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BWH’s Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program earned high marks in its first-ever accreditation survey by the Joint Commission (JC). Following a two-day visit and close examination of five patient records through the JC’s tracer method, the commission officially certified the hospital’s VAD program.
“We are proud of the entire Advanced Heart Disease Pprogram team,” said Michael M. Givertz, MD, medical director of the Heart Transplant and Circulatory Assist Program. “Our clinical staff deliver the highest quality care every day, and we demonstrated that to the Joint Commission.”
BWH’s heart failure and VAD program has a strong history. BWH is the first hospital in New England to implant an LVAD, or left ventricular assist device, as a destination therapy, adding to the hospital’s substantial arsenal to treat heart failure. BWH’s VAD and transplant programs remain the busiest in the region.
“Our physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical staff nurses, technologists, therapists, social workers, perfusionists—everyone on the team—demonstrate a commitment to quality care every day,” Surgical Director Gregory Couper, MD, said.
“The nursing staff in cardiac surgery and all members of the interdisciplinary team did an outstanding job in explaining the complex care they provide to the VAD patients. Their expert care and heartfelt concern for these patients and families was commented on by the Joint Commission reviewers,” reported Colleen Smith and Leslie Griffin, VAD team nurse practitioners.
BWH Compliance staff worked with all staff involved with the VAD program in both inpatient and outpatient settings to ensure staff understand Joint Commission standards. The VAD program accreditation by the Joint Commission is a new requirement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The VAD program is now subject to unannounced surveys every two years, and these program-specific surveys are separate from the hospital survey.