VAD Program at Scripps Awarded Certification from The Joint Commission

Like the heart, the VAD is a pump that is placed inside a person’s chest, where it helps the heart pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. One end is inserted into the left ventricle – the chamber of the heart that pumps blood out of the lungs and into the body – and the other end is attached to the aorta, the body’s main artery. An electrical connection passes from the device through the skin to the control unit and batteries.

The pump and its connections are implanted during open-heart surgery. A computer controller, a power pack, and a reserve power pack are worn by the patient.

A VAD restores normal blood flow to a person whose heart has been weakened by heart disease.

Frank Andrews, 65, was the first recipient of a VAD at Scripps La Jolla on June 15. Diagnosed with congestive heart disease one year ago, the San Marcos resident was having difficulty with the most basic components of daily living, such as breathing and walking across a room. He had considered placing his name on the heart transplant list, however, his doctors informed him that it would take up to a year to get a heart and that he most likely did not have a year to live.

“I knew I was going downhill and I knew I needed to do something to fix it,” Andrews said.

What complicated the situation further for Andrews was that he and his wife were in the process of adopting their 6-year-old grandson when he made the decision to undergo the VAD procedure.

“The main thing that saved me is my grandson. I have to be here for him. I need to be here for at least another 10 years,” said Andrews.

Since the surgery, Andrews can always be found wearing a five-button black vest that houses the battery pack and the cords for the VAD – similar to what former Vice President Dick Cheney used to wear prior to his heart transplant surgery. Andrews admits that the adjustment to the VAD has been a challenge, but he is happy to be on the road to recovery and is looking forward to throwing a ball again with his grandson.

“I know this is going to work out for me. I’m one of the lucky ones,” he said.

This accreditation represents another milestone of Scripps’ leadership in heart care and research. Construction is currently under way on the $456 million Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, a center for innovation that will bring together top researchers, physicians and staff. The institute will incorporate leading-edge wireless technologies and individualized medicine for the best in patient care when it opens in 2015. Annually, more than 55,000 patients receive their cardiovascular care from Scripps, making it San Diego County’s largest heart care provider. Scripps is the region’s only cardiovascular program consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country.

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, launched in 2002, is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas: compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org or the certification.

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.

Image reprinted with the permission of Thoratec Corporation.