Tuesday, December 5th – 9:30 am - 1:00 pm

This guideline outlines the definition, role and training competencies of the Post Acute Care Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Specialist. It is intended for all Post Acute Care left ventricular assist device specialists be responsible for the care and management of patients with an LVAD.

Definition of the LVAD Specialist:

The Post Acute LVAD Specialist is the clinical specialist trained to manage the care and management of the LVAD patient including device operation. The LVAD specialist should be a registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, LVN, or any other clinical personnel that will provide care to the advanced heart failure or LVAD patient. The Post Acute LVAD Specialist ensures appropriate LVAD care is being delivered through continuous monitoring of the patient and monitoring, troubleshooting and management of the LVAD device.

Responsibilities of the LVAD Specialist include:

• Assume all care and management of the LVAD patient including assessing the physiologic status through continuous monitoring of patient hemodynamics, lab results, physical assessment findings, and appropriate medication administration.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and quality of the LVAD patient care plan and recommend modifications in patient management with the LVAD team based on patient diagnosis, LVAD settings, and physical assessment findings.
• Collaborates with the LVAD team including physicians, advanced practice registered nurse, LVAD coordinators, and other members of the health care team to implement an effective plan of care.
• Maintains complete, detailed and timely documentation in the electronic health record per the implanting centers recommendation in conjunction with facility specific guidelines.
• Participates in the development of quality initiatives to improve outcomes.
• Provides education to patient, family and staff and creates a supportive and safe environment.
• Assists in LVAD patient emergencies including but not limited to identifying and troubleshooting LVAD device alarms.

Post Acute Care staff in the inpatient and outpatient setting will demonstrate knowledge in caring for the LVAD patient population through verbalized detailed teach-back of the below concepts. In doing so, safe and evidence-based care must be delivered to the CHF and LVAD patient population throughout each care transition to ensure safe patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will have an improved understanding of the heart failure disease process and hot it translates to applying advanced heart failure therapies (inotropes, LVAD, transplant).
2. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will have a positive impact to the care they provide to the LVAD patient population, if applicable.
3. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will have an improved understanding of the patient population that would benefit from LVAD therapy and their candidacy for advanced therapies.
4. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will have improved confidence in managing the LVAD system components (controller, batteries, home equipment, driveline, wearables).
5. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will feel confident in managing the LVAD patient in regard to therapy and lifestyle changes.
6. For clinical staff, at the completion of the LVAD training the Post Acute Care staff member will feel confident in medically managing the LVAD patient (hemodynamics, MAP, dressing change, lab/imaging considerations)?
7. At the completion of the LVAD training, the Post Acute Care staff member will have a better understanding of nutritional guidelines for advanced heart failure and LVAD patients.