Evaluating the impact of the Second Heart program: enhancing care and outcomes for individuals with infective endocarditis and injection drug use

The Second Heart (SH) program provided interdisciplinary supports to individuals diagnosed with Infective Endocarditis who have a recent history of injection drug use. The intervention involved meeting participants in hospital and matching them with a peer support worker, systems navigator, primary care doctor and follow up outpatient providers, as needed. There was also funding for phones and gift cards, given on a case-by-case basis. The intervention is complete with 21 participants enrolled over three years. Researchers are completing quantitative and qualitative analysis and preparing two separate papers – one focusing on the experience of participants and intervention team members, and another on the health outcomes of participants and their healthcare utilization. Participants reported improvements in their social connection, income, housing and overall health. Intervention team members reported better coordination of care among SH providers, however the intervention could not change the social determinants of health impacting participants’ health, such as lack of affordable housing. This intervention has been expanded to a study for all injection-related infections (IRIS) with the same team.