Use of POCUS to Improve Outcomes and Decrease Hospital Readmission in the LVAD Population

$25,000 Award

Project Overview

The LVAD patient population is a highly specialized group of patients within Advanced Heart Failure that have a high readmission rate into the hospital for volume overload and LVAD speed adjustments. This innovation is to implement cardiac-focused point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in outpatient clinics for patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Using echocardiography for LVAD troubleshooting and optimization is a well-recognized pillar of guideline-directed LVAD management. By having POCUS in the clinic, the team expects to decrease utilization of full echoes. This will save financial as well as echo resources while decreasing hospital readmission and improving overall patient satisfaction.

Project Team

• Lynn Dees, MS, ACNP – Project Leader
• Manjula Ananthram, MBBS, FACC
• Erik Sorensen Ph.D. – Principle Investigator
• Leigha Crowell, MS, CRNP – Project Team Member
• Amanda Nevin, DNP, CRNP – Project Team Member
• Brittany Landry, BSME, RN – Project Team Member
• Virginia Schlosser, BS – Project Team Member
• Jordan Rampolla, BME – Project Team Member