News | Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

<STRONG><BIG>VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE PROGRAM FOR HEART FAILURE EARNS RECERTIFICATION AND JOINT COMMISSION'S SEAL OF APPROVAL</BIG></STRONG>

<P><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#990000>LI's Only Certified VAD Program Is Recognized as Top Level</FONT></EM></STRONG></P>

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<div class="caption"><table width=140><tr><td>Joint Commission's Gold<BR> Seal of Approval®</td></tr></table></div></DIV>

<P>STONY BROOK, NY, January 15, 2015 — Stony Brook University <a href="http://heart.stonybrookmedicine.edu/services/vad" target="_blank">Heart Institute's ventricular assist device (VAD) program</a> has earned two-year recertification from <a href="http://www.jointcommission.org/certification/ventricular_assist_device…; target="_blank">The Joint Commission</a> after an intensive two-day review on January 14-15 that concluded with the surveyor stating that Stony Brook's VAD program is <B>"the best destination therapy program"</B> ever seen by her.</P>

<P>"Certification — The Joint Commission's 'Seal of Approval' — lets patients in need of a VAD know that they are in capable hands when they come to Stony Brook Heart Institute," says <a href="/surgery/people/faculty/dr-allison-j-mclarty">Allison J. McLarty, MD</a>, associate professor of surgery and co-director of the VAD program. "The Joint Commission singled out Stony Brook for its care and commitment to patients with advanced cardiac heart failure and for maintaining the highest standards of care."</P>

<P><a href="http://findadoc.uhmc.sunysb.edu/fadp/fadprofile.asp?id=575" target="_blank">Hal A. Skopicki, MD, PhD</a>, assistant professor of medicine, director of the Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center, and co-director of the VAD program, says the success of the VAD program is the result of a collaborative effort by a large network of cardiologists on Long Island, working closely with Stony Brook's multidisciplinary treatment team, including gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, psychiatrists, and hematology/oncologists.<P>

<P>"Together, we marshal our efforts to create excellent outcomes for our patients," says Dr. Skopicki.</P>

<div class="callout"><P><B>
A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a surgically implanted, electrically (battery) powered pump
that helps a failing heart's left ventricle pump adequate amounts of blood to the body.
</B></P></div>

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<DIV class=alignleft class=photobox2>
<a href="http://medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sdmpubfiles/VAD_news.jpg" title="Drs. Hal Skopicki and Allison McLarty holding the HeartMate II VAD implanted in the patient, over the actual image of the patient's chest on the computer screen." class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" rel="gallery-all"><img src="/sdmpubfiles/styles/240/public/VAD_news.jpg?itok=lZJLleyc" width="240" height="216" alt="Drs. Hal Skopicki and Allison McLarty holding the HeartMate II VAD implanted in the patient, over the actual image of the patient's chest on the computer screen." title="Drs. Hal Skopicki and Allison McLarty holding the HeartMate II VAD implanted in the patient, over the actual image of the patient's chest on the computer screen." class="image-240" /></a>
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<div class="caption"><table width=240><tr><td>Drs. Hal Skopicki and Allison McLarty holding the HeartMate II VAD implanted in the patient, over the actual image of the patient's chest on the computer screen (click to enlarge).</td></tr></table></div></DIV>

<P>Stony Brook University Hospital was the first hospital on Long Island to implant a HeartMate II VAD in 2010, and is the only certified VAD destination therapy program on Long Island. To date, 42 patients have received VADs. Several of these patients have gone on to have successful heart transplants.</P>

<P><a href="http://heart.stonybrookmedicine.edu/health-information/treatments-proce…; target="_blank">Destination therapy</a> uses VAD technology as the final treatment option for selected patients whose hearts require mechanical assistance to pump blood. Once used only as a temporary device for heart failure patients awaiting transplants (bridge-to-transplant therapy), VAD technology in its advanced state now helps more patients extend their lives and also improve their quality of life.</P>

<P>To achieve certification, VAD programs are evaluated on standards in The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Certification Manual. Programs must demonstrate conformity with clinical practice guidelines or evidence-based practices. They are also required to collect and analyze data on specific performance measures related to clinical practice guidelines (<a href="http://www.jointcommission.org/certification/ventricular_assist_device…; target="_blank">read more</a>).</P>

<P>Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.</P>

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<B>Stony Brook University Heart Institute continues to earn <font color="#990000">The Joint Commission's Seal of Approval™</font></B> for its ventricular assist device–destination therapy program by demonstrating compliance since 2011 with The Joint Commission's national standards for healthcare quality and safety in disease-specific care. The certification award recognizes our dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards.
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<P><span class="pointer"><B><a href="/surgery/blog/faqs-about-the-left-ventricular-assist-device-lvad-for-treating-heart-failure">More about the ventricular assist device</a> — artificial heart technology — used at Stony Brook Heart Institute for destination therapy to treat heart failure.</B></span></P>