Working with a Tertiary Care Center
A Collaborative Approach Delivers the Best Care
As the New Era of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) changes the natural history of advanced heart failure, cardiologists will benefit by establishing defined relationships with tertiary care centers to evaluate and treat these patients when appropriate.
Timely referral is in the best interest of the patient. Clinical data indicate that referral before a patient deteriorates to end-organ damage or nutritional deficiency can maximize the benefit of advanced interventions.11 In essence, referring a patient to a tertiary care center provides an extension of a private practice and expands a patient's options with the goal of improving survival and quality of life.
The referral team is comprised of many different constituents with the same goal: to provide optimal care for the advanced-stage heart failure patient.
DVD: A Team Approach to Mechanical Circulatory Support
An informative look at the total advanced heart failure team, the role of MCS and the importance of ongoing communication with managing physicians. Some other topics covered include MCS patient selection, management, and quality of life.
"Our role is not to take over the care of the patient but to perform that role and to get the patients back home, to their house and to their doctors."
Tom MacGillvary, MD
Cardiac Surgeon
"We're a team and the patients feel it and are happier with their care because of it."
Stephanie Ennis, APR,
VAD Coordinator