD COMMUNITY WITHOUT CHARGE. THE FOUNDATION IMPLANTED 144 DEVICES IN 2023, EVEN WITH A DECLINE IN DONATIONS FROM MANUFACTURERS.THE PURPOSE OF HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IS TO PROVIDE ALL PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES BY DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AT NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT. HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL CREATES AWARENESS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, ABOUT THE MEDICAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF INDIGENT PATIENTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THE FOUNDATION HAS EXPERIENCED A TREMENDOUS DECREASE IN INVENTORY DURING THE YEARS 2020 AND 2021. NOT ONLY HAS THE FOUNDATION SHOWN A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DONATIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH IMPACTED INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS, THE FOUNDATION HAS MODIFIED ITS INVENTORY VALUATION POLICY TO WRITE DOWN ITS INVENTORY MORE QUICKLY TO BETTER REFLECT THE VALUE OF THE DEVICES BY ITS USEFUL LIFE. THE UPDATED INVENTORY VALUATION POLICY FOR ALL DEVICES AND LEADS ARE WRITTEN DOWN TO $0 IN VALUE WHEN DEVICES ARE 3 YEARS BEYOND THEIR USE BY DATE. DUE TO THE INVENTORY VALUATION POLICY CHANGE AND IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FOUNDATION EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ITS INVENTORY VALUE AT YEAR END 2020 AND 2021, AS WELL AS THE VALUE OF INVENTORY PLACED INTO SERVICE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION FURTHER WROTE OFF INVENTORY IDENTIFIED TO BE DESTROYED IN 2022 DUE TO ITS USEFUL LIFE. IN 2022, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVED INVENTORY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BIOTRONIK ON A SPECIFIC REQUEST BASIS DIRECTLY TO THE HEART CENTERS. IN 2023 THE FOUNDATION DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO BEGIN PURCHASING DEVICES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION. FUNDRAISING FOCUSED ON SECURING FUNDS TO PURCHASE AND PROVIDE DEVICES TO THE HEART CENTERS ENSURING RETURNING PATIENTS (THOSE NEEDING DEVICE REPLACEMENTS) CAN BE SERVICED. WORKING DIRECTLY WITH DEVICE MANUFACTURERS, THE FOUNDATION PURCHASED DEVICES FOR SEVERAL OF THE HEART CENTERS IN 2023 WITH PLANS TO PURCHASE FOR THE OTHERS IN 2024. THE FOUNDATION FEELS THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR MISSION IS THE NUMBER OF LIVES IT SAVES OR DEVICES IT IMPLANTS, RATHER THAN THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE DEVICES AND LEADS SENT TO THE HEART CENTERS.PATIENT HIGHLIGHT: ARTURO-MEXICO ARTURO'S HEART PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN HE WAS THREE YEARS-OLD. HIS FATHER WORKED LONG HOURS AT A TACO STAND IN MEXICO TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY, BUT HE FELT SCARED AND HELPLESS. "I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT SURGERY. I COULDN'T SAVE MY OWN SON'S LIFE."HIS MOTHER WAS EQUALLY DEVASTATED. "WHEN MY SON WAS SLEEPING, SOMETIMES I COULDN'T HEAR HIS HEART, AND I KNEW ONE DAY HE MIGHT NOT WAKE UP IN THE MORNING." ARTURO'S FAMILY FOUND HOPE WHEN THEY MET DR. RICARDO MENESES OF HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL. ARTURO TRAVELED 100 MILES TO A HOSPITAL AND WAS RUSHED INTO SURGERY FOR A PACEMAKER IMPLANT.ARTURO HAS BEEN A PATIENT WITH DR. MENESES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND IS NOW ON HIS 7TH DEVICE THROUGH THE HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM. HE IS MARRIED AND HAS A NEW BABY GIRL WHOM HE ADORES. PATIENT HIGHLIGHT: CHRISTINE-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO"MY MOTHER TELLS ME I WAS BORN A HEALTHY BABY, AND FOR THE MOST PART OF MY CHILDHOOD, I WAS. WHEN I WAS 14, I STARTED FEELING WEAK AND TIRED ALL THE TIME. DURING A CHECKUP, THEY FOUND THAT MY HEARTBEAT WAS TOO LOW, SO THEY TOOK ME FOR FURTHER TESTS. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A THIRD-DEGREE HEART BLOCK, AND I NEEDED TO HAVE A DUAL-CHAMBER PACEMAKER IMPLANTED.""MY FAMILY WAS SCARED; OUR GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL DIDN'T OFFER THE SURGERY, AND WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT DONE PRIVATELY. I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY LIFE HAD JUST BEGUN.""HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL GAVE ME A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. WITH THEIR HELP, I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SURGERY AND LIFE-LONG CARE AT NO COST. THE DOCTORS TOLD ME TO REST AT HOME, BUT I WAS TOO EXCITED TO BE NORMAL AGAIN, AND I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SURGERY. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO COLLEGE TO STUDY ACCOUNTING. I GRADUATED WITH HONORS, AND I NOW WORK FOR THE CENTRAL BANK."I AM ON MY THIRD DEVICE NOW, MARRIED AND LOVE TO TRAVEL. I HAVE GREATLY ENJOYED MY ROLE AS AN AMBASSADOR TO THE HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOW I CAN HELP CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM."

THE PACEMAKER CLUB IS A FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY WHERE MEMBERS CAN COMMUNICATE, ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. THROUGH ITS NEW ALLIANCE WITH FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE THERE IS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE PACEMAKER CLUB COMMUNITY WITH PLANS FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES INCLUDING ONGOING EDUCATION, CREATING PROGRAMS FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND BUILDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE FOR OUR MEMBERS.(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE, (FORMERLY KNOWN HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION), WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1984 TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR PACEMAKERS AND OTHER CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES AMONG DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE. SINCE 1984, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE HAS SAVED MORE THEN 18,000 LIVES IN OVER 20 COUNTRIES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING PACEMAKER IMPLANTS AND ONGOING LIFE-LONG DEVICE CARE. AMONG OUR BOARD MEMBERS WAS A VETERAN PACEMAKER RECIPIENT WHO FOUNDED THE PACEMAKER CLUB, AND A BOND WAS FORGED.IN 2023 FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE TOOK THE STEP TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE SUPPORT FOR THE PACEMAKER CLUB COMMUNITY AND ACQUIRED THE PACEMAKER CLUB, BRINGING THE CLUB TO THE FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE FAMILY. THE VALUE OF OUR MUTUAL EXPERIENCES IS AT THE CORE OF BOTH OF OUR MISSIONS AS WE WORK TOWARDS ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARDIOVASCULAR CARE ACROSS THE GLOBE.THE MEMBERS OF THE PACEMAKER CLUB HAVE LONG HAD A CONNECTION AND SUPPORT FOR LIVING WITH IMPLANTED CARDIAC DEVICE. FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE' S DECISION TO SUPPORT THE PACEMAKER CLUB MISSION, WAS DRIVEN BY THE SHARED VISION TO EXPAND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARDIOVASCULAR CARE FOR ALL, AND TO HELP CREATE A WORLD WHERE NO PATIENT FACES THEIR JOURNEY ALONE. COMBINING OUR GLOBAL OUTREACH AND EXPERTISE WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PACEMAKER CLUB COMMUNITY, WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL LIVING WITH A PACEMAKER IS EMPOWERED TO LIVE A FULL AND HEALTHY LIFE. CURRENTLY, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE IS WORKING TO COMPLETELY REVAMP, UPDATE AND BRING THE PACEMAKER CLUB SITE CURRENT. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF 2024. WE HOPE THAT THE NEW SITE WILL BRING RESOURCES TO BOTH THE PACEMAKER CLUB MEMBERS AND THE FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY.